So far, so good for Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
Nix, who is competing with Jarrett Stidham for the starting role, arrived in Denver this spring with 61 college starts on his resume, an NCAA record. Nix’s extensive experience at the college level could prove to be beneficial as he now transitions to playing in the NFL.
During his media availability earlier this week, safety P.J. Locke gave an encouraging report on the rookie quarterback.
“Right now, what I notice from Bo is he’s a good look off guy,” Locke said Thursday. “He’s really good looking off. Even in OTAs, I was like, ‘Man, I just cannot get a bead off of him.’ Most of the time rookie quarterbacks, their first read, they’re going to look at it.
“Here, he’ll look you off real quick. I think he studies the safeties. He can tell — we’re super instinctive. We try to play games with him, so he tries to play games back. That’s what I’ve noticed off the rip. He can throw the pill. He can throw it.”
P.J. Locke can already tell that #Broncos QB Bo Nix is not like most rookie quarterbacks.
Why?
“He’s a good look-off guy. He’s really good looking off (the safeties). Even in OTAs, I was just like, ‘Man, I cannot get a bead off of him.’” pic.twitter.com/jRAAtt25bj
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 1, 2024
Nix is not staring down his primary target at practice. Instead, he’s fooling Locke and the team’s other defensive backs with his eyes, looking at one target before throwing to someone else. It’s an effective approach, one that suggests Nix is not hindered by a common rookie mistake of locking his eyes onto one WR.
Of course, looking off a defensive back is a moot point if the pass is not on target. Nix’s accuracy has also been praised by teammates.
“It has some zip on it, but he can also throw some touch on it too,” wide receiver Josh Reynolds said. “He’s versatile. His arm is very versatile. I think he can make a lot of the throws that the coaches are asking for. I think it will help us a lot.”
Nix, 24, will make his NFL debut when the Broncos go on the road to face the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener on Aug. 11.
