Zach Wilson faces uncertainty in Broncos QB battle as Sean Payton favors Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham
The Denver Broncos enter this season with Sean Payton testing out Zach Wilson, Bo Nix, and Jarrett Stidham for the starting quarterback spot. It is expected to be a big decision with the Super Bowl-winning coach choosing to move on from Russell Wilson towards the end of last season. Whoever is selected will be vying to become the long-term franchise quarterback and give Mile High fans the stability that they have lacked since Peyton Manning was helming the offense.
With the training camps on the way and the season about to start very soon, Sean Payton will have to decide who he has as his starter soon. And it looks like the process of elimination has already begun and Zach Wilson has been left holding the short straw.
So far, the former Jets quarterback was taking reps with the first team as per a regular rotation with Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham. But after the rookie practiced with the starters on Monday, following the former Patriots quarterback taking the reins on Saturday, the latter was back again on Tuesday to take his position with the presumptive starting players. As reported by ESPN, Zach Wilson was left to train with the third team.
When Sean Payton was asked about this change in order, the Broncos head coach replied,
"Look, we've got a plan. Bo ran with the 1s [Monday], Zach with the 2s; today, it was [Stidham] with the 1s. No news to announce there. I know you're looking for it, but ..."
But Sean Payton did not confirm that the former Jets quarterback will have another chance to train with the first-teamers, leaving a distinct possibility that Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix might be the ones fighting for the starting spot.
Times change for Zach Wilson as he drops behind Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham in Sean Payton's pecking order
This whole change would have come as a shock to Zach Wilson and it will be interesting to see how he reacts. Earlier in the offseason, there were reports that Sean Payton was seriously looking at the former Jets quarterback as the starter. If he has failed to impress the head coach despite allegedly leading on the depth chart at one time, the former first-round pick could be looking at some tough days ahead.
For Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham, on the other hand, it's crunch time. Both know that the next few weeks could determine how their NFL careers shake out going forward.