ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Quarterback Bo Nix's next game action is slated for Week 1 in Seattle.

Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton announced Friday that Jarrett Stidham would start the Broncos' preseason finale against the Cardinals and play "the first series or so" before Zach Wilson enters the game.

"I'd like to see [Stidham] get 8 to 12 plays, and then we'll get a lot of work with Zach [beginning] at some point in that first or early second quarter," Payton said.

In Wilson's reps, he is expected to get some work with the second-team offense after working with the third unit for the last several weeks of training camp.

"This will be a good test, a good opportunity for Zach getting work with the second wave," Payton said. "He'll get a lot of snaps."

Payton said there will be "a number of starters that won't see any reps" in the team's preseason finale against the Cardinals.

"A handful" of key players will still see action, including safety Brandon Jones. Payton also mentioned cornerback Levi Wallace and running back Audric Estime among the players who will see time.

"We're trying to play close attention to the snaps," Payton said. "Look, on defense, we've got to see where Jones is at, we've got to see where Levi's at. There's three or four guys that haven't really gotten reps in the first two games. Those guys are all getting healthier. … This will be more two phases rather than three phases."

As Stidham and Wilson make a final preseason impression, Payton said the Broncos have "got a pretty good idea the direction we're going" at quarterback.

"We're going to meet here in about five minutes — [General Manager] George [Paton], myself, a few others — and kind of go through the depth chart as we see it and the discussion players," Payton said. "But I think we've got a real good handle on that room, specifically. We're not announcing anything, but I like — I've said this, I'll say it again — I like the room. I feel like we've gotten better."