ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Bo Nix didn't have time to chat with his family before addressing the media for the first time as the Broncos' starting quarterback.
The 12th-overall pick in April's NFL Draft was already out on the Broncos' practice field when Head Coach Sean Payton said he stopped Nix to inform him that he would be the team's starting quarterback.
"He smiled, and he was good," Payton said. "We [were] getting ready to practice, and that was it. We didn't have cake and candles or anything like that."
The informal nature of the news also meant that Nix didn't have a moment to inform his family that he would lead the Broncos' offense onto the field in Seattle for Week 1.
Nix, though, already knew what the message would be from his loved ones.
"They probably have already heard from you guys," Nix joked after practice. "We will talk about it later, I'm sure. They will be excited, and they will all tell me the same thing, which is it doesn't change a thing. You have to go back and work."
After winning a months-long quarterback competition and earning the right to be the first Broncos rookie quarterback to start the season opener since John Elway in 1983, Nix said he recognizes that the stakes have now been raised.
"Now, the expectations and the standards are even higher," Nix said.
There's no question, however, that Nix met the existing standard. Nix joined the competition during the offseason program and completed 23-of-30 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns and a 116.7 quarterback rating during two preseason games. In the process, Nix did not take a sack or throw an interception in nearly 60 snaps.
Through his consistency, arm strength, ability to play on the move and much more, Nix put together a "larger body of work" that Head Coach Sean Payton said earned him the starting job. And in Payton's eyes, earning the role — rather than being prematurely anointed — was critical.
"I think that's part of this process that we're talking about," Payton said. "In other words, everything in this league is earned. The minute that there's someone that has something that's not earned, that can affect and impact your locker room. It really can. I've told the story with you guys about other positions, guys that were drafted that were released and free agents that made it. These guys see it. Now we're rooting for all of them. We really are. Why wouldn't we? We want to see all these young players have success, and yet there's still that element of show, earn and demonstrate."
Nix has gained the respect of his veteran teammates, with Courtland Sutton speaking to Nix's poise and control after Denver's opening preseason win.
"The moment wasn't too big for him," Sutton said on Aug. 11.
Wide receiver Tim Patrick was even more direct in a recent assessment.
"Same thing he's been doing in practice — just making plays, taking charge of the huddle and just being Bo Nix," said Patrick of what he saw from Nix against the Colts.
On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Pat Surtain II has also recognized the way Nix can impact Denver's potential.
"I think the team is poised to do great things," Surtain said. "Obviously, we have a young team, but [there's] a lot of hungry guys on the team that's looking forward to that next step. I think we're off in the right direction, because Bo knows how to win games. He knows what it takes because he's seen it on the biggest stage since college. Seeing him in action on Sundays is going to be very exciting for sure."
As he's earned his teammates' trust, Nix has also relied on a pair of veterans in Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
"Those guys have pushed me extremely hard, and I've learned a lot from those two," Nix said. "I wouldn't be here without them pushing me along the way and teaching me things. They've been incredible to have in a room for a rookie quarterback. I really thank them a lot."
With the help of those teammates — both from his position group and from other parts of the roster — the Denver rookie will begin to prepare for his first regular-season opportunity. And as he prepares, he knows the expectations that await him.
"The standard is the standard," Nix said. "If you go out there expecting to perform at a high level and you go out there with high standards [for] yourself, then you kind of put the pressure on yourself to go out there and perform and have success [based off] the coaches' standards and players' standards. I'm excited to continue to work at those goals and work in that element.
"You're never satisfied, and you're never complacent."
