Denver, CO
Jarrett Stidham to start as Broncos QB in preseason opener against Indianapolis Colts
Jarrett Stidham is up first once again.
The sixth-year quarterback will start Denver’s preseason opener Sunday at Indianapolis, head coach Sean Payton confirmed after practice Friday.
The decision to start Stidham, the lone incumbent in the Broncos’ quarterback room, is not a surprise. In fact, it’s in line with how Payton has conducted the entire offseason. When OTAs began in May, Stidham had the first day with the first team, followed by rookie first-round draft pick Bo Nix and then 2021 first-round pick Zach Wilson. When minicamp started in June, Stidham had the first day. When training camp started? More of the same.
Nix will start the Broncos’ second preseason game, Aug. 18 at home against Green Bay, Payton said.
Sunday against Indianapolis, Stidham will play Phase 1, as Payton calls it — usually somewhere around 15-20 snaps depending on game flow — and then Nix will go second and Wilson third.
Payton said of the decision to start Stidham, “I just think right now, certainly he’s been here, his experience. Next week it’ll be Nix, but we’re focused on this game and I would say that it’s just where we’re at.”
The Broncos’ second-year head coach said Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in April’s draft, could end up getting the last drive of Phase 1 against the Colts.
“We just have to see where we’re at reps-wise,” Payton said. … “There’s a little trick to it. Are we at Play 14 and the No.1s are still out there? It really depends on how the game unfolds.”
The biggest difference for Nix between the end of Phase 1 and the start of Phase 2 will be the offensive line. Payton indicated Friday that the Broncos will rotate multiple receivers, backs and tight ends through the opening phase.
On Thursday, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi laid out the plan for the quarterbacks regardless of who is in the game or when.
“Just a clean operation and playing good football with the situation that’s presented to them,” he said. “There’s not a ton of game-planning that goes into these (preseason) games. You take a peak at the team you’re about to play, and really you’re picking your install plays that fit that team instead of like, ‘Hey, if we see this look we’re going to change this formation,’ or, ‘We’re going to add this route that we have in practice.’ You’re in there with a lot of different guys. The way that guys work together, it’s a little bit different than maybe during the season where you’re practicing with the same guys and you know who you’re throwing the routes to.
“There can be a little more uncertainty than a regular season game. So handle all that, and make good decisions and take the plays that are there. If we call a bad play, make sure nothing bad happens. Just operate well with the conditions that are given.”
Nix is still expected to push Stidham for the starting job by Week 1 in Seattle and it would be a moderate surprise if the rookie didn’t ultimately win the job, but Payton has stuck to giving Stidham first-team work for the first stanza of camp, so it follows that the plan would extend to at least the first preseason game.
“The second year in the system … things are coming more naturally to me within the system and that sort of thing,” Stidham said Wednesday before finding out he was starting the first preseason game. “I feel like training camp so far has been really good, just going back and forth every day, learning the guys.”
Payton said earlier this week that the coaching staff and personnel department were holding meetings Tuesday and Wednesday to talk through the roster and set the play plan for Indianapolis. Then offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said the staff finalized the plan Thursday afternoon. Payton also reiterated he expects most or all healthy starters to get at least some snaps in the game.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.
Originally Published:
The Mecca Sports Bar in Denver will be allowed to continue operations after it reached a settlement agreement with the city. According to the Denver Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, the business will be required to pay a $5,000 fine and have employees complete specialized training.
The bar had been under investigation for prostitution since 2024.
According to the Denver Police Department, there were two arrests for prostitution as a result of the investigation into the bar, in addition to a merchant guard license violation for failure to comply.
According to the city’s licensing department, the business will be under a probationary period, where if there are any other violations of law or rules and regulations, it could face harsher penalties, including license suspension or revocation.
Denver police investigators said they conducted three undercover prostitution stings at the bar. In every operation, officers said they were offered sex for money and told about a scheme where the women would overcharge for alcohol and keep the extra cash.
Mecca Sports Bar is located off West Mississippi Avenue and Federal Boulevard near Huston Lake Park and was formerly known as Club Dubai.
Denver, CO
Attorney for Denver Broncos defender Jonathon Cooper plays race card in domestic abuse case
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this offseason and that continued Tuesday when his attorney claimed race played a role in the domestic abuse case involving the Black player and his White ex-girlfriend.
Both Cooper and Jade Fiegen were arrested two weeks ago when police arrived at the player’s Colorado residence and determined an altercation over the contents of each other’s phones had occurred, according to court records. But on Tuesday, the 23rd Judicial District Attorney in Douglas County dropped the charges against Fiegen.
The prosecutor also decided to continue with charges against Cooper — meaning the player still faces five charges, including second-degree assault-strangulation, which is a felony.
Jonathon Cooper of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack against Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Tyler Schank/Getty Images)
JONATHON COOPER BREAKS SILENCE AFTER DOMESTIC ABUSE ARREST WITH AN APOLOGY
Cooper is expected to be in court on Wednesday but before that happened, the lawyers for both parties released statements to 9News and Cooper’s attorney cited race as the reason his client is still on the hook.
“White woman admits she was the aggressor,” Harvey Steinberg said in his statement to the TV station. “Admits she grabbed my client’s phone out of his hand. Admits she went through it without his permission. Admits she threw it against the wall, damaging it. She makes allegations against my client which police don’t appear to believe. Charges dismissed against white woman. Prosecution against Black man continues. Justice in America.”
Attorney Ronald Gainor, who represents Fiegen, offered a different perspective and took a vastly different approach.
He didn’t mention race.
“She should never have been charged in the first place and the decision today by the district attorney’s office confirms that,” Gainor said in his statement to 9News. “This decision really goes a long way in vindicating her and we’re very happy with the court’s decision today.”
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 5, 2025. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
Cooper’s attorney accusing the prosecution of favoring the woman because she’s White probably isn’t going to earn him points if this goes to trial. It’s borderline unbecoming.
But Cooper’s alleged offseason activity has been that as well.
The woman and Cooper were both arrested two weeks ago when an altercation began at Cooper’s residence over allegations of infidelity. That escalated into a physical struggle involving their cell phones, according to arrest records.
Fiegen accused Cooper of cheating on her despite the pair being in a four-year relationship.
NFL FACING OFFSEASON DOMESTIC ABUSE EPIDEMIC
Then things got weird.
Cooper apologized for the incident on his social media account.
Then, he was arrested a second time in a week and had to appear in court (again) when he violated a protection order. Cooper allegedly sent Fiegen a series of text messages and showed up outside her apartment.
That earned Cooper two more misdemeanor charges.
Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colorado. (Courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
So now Cooper faces five charges in total:
- Second-degree assault – strangulation
- Third-degree assault – knowingly or recklessly causing injury
- Criminal mischief – $300-$1,000
- Violating a protective order
- Harassment – repeated telephone calls
The Broncos, by the way, opened a mandatory minicamp on Tuesday but Cooper was not present because he was excused.
FORMER NFL FIRST-ROUND PICK DARRON LEE INDICTED ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN GIRLFRIEND’S DEATH
“We’ve excused him from this minicamp,” coach Sean Payton told reporters. “He’s taking this time; obviously, he’s got to work on himself. The club is very much in tune to the league office, local authorities here, and we’ve had several meetings.
“Clearly, from an ownership standpoint, head coach, organizationally, there’s a bar we have and an expectation we have that’s very high. We’ll consider all that as we continue to gather information.”
That doesn’t sound like the Broncos are 100 percent certain Cooper will be able to play for them at the start of the 2026 season, or even be on the team.
It’s possible Cooper might be in jail.
It’s possible Cooper might have to serve an NFL-mandated suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
It’s possible the club simply decides Cooper, who has 27 sacks the past three seasons, isn’t worth the aggravation or distraction.
A troubling offseason can sometimes do that.
FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO
-
Rhode Island1 minute agoCumberland Man Charged With DUI After Crash in Lincoln: Cops
-
South-Carolina6 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 17, 2026
-
South Dakota13 minutes ago
SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for June 17, 2026
-
Tennessee16 minutes agoTennessee man sentenced to 24 years for fentanyl distribution conspiracy
-
Texas21 minutes agoDPS trooper killed in Texas Panhandle crash, agency says
-
Utah28 minutes agoUtah first lady Abby Cox optimistic about legislative moves to strengthen child literacy
-
Vermont31 minutes agoVermont woman shot and injured by stray bullet at her home
-
Virginia36 minutes agoVirginia Beach Fire Department battles multi-family structure fire on Rookery Way
