Bo Nix will remain Broncos starting QB, Sean Payton says he's not considering change

Sam Jane, The Denver Post on Oct 19, 2026

Published in Football

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DENVER — The Denver Broncos are sticking by their quarterback despite growing calls for him to be replaced.

Bo Nix will remain Denver’s starter, coach Sean Payton said Monday morning on a conference call with reporters. While there has been no indication Payton has considered making a change at quarterback, Nix’s struggles have been exacerbated in the team’s past two wins. Despite those issues, Payton stood by his quarterback Monday.

“Bo is going to be a byproduct of all the other things that get improved,” Payton said. “The improved play from our offensive line, more efficient relative we are to balance — running the football. That’s our job as coaches here.”

Denver has started the season 4-2, with wins over several Super Bowl contenders, but its 19 points per game ranks seventh-worst in the NFL. Nix’s 60.3% completion rate ranks 26th among qualified quarterbacks, and his average of 5.6 yards per pass attempt is the lowest among starting quarterbacks.

Nix has posted three of his five lowest career passing yardage totals this season. The second half Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks was arguably the worst statistical half of his career. He threw only one pass beyond the sticks on 17 attempts and averaged 0.6 air yards per completion. Denver managed just two first downs.

After Thursday’s win, Nix said he “doesn’t understand” why the Broncos have been unable to push the ball downfield, pointing to a “disconnect” within the offense. The quarterback has increasingly reflected on the team’s offensive struggles in recent weeks, saying he needs to free himself from the pressure he puts on himself and that he’s not far off from playing at his usual level.

Payton pointed to Seattle’s two-high defense as a major reason for the lack of explosive plays, but he also acknowledged Denver’s offense will need to start pushing the ball downfield more.

“Certainly you come away from a game like that and you’re wanting a little bit more or obviously a chunk play,” Payton said. “That starts with me and us giving him those opportunities when they present themselves.”

Payton was also asked whether he thinks Nix might be grappling with the lingering effects of an ankle injury he suffered in the playoffs last year. Nix has said he’s fully healthy and not concerned about his ankle, but his rushing statistics have all declined from previous seasons.

“That’s one of the things that attracted us to Bo in the beginning is we’ve seen his ability to climb through adversity — all of ours. It’s not just Bo that feels that. Right now offensively, I feel that. Our players feel that. And we’ll improve,” Payton said.

Sunday will be one of the team’s best opportunities to rebound. The Arizona Cardinals’ defense is allowing a league-worst 8.01 yards per pass play this season and ranks 30th in expected points added per dropback allowed. The Cardinals did just hold Matthew Stafford and the vaunted Rams offense to 16 points in a stunning upset over Los Angeles.

Stafford’s passes traveled just 4.8 air yards per attempt against the Cardinals, his third-lowest mark in any start with the Rams. He took three sacks and averaged just 6.72 yards per attempt.

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