The Denver Broncos took care of business in the NFL preseason by going 3-0 in the process. Now that the preseason slate has concluded and with roster cuts upcoming, Zach Wilson has revived the heartbeat of his career and made a strong enough case on Sunday to win the QB2 job behind Bo Nix.
Denver Broncos QB Zach Wilson has enough flash to be the backup behind Bo Nix
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton traded for Wilson earlier this offseason because he saw something in him, and we’ve seen a shift from the young quarterback since coming to Denver. At first, Wilson had a handful of rough practices as he first began to learn Payton’s system, but as he’s gotten more time in it, he’s looked better and better as each week has progressed.
Sunday’s win against the Arizona Cardinals showcased Wilson’s development with Payton inside of the QB room, and he certainly did enough to warrant a discussion about being the team’s QB2 behind Nix this upcoming season. Against the Cardinals, Wilson went 16-of-25 passing for 251 yards, two passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown to help Denver throttle Arizona 38-12.
“Look, he made some impressive throws,” Payton said. “The shot play in the hole to Brandon. He has got a live arm down the field. I thought he threw it away when it was not there. There were a couple sacks, but overall, we moved the ball. You are trying to measure how the offense is doing when he is in there. We had plenty of time on the play clock, enough time to get in and out of plays if we need be. He has had the better part of the last two and a half weeks. You guys have seen his practices.”
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Zach Wilson ➡️ @_bj7_ for SIX!
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/rV9VJaJwSz
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 25, 2024
From the onset of his time in Denver, Wilson has carried himself like a true professional, even when his card got pulled early in the QB1 battle. Rather than letting that define his approach, he kept to a process that worked for him, and the results over the last few weeks have spoken for themself with the momentum he’s established. On top of that, he’s been a supportive asset inside the QB room and had the best response you could have when asked about the team’s decision to start Nix.
“I was excited for him,” Wilson said. “I don’t think it was a surprise too much, obviously. I think he’s had a great camp. I told him I’m excited for him for this opportunity. I really believe that they’re putting him in a good situation. I think Sean has done a phenomenal job and the guys that we get to hang out with, starting with [quarterbacks coach] Davis [Webb] and then [offensive coordinator] Joe [Lombardi] and [senior offensive assistant] Pete [Carmichael] and then ‘Johnny Mo’ (pass game coordinator John Morton), you know we have a great offensive staff. And then Bo just continued to keep getting better. So I’m excited to see what he can do, and I think he’s ready for it.”
Stidham’s response expressed disappointment he didn’t win the job.
“First of all, obviously I was very disappointed,” Stidham said. “I know I’m a starting quarterback in this league. I have no doubts about that, and it just didn’t shake out my way. I know what kind of player I am, what kind of person I am. Like I said earlier, I’ll be ready to go if I need to be. Like I said, I have no doubts that I’m a starting-caliber quarterback in this league.”
#Broncos QB Zach Wilson on the dynamic of the QB room. They all genuinely want each other to succeed pic.twitter.com/CXkzDhjHRJ
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) August 26, 2024
Both Stidham and Wilson are in different places. Wilson has a lot of starting experience, Stidham has some, but the former No. 2 overall pick is in a position where he can rebuild his image. Stidham is still working on building his. Players in the locker room have respect for all three of Denver’s QBs and while Payton alluded to the possibility of keeping all three of them, it feels like there is momentum for Wilson to step into the QB2 role this year and possibly land elsewhere next year or return as the backup in a system he’s expressed comfortability with.
“I’m very grateful just to be out here, hanging out with these guys, and then once you’re competitive juices get going, preseason or regular season, you’re going to do everything you can to try and get every first down and score points, whatever it is,” Wilson said. “You’re not thinking in the moment, ‘Oh, it’s a preseason game, let me just run out of bounds here.’ You’re going to try and get it.”