Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb had a simple checklist for Bo Nix in his return to the field for the first time since fracturing his ankle in January.
Feel the game-day feels. Knock the rust off. Play clean football.
It didn’t take Denver’s third-year quarterback long to check all those boxes — and more.
Nix and the Broncos’ starting offense scored points on both drives they played Friday night in a preseason game against Green Bay at Empower Field, including an opening touchdown.
Nix finished his night 6-of-9 passing for 76 yards and a 21-yard touchdown pass to second-year running back RJ Harvey.
“For the first time back where he’s actually going against a different defense, I thought he was efficient,” head coach Sean Payton told the broadcast at halftime. “He’s been moving well at practice and that’s really been the key evaluation. No restrictions. He’ll be ready to go to start the year.”
Nix showed the ability to escape pressure and avoid bad plays.
He attacked down the field.
He took his new top-tier offensive weapon, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, out for a third-down spin, too.
It all added up to a productive night for Nix, who had offensive coordinator and new Broncos play-caller Davis Webb as his voice in the helmet for the first time in a game.
Webb dialed up a good one on third-and-5 from the Denver 40. Waddle, Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant all lined up to Nix’s right. At the snap, Sutton took off up the sideline and Bryant worked his way across Waddle, who was in the slot.
That pair of routes from the Broncos’ pair of physically imposing receivers left Waddle with all kinds of room to operate as he started up the field. He made a quick cut vertically and left All-Pro safety — and former college teammate at Alabama — Xavier McKinney in his dust. Nix hit him for a 35-yard catch-and-run to set the Broncos up in scoring territory.
Three plays later, Nix saw Harvey beat another terrific Packers defender, inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, on a wheel route and put a good throw between the numbers on his jersey for a touchdown.
The Broncos’ second drive and the starting offense’s night ended in a 53-yard Wil Lutz field goal.
That constituted a fine night of work over 14 plays for the group. They played mostly clean, except for a Garett Bolles false start. They scored on both drives. The playmakers they’re going to count on this year beat premium players on the other side.
Denver didn’t operate entirely at full strength, though nearly every player dressed for Payton’s team in its home preseason debut. Center Luke Wattenberg, running back J.K. Dobbins, and wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. were dressed but did not play. Calvin Throckmorton started at center for Denver.
With Dobbins watching from the sideline, Harvey got the first drive with the No. 1 offense and rookie Jonah Coleman handled the second.
Neither saw any playing time once the starting offensive line was out of the game.
Nix said Tuesday that he was “super excited” to get back on the field almost seven months to the day after he fractured his right ankle in overtime of Denver’s postseason win over Buffalo.
“Itap always a blast to play at home,” he said. “Itap great to get in front of our fans. It’ll be fun to get out there for the first time this year, put the pads on and go out there and play a game.
“For me, all the games feel the same and so it’ll be good to get some work in.”
The night did not go as smoothly for Vance Joseph’s top defense. The group looked like it had forced a turnover on the second play of the night when Pat Surtain II stripped Packers receiver Christian Watson, but the fumble was overturned and quarterback Jordan Love led a 12-play touchdown drive on his only possession of the night.
Eyioma Uwazurike continues to push for a starting role along the Denver defensive line. He got the nod in base defense, while Malcolm Roach played in nickel and when Joseph had his pass-rushing groups in the game.
Roll call: The Broncos that didn’t dress were mostly players that have been out recently with injuries: OLB Drew Sanders, C Alex Forsyth, WR Michael Bandy and TE Caleb Lohner. Veteran safety Taylor Rapp also did not dress because he just signed with Denver on Thursday.
