ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The progress is evident.
And so are the areas for continued improvement.
Ahead of a "Thursday Night Football" matchup with the New Orleans Saints, rookie quarterback Bo Nix said he can see areas where he's made strides since the early moments of the season. The signal-caller, though, also recognizes there's plenty of area for growth.
"I do see the progress, but I still see some that I'm leaving out there," Nix said Tuesday. "It's a happy medium — a fine line of both — feeling like I am making strides, but, at the same time, there's things I continue to go back and watch that I know I'm capable of doing. It's good to see the progress and the strides, but I'm not where I want to be at yet."
Since the Broncos' 0-2 start in which Nix recorded one total touchdown and four interceptions, he's tallied six total touchdowns — including five touchdown passes — and one interception over the last four weeks. In the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Chargers, Nix led the Broncos to three scoring drives as part of a furious comeback that ultimately fell one possession short.
After going 4-of-14 for 27 yards, a pair of sacks and an interception through three quarters, Nix threw for two touchdowns and nearly 200 yards in the final frame as he posted a 143.2 quarterback rating.
During the Broncos' previous three-game win streak, Nix played clean football and showed an ability to keep the ball out of harm's way.
As Nix prepares to face a Saints defense that ranks 23rd in points allowed and 32nd in total defense, he said the ability to gain reps in different game scenarios has already proved invaluable.
"I think it's really important," Nix said. "There's all kinds of experiences — new experiences — going on for me. It's important for me to treat each and every one of them like it's different and learn as much as I can and grow as much as I can from them. We've been in literally almost every situation possible at this point. We've just got to continue to battle and take it one game at a time and keep learning when our opportunities are there and not make the same mistakes over and over."
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton said he's seen signs that Nix is not destined to make those same mistakes as the team strives for offensive improvement.
"He's making steps," Sutton said Tuesday. "He's taking strides to get to where he wants to ultimately get to. It's been really exciting watching him continue to develop. I know I keep saying it each week, but it's the truth. Ultimately at the end of the day, we want to see him get better from week in and week out. I think that's where he's ultimately been able to get to."
Sutton acknowledged the Broncos have "left [opportunities] out there on the table," but he said he's encouraged by Nix's propensity to bring those missed chances to Sutton's attention.
"I'll see it, and then he'll see it, and then I'll see him the next day or something and he's like, 'Hey, did you see this play? We can hit that in the future if it comes back around,'" Sutton said. "To have that [connection] and for us to both see that, and for other guys, and other pass catchers and other people in our offense to be able to see those things and recognize it and to know that there's more on the table for us is definitely encouraging."
With a critical matchup against the Saints on deck, Nix, Sutton and the rest of the Broncos' offense will aim to continue to make those strides.
"The standard's still very high, and [I'm] still working to reach that," Nix said.
