Broncos rookie Bo Nix outperformed veteran quarterbacks in his preseason debut, leading Denver to a thrilling 34-30 victory over Indianapolis. Nix showcased his skills with a touchdown pass and orchestrated impressive scoring drives to close out both halves on Sunday.
Selected as the No. 12 overall draft pick in April, Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and added 17 rushing yards on three attempts before exiting the game midway through the third quarter. He was succeeded by former New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson.
Veteran Jarrett Stidham started for the Broncos, finishing with 4 completions on 7 attempts for 57 yards and one interception. Despite this, Nix’s performance may have positioned him as a frontrunner for the starting quarterback role in Denver.
“Bo Nix is just a great athlete, and I was so close to getting that dude,” remarked Colts rookie Laiatu Latu. “But I didn’t get him.” Nix’s efficiency stood out, especially as he faced mostly backup defenders from Indianapolis.
For the Colts, the spotlight was on second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson and 2021 NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor, who finally shared the backfield after injuries sidelined them for most of last season. However, their impact was minimal; Richardson completed 2 of 4 passes for 25 yards and rushed once for 1 yard, while Taylor managed just 4 yards on two carries.
Veteran Joe Flacco led the Colts to a field goal during his only series, completing 3 of 5 passes for 28 yards.
Nix broke a 3-3 tie with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. late in the second quarter. After Evan Hull tied the game with a 1-yard run, Nix set up Will Lutz for a 27-yard field goal just before halftime.
Audric Estime’s 2-yard touchdown run extended Denver’s lead to 20-10 in the third quarter, but Colts cornerback Micah Abraham quickly responded by stripping the ball from Estime and returning it 45 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 20-17.
The Broncos secured their victory with a 6-yard touchdown run from Blake Watson with 5:55 remaining.
Homecoming
Estime and fellow rookie cornerback Reese Taylor made their NFL debuts in a familiar setting. Estime, a former Notre Dame standout, rushed 10 times for 31 yards.
Taylor, who started his college career at Indiana and finished at Purdue, made a tackle on kickoff. He earned the title of Mr. Football in Indiana in 2017 while playing quarterback at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.
Injuries
For the Broncos, tight end Lucas Krull did not return after injuring his toe in the third quarter, having recorded four catches for 31 yards. Cornerback Art Green was also ruled out late in the game after being evaluated for a concussion.
On the Colts’ side, backup running back Trey Sermon missed the game due to a left hamstring injury. Defensive end Titus Leo entered the injury tent during the second half, having previously been carted off the practice field with a knee injury earlier in training camp. Running back Trent Penix also left with a groin issue.
Up Next
The Broncos will host the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.
The Colts will welcome the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday after two joint practices this week.
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