And for the first time since the Hall of Fame quarterback retired, Denver has a long-term answer under center. However, with Nix suffering a fractured ankle in the divisional round game, the Broncos turn to backup Jarrett Stidham to face the Patriots.

Broncos players express faith in backup QB Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix’s injury

From Trevor Siemian to Case Keenum to Nix, here’s a look at the Broncos’ different starting quarterbacks since Manning retired, who they are, how they fared in the role and where they are today.

Trevor Siemian

How he landed with the Broncos: Siemian was selected in the seventh round (250th pick overall) in 2015.

How he fared in Denver: Siemian played 25 games, making 24 starts for the Broncos and leading them to a 13-11 record. He completed 59.3% of his passes for 5,686 yards, 30 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He was traded to the Vikings along with a 2018 seventh-round pick following the 2017 season for a 2019 fifth-round pick. The fifth-round pick was used to select linebacker Justin Hollins.

Where he is now: The 34-year-old journeyman was signed to the Tennessee Titans' practice squad following training camp and remained on it all season long. He made numerous stops in the years after Denver, including with the Vikings, Jets, Saints, Bears and Bengals.

Paxton Lynch

How he landed with the Broncos: The Memphis standout was selected in the first round (26th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. “He was the guy,” general manager John Elway said after selecting Lynch. “And we’re thrilled to have him.”

How he fared in Denver: Lynch didn’t live up to his first-round hype in Denver, playing just five games (starting four) in his two seasons with the Broncos. He had a 1-3 record while completing 61.7% of his passes for 792 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He was cut before the start of the 2018 season.

Where he is now: Lynch, 31, signed with the Colorado Spartans of the National Arena League on Nov. 1.

Brock Osweiler

How he landed with the Broncos: Osweiler was originally selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. Following the Super Bowl 50 win, he signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Houston Texans. He was traded a year later to Cleveland but was released before the start of the 2018 season. Shortly after, he re-signed with Denver after Lynch suffered a shoulder injury.

How he fared in Denver: His second stint with the Broncos wasn’t as memorable as his first. He played in six games (starting four) and finished with an 0-4 record in his starts. He finished the year completing 55.8% of his passes for 1,088 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Where he is now: Osweiler, 35, retired from playing in 2019. He now works as a .

Case Keenum

How he landed with the Broncos: Keenum signed a two-year, $36 million deal before the start of the 2018 season.

How he fared in Denver: Keenum became the first Broncos quarterback to start every game in a season since Peyton Manning’s 2014 season. He opened strong, leading Denver to a 2-0 start, but the team finished the season 6-10. Keenum completed 62.3% of his passes for 3,890 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He was traded along with a seventh-round pick to Washington for a sixth-round pick following the end of the season.

Where he is now: The 37-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Bears last April. He was the team's third-string quarterback behind Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent.

Joe Flacco

How he landed with the Broncos: The former Super Bowl MVP was traded to Denver in February 2019 for a fourth-round draft pick.

How he fared in Denver: Flacco started eight games before the Broncos placed him on injured reserve for a herniated disc in his neck. Denver went 2-6 in his starts, where he completed 65.3% of his passes for 1,822 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Where he is now: Flacco, 41, finished the 2025 season as the backup quarterback for the Bengals. He opened the year as the Browns' starting quarterback after signing a one-year, $4 million contract. He was benched by Cleveland after four games in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel. Later that week, he was traded to Cincinnati, where he took over the starting job until Joe Burrow returned in Week 16. He finished the year with a 60.3% passing percentage, throwing for 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Brandon Allen

How he landed with the Broncos: Allen was claimed off waivers from the Rams before the start of the 2019 season.

How he fared in Denver: He started in three games for the Broncos after Flacco suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9 of the 2019 season. He won his first game and lost the other two, completing 46.4% of his passes for 515 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Where he is now: Allen, 33, signed a one-year, $1.42 million deal with the Titans before the 2025 season. He appeared in one game, completing 17 of 30 passes for 72 yards and an interception.

Drew Lock

How he landed with the Broncos: Lock was selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2019 NFL draft out of Missouri.

How he fared in Denver: Lock made his first start during his rookie season in Week 13. In his five starts, he helped the Broncos to a 4-1 record to close out the season. He started 13 games in 2020 and three in 2021. He finished his time in Denver with an 8-13 record, 59.3% completion percentage, 4,740 yards, 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Where he is now: Lock, 29, signed a two-year, $5 million contract last April to be Sam Darnold's backup in Seattle. It's his second stint with the Seahawks. He made five appearances, completing 2 of 3 passes for 15 yards this year.

Jeff Driskel

How he landed with the Broncos: Driskel signed as a free agent before the 2020 season.

How he fared in Denver: Driskel made his first appearance in Week 2 of the 2020 season after Drew Lock suffered a shoulder injury early in the game against the Steelers. He started in Week 3 in a losing effort to the Buccaneers but was pulled in the fourth quarter. In three appearances (one start), he completed 54.7% of his passes for 432 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Where he is now: The 32-year-old signed with the Commanders in December off the Cardinals' practice squad after Marcus Mariota's injury. He did not play in 2025.

Brett Rypien

How he landed with the Broncos: Rypien signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

How he fared in Denver: The nephew of former Washington star quarterback Mark Rypien came on in relief of Jeff Driskel in Week 3 of the 2020 season during Denver’s loss to Tampa Bay. He earned the start in Week 4, leading the Broncos to a 37-28 road win against the Jets. He also had four appearances (two starts) in 2022, coming in for an injured Russell Wilson. In eight games (three starts) in Denver, he completed 61.5% of his passes for 778 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Where he is now: Rypien, 29, opened the 2025 season on the Bengals' practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster after Joe Burrow's injury, but was released after Cincinnati traded for Joe Flacco. He signed with the Colts but was released in December. The Vikings picked him up off waivers a day later.

Kendall Hinton

How he landed with the Broncos: Hinton signed as an undrafted free agent in April 2020. He was waived before the start of the season, but signed to the practice squad that November.

How he fared in Denver: Hinton was a quarterback at Wake Forest but was projected to be a receiver in the NFL. He became the Broncos’ emergency starter in Week 12 of the 2020 season after all four of Denver’s quarterbacks were ruled ineligible to play due to COVID-19 protocol. While Phillip Lindsay technically started under center, Hinton was the team’s primary passer for the game. He completed 1 of 9 passes for 13 yards and two interceptions in a 31-3 loss to the Saints.

Where he is now: After emerging as a depth receiver for the Broncos from 2021-22 (39 catches for 486 yards and a touchdown), he was waived during training camp in August 2023. The 28-year-old is currently a free agent. He's also a , according to his Instagram.

Teddy Bridgewater

How he landed with the Broncos: Denver traded a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Panthers to acquire Bridgewater in April.

How he fared in Denver: The journeyman quarterback emerged as the team’s starter after beating out incumbent Drew Lock in the preseason. The Broncos’ record was 7-6 through his 13 starts. He has completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,052 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Where is he now: The 33-year-old quarterback backed up Baker Mayfield for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. He had four appearances, completing 8 of 15 passes for 62 yards.

Russell Wilson

How he landed with the Broncos: In one of the biggest trades in Denver sports history, the Broncos traded for Wilson and a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick.

How he fared in Denver: Before the 2024 season, Wilson had been the most stable starter for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired. He started 30 games for Denver, completing 63.3% of his passes for 6,594 yards, 42 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. The Broncos compiled an 11-19 record during that span. In addition, he and his wife, Ciara, bought a $25 million mansion in Cherry Hills Village (and sold it for $21.5 million).

Where he is now: Wilson, 37, signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Giants before the 2025 season. He opened the season as New York's starter but was benched in favor of Jaxson Dart following an 0-3 start. He later fell to the No. 3 spot behind Jameis Winston. He completed 69 of 119 passes for 831 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Jarrett Stidham

How he landed with the Broncos: Stidham signed a two-year, $10 million contract in March 2023. He signed a two-year, $12 million extension prior to the 2025 season.

How he fared (so far) in Denver: Stidham, 29, made his first start in Week 17 of the 2023 season against the Chargers. In three appearances (two starts), he's completed 60.6% of his passes for 496 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He beat out Zach Wilson to be the team's backup in 2024.

Where he is now: He's spent the last two seasons as Denver's backup quarterback to Nix. He'll be the Broncos starter on Sunday against his former team, the Patriots, in the AFC Championship game.

Bo Nix

How he landed with the Broncos: Nix was selected in the first round (12th pick overall) in the 2024 NFL draft out of Oregon.

How he fared (so far) in Denver: The 25-year-old has led Denver to back-to-back playoff appearances since getting drafted. He's started 34 regular-season games, completing 64.8% of his passes for 7,706 yards, 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He also has 786 yards rushing and nine touchdowns in his career. His win over the Bills in the AFC divisional round was just Denver's second playoff victory by a quarterback they had drafted, joining Tim Tebow.

Where he is now: He is Denver's starting quarterback but is out for the season after suffering a fractured ankle in the AFC divisional round.

In the “Rise of The Red Power” about the Chiefs, Dontari Poe killed the Broncos in way that was inexcusable.

So for those wanting to sympathize with the collapse of the rival kingdom, save your Kleenex for more worthy causes.

The Chiefs and their fans have delighted in their dominance of Denver, understandably so after how John Elway and Peyton Manning treated them for two decades. That seems like a long time ago. The Broncos have lost nine straight games at Arrowhead Stadium.

Is it too much to ask for Denver to beat them before they move with Dorothy and Toto to Kansas?

There should be no solace for the Chiefs without Patrick Mahomes. What they have done to the Broncos is wicked.

Don’t believe it? Think back to Poe on Christmas night in 2016.

As defending Super Bowl champions, the Broncos clung to playoff hopes. The night before the game, coach Gary Kubiak told Elway, the general manager, that he planned to retire because of health reasons.

This became the Broncos’ last stand. And the Chiefs sawed the legs off their throne, gleefully embarrassing them.

With 1:55 remaining and the Chiefs leading 26-10, Poe, a 346-pound defensive tackle, took a direct snap and flipped a 2-yard scoring pass to tight end Demetirus Harris.

He was the first defensive-only player to throw a touchdown since 1981.

If that isn’t rubbing their nose in it, what is? There is no other reasonable interpretation.

Yes, it was on the Broncos to stop it. And that was not happening with their default setting set on Cancun. But it does not mean they should forget it.

The Chiefs ended the Broncos’ run as rulers of the AFC West with a gadget play that made them look foolish, like easy marks. It was Chiefs’ prerogative, but a decade later, Denver must return the favor.

Time to Reid the room.

The opportunity for payback comes with a matching platform and context. The Chiefs were in the mix for the division crown when they extinguished the Broncos’ playoff hopes with Poe’s dagger. Denver is chasing the AFC’s top seed and its first conference title since 2015, which marks the last season when the Broncos won in Kansas City.

It only seems like that is when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. It was definitely when “Uptown Funk” topped the charts by Bruno Mars.

So spare me the sorrys about the Chiefs. The Broncos need a victory, and the Chiefs are ripe for a punch in the throat.

They are wounded, compromised, eliminated, their season ending before the AFC Championship Game for the first time since Mahomes became the starter. They are playing third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun — rhymes with never heard of him.

Cry me a river.

Nobody turned on the faucets when the Broncos were rolling out Brandon Allen, Paxton Lynch and Jeff Driskel. Heed the advice of Lou Holtz — just for clarification, he is not a kicker for the Broncos — who famously said when it comes to problems, “90 percent of people don’t care and the other 10 percent are glad you’ve have them.”

Don’t get a soft spot for the Chiefs now.

They are in a bad way. Tough. They will be fired up for primetime, if no other reason, this sets up as Travis Kelce’s last home game. He is a future Hall of Famer, a lynchpin in the dynasty.

He alone is a reason for not taking it easy, for keeping the throttle open. He has caught 133 passes for 1,627 yards and eight touchdowns in 21 games against Denver. And how many of those came after he pleaded his case to refs like he was on episode of “Judge Judy”?

Sure, 99 % of the players from the 2016 Chiefs team are no longer there. Who cares? Redemption does not have an expiration date.

The Broncos should do it for Trevor Siemian, whose three interception performance in 2017 led to his benching.

Do it for Vic Fangio, who had the keen idea to leave time for Mahomes to work his way down the field for a game-winning drive.

Do it for Courtland Sutton, who had an interference call go against him that was so egregious it had Twitter experts running to see if the rules had changed. It not only shifted momentum, but prevented Jerry Rosberg from winning his interim coaching debut.

Do it for Drew Lock, who returned as a local legend from Lee’s Summit High School, and played for long stretches like he was colorblind.

Do it for Justin Simmons, who deserved better for his excellence against the Chiefs that was never rewarded.

Do it for Sean Payton, who forgot how to use timeouts in his return to coaching in 2023, and helped the Chiefs by stopping the clock.

Do it for ����apountry. Life was a much better place when Shannon Sharpe was making Derrick Thomas lose his mind over his strategic trash talk. Or when Marty Schottenheimer was going full Heimlich in the playoffs. Or when Bradley Roby was executing a scoop and score.

The Chiefs deserve nothing but respect for what they have done over the last decade.

But they also deserve to be barbecued without a morsel of remorse. As Poe, Edgar, not Dontari, knows: when injuries venture into insult, there is no other choice than to vow revenge, to punish with impunity, especially on national TV during our most famous holiday.

�³���:��11 a.m. Sunday

�³�����:��Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.

�ճ�/�����徱��:��CBS, 850 AM/94.1 FM

Broncos-Eagles series: Denver’s only won once in seven tries at Lincoln Financial Field, as the Broncos face an incredibly tough test on Sunday. The Broncos are 5-9 all-time in 14 matchups against the Eagles, last dropping a game 30-13 in November 2021, when now-Eagles DC Vic Fangio was the head coach.

In the spotlight: Bo Nix faces Vic Fangio defense in massive early test

If you ask Vic Fangio, the Broncos’ second-year quarterback is a heck of a lot like the one the Eagles just played: Baker Mayfield.

“I think he might be Baker’s younger brother,” Fangio, now the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, said Monday. “Really good. Really, really good.”

It’s a fairly apt comparison. Mayfield, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ fiery 30-year-old Pro Bowler, stands 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. Bo Nix, the Broncos’ fiery 25-year-old QB, stands 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds. Both fall somewhere in the vague realm between on-time game manager and creative shot-taker.

It’s unclear if such a comparison will end up being a compliment, though, after the Eagles just held Mayfield to a 55.0 completion percentage and an 84.3 quarterback rating in a Philadelphia win last Sunday.

“He’s a scrambler,” Fangio said of Nix. “He’s a competitor. He’ll throw the ball in tight places. He runs their offense really well. I think Sean’s done a great job bringing him along. And they got their quarterback for the future.

“They looked long and hard for many years, and they’ve got one.”

Fangio, of course, knows as well as anyone. In Fangio’s three years as the Broncos’ head coach from 2019-2021, Denver cycled through six starting quarterbacks. Those were the days of a not-yet-reborn Joe Flacco, and the weirdness of Drew Lock, Brandon Allen and Jeff Driskel. Payton found his offensive leader in the first round in 2024, after Fangio found the Broncos’ current defensive leader, Pat Surtain II, in the first round in 2021.

Now, after an inconclusive four-game start to 2025, Nix steps into one of the most important moments of his early Broncos career. Head-to-head with the Super Bowl champions. Head-to-head with a Fangio defense that tormented Patrick Mahomes himself last February. Head-to-head with 65,000-plus roaring Philadelphians.

Here’s the thing: The Eagles’ defense has looked considerably more vulnerable through four games this season, despite a 4-0 start. They stiffen in the red zone — tied for the fewest red-zone TDs allowed (4) of any NFL team thus far — when the field tightens and their playmakers shine. Inside linebacker Zack Baun has been worth every penny of a $51 million March extension, racking up nine pressures as a blitzer and allowing just 73 yards on 16 targets in coverage. Quinyon Mitchell is rounding into one of the best young cornerbacks in the game not named Pat Surtain II, surrendering a 44% catch rate early in 2025.

When the field lengths, though, the Eagles are vulnerable. Philadelphia’s allowed the second-most average yards on deep balls thus far this season, according to Next Gen Stats. And they haven’t been able to consistently pressure quarterbacks on such looks: Fangio’s defense sits in the middle of the league in pressure rate, and near the bottom of the league in total sacks.

“I don’t think our rush has been bad,” Fangio said Monday. “The ball’s been coming out pretty quick at times. I haven’t felt an epidemic during the games, when I’m calling them, that our rush isn’t good enough.”

Nix ripped a 28-yard shot to Marvin Mims Jr. against the Bengals in Week 4, one of his most impressive throws of the year. Still, his deep-ball accuracy has been an early talking point. If Payton’s play-calling opens up opportunities against Philadelphia, Nix can’t afford to miss them.

“It����ap going to be a challenge to find explosive plays, but at the same time, it����ap not getting bored, continuing to do the same stuff over and over throughout the game,” Nix said Thursday. “When it����ap there, you also have to be able to hit it. They’ll give us our opportunities; we’ve got to hit it. But at the same time, we’re going to have to work for them.”

Who has the edge?

When Broncos run: Sean Payton unlocked a two-back effectiveness against the Bengals that he’d never quite found in his two previous seasons in Denver, and the Broncos’ ground attack is suddenly rolling. They’re fifth in the NFL in average rushing yards per game. Veteran back J.K. Dobbins has answered the bell at every call, and rookie RJ Harvey added 58 yards on 14 carries Monday night. The Eagles defense has allowed the seventh-highest yards per carry in the league thus far, but this area gets interesting if .��Slight edge: Broncos

When Broncos pass: Vic Fangio made the joke this week that every rookie you start equates to one loss. The Eagles, though, are rolling with second-round pick Andrew Mukuba at safety. He’s largely been solid to start his NFL career, but he got torched for a 77-yard touchdown last week. Philadelphia has solid cornerback play in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, but sits right in the middle of the league in pass defense thus far. Edge: Even

When Eagles run: The follow-up to a league-altering Super Bowl rushing attack has been … fine. All-world back Saquon Barkley has averaged 3.1 yards a carry thus far, and is going for just 2.5 a pop on between-the-tackles runs. But the Eagles have still run for seven touchdowns on the ground, and the Jalen Hurts Tush Push remains as lethal as ever. Edge: Eagles

When Eagles pass: You’re in a tough early-season spot when your WR1 is . A.J. Brown has been fully neutralized in all but one of the Eagles’ four contests this season, currently averaging fewer than 40 yards a game. Hurts has been remarkably efficient as a thrower, but the Broncos just shut down arguably the best receiving tandem in the league last week in the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. ���岵��:��Broncos

Special teams: Fangio went on a diatribe this week about how the NFL’s new kicking rules — teams being allowed unlimited time to break in balls — have “drastically changed” field goals around the league. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott probably won’t complain, though, as he’s 3 of 3 on kicks longer than 50 yards this year. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has blocked three combined field goals or punts in just the last two games. This could be a bloodbath. Edge: Eagles

Coaching: Sean Payton’s play-calling popped in Week 4 against the Bengals, and the shift to full series for Dobbins and Harvey showed clear self-evaluation. Vance Joseph’s defense, meanwhile, was allergic to letting the Bengals across midfield for most of the game. For all the combined years of experience there, though, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is currently piloting a football team that is 20-1 in its last 21 games and has overachieved in 2025 relative to yardage ranks.��Edge: Eagles

Tale of the tape

By the numbers

217:��Passing attempts since Jalen Hurts last threw an interception.

3.5:��Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s average yards-per-carry in 2025 when facing a light box (less than seven defenders).

92.3%:��Philadelphia tight end Dallas Goedert’s catch rate in 2025.

50%:��A.J. Brown’s catch rate in 2025.

40.9%: Eagles’ pressure rate against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers last Sunday, their highest since the start of 2024.

158.3: Bo Nix’s quarterback rating when pressured by the Bengals on Monday night.

X-factors

�����DzԳ��Dz�:��DL Zach Allen. Denver needs its interior defensive linemen to step up massively against the Eagles’ ground game, and Allen has yet to record a true breakout game in 2025 despite doing the dirty work for edges Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper to shine. Philadelphia guard Landon Dickerson has allowed 13 pressures in four games this year. There’s an opportunity for Allen to do some damage.

�����������:��LB Nakobe Dean.��The Eagles opened Dean’s practice window to return from the PUP list after a torn patellar tendon in last year’s playoffs, and his presence could massively shift Sunday’s outcome. If Dean’s healthy, Philadelphia could stick him next to rookie Jihaad Campbell at ILB and shift Baun to the edge to try to generate more pressure on Nix.

Post predictions

Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Eagles 26, Broncos 23

The Eagles haven’t really hit their stride yet this season and yet are 4-0. The Broncos haven’t really hit their stride yet — though perhaps Monday night was the start — and are 2-2, with a pair of brutal road losses. Those games matter Sunday in this context: Sean Payton’s team hasn’t learned to close away from home yet. Philly, on the other hand, has won 20 of the past 21 games it’s played over the past calendar year-plus. That and special teams could be the difference.

Luca Evans, beat writer: Broncos 24, Eagles 21

Let’s get a little crazy. Philadelphia has way overachieved its underlying offensive and defensive numbers this year, winning games with fantastic special-teams and red-zone play. The Broncos have one of the best red-zone defenses in the league, and their run game is rolling. Darren Rizzi’s special teams will face its test of the season, but if they play a clean game and don’t spring themselves off any linemen, the Broncos have a real shot here.

Troy Renck, columnist: Eagles 24, Broncos 20

This screams upset … if Denver were at home. The Eagles are vulnerable. Their wings are clipped in the passing game. They have an A.J. Brown problem. They had zero yards through the air in the second half last week. The Broncos could run the ball, take care of the ball, and shock the Eagles. But not in Philadelphia. The Eagles have won 11 straight home games, and haven’t lost there in 13 months. A special teams play will prove the difference.

Sean Keeler, columnist: Eagles 24, Broncos 21

With apologies to the great Reggie Jackson, Sean Payton is the new Mr. October. Since 2016, the Broncos head coach sports a 13-2 record, straight-up, in October road games. Like Tampa and the Meadowlands last year, nobody outside the Front Range gives the orange and blue much of a chance. Bo Nix and the Broncos found something on Monday night. Unfortunately, I think what they mostly found is that the Bengals stink.

And for the first time since the Hall of Fame quarterback retired, Denver looks like it has a long-term answer under center.

From Trevor Siemian to Case Keenum to Nix, here’s a look at the Broncos’ different quarterbacks during that span, who they are, how they fared in the role and where they are today.

Trevor Siemian

How he landed with the Broncos: Siemian was selected in the seventh round (250th pick overall) in 2015.

How he fared in Denver: Siemian played 25 games, making 24 starts for the Broncos and leading them to a 13-11 record. He completed 59.3% of his passes for 5,686 yards, 30 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He was traded to the Vikings along with a 2018 seventh-round pick following the 2017 season for a 2019 fifth-round pick. The fifth-round pick was used to select linebacker Justin Hollins.

Where he is now: The 33-year-old journeyman was signed to the Tennessee Titan’s practice squad in October. He made numerous stops in the years after Denver, including with the Vikings, Jets, Saints, Bears and Bengals.

Paxton Lynch

How he landed with the Broncos: The Memphis standout was selected in the first round (26th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft. “He was the guy,” general manager John Elway said after selecting Lynch. “And we’re thrilled to have him.”

How he fared in Denver: Lynch didn’t live up to his first-round hype in Denver, playing just five games (starting four) in his two seasons with the Broncos. He had a 1-3 record while completing 61.7% of his passes for 792 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He was cut before the start of the 2018 season.

Where he is now: Lynch, 30, last played professionally with the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL after the Orlando Guardians waived him on April 5, 2023, following an 0-5 start.

Brock Osweiler

How he landed with the Broncos: Osweiler was originally selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. Following the Super Bowl 50 win, he signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Houston Texans. He was traded a year later to Cleveland but was released before the start of the 2018 season. Shortly after, he re-signed with Denver after Lynch suffered a shoulder injury.

How he fared in Denver: His second stint with the Broncos wasn’t as memorable as his first. He played in six games (starting four) and finished with an 0-4 record in his starts. He finished the year completing 55.8% of his passes for 1,088 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Where he is now: Osweiler, 34, retired from playing in 2019. He now works as a .

Case Keenum

How he landed with the Broncos: Keenum signed a two-year, $36 million deal before the start of the 2018 season.

How he fared in Denver: Keenum became the first Broncos quarterback to start every game in a season since Peyton Manning’s 2014 season. He opened strong, leading Denver to a 2-0 start, but the team finished the season 6-10. Keenum completed 62.3% of his passes for 3,890 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He was traded along with a seventh-round pick to Washington for a sixth-round pick following the end of the season.

Where he is now: The 36-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Texans — his first team in the NFL — before the 2023 season. He was placed on the injured list prior to the start of this season.

Joe Flacco

How he landed with the Broncos: The former Super Bowl MVP was traded to Denver in February 2019 for a fourth-round draft pick.

How he fared in Denver: Flacco started eight games before the Broncos placed him on injured reserve for a herniated disc in his neck. Denver went 2-6 in his starts, where he completed 65.3% of his passes for 1,822 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Where he is now: Flacco, 39, appeared in eight games for the Colts this season. He went 2-4 in his six starts, completing 65.3% of his passes for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Brandon Allen

How he landed with the Broncos: Allen was claimed off waivers from the Rams prior to the start of the 2019 season.

How he fared in Denver: He started in three games for the Broncos after Flacco suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9 of the 2019 season. He won his first game and lost the other two, completing 46.4% of his passes for 515 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Where he is now: Allen, 32, has been with the 49ers since 2023 and was Brock Purdy’s backup during the 2024 season. He appeared in three games with one start. He completed 17 of 30 passes (56.7%) for 199 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Drew Lock

How he landed with the Broncos: Lock was selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2019 NFL draft out of Missouri.

How he fared in Denver: Lock made his first start during his rookie season in Week 13. In his five starts, he helped the Broncos to a 4-1 record to close out the season. He started 13 games in 2020 and three in 2021. He finished his time in Denver with an 8-13 record, 59.3% completion percentage, 4,740 yards, 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Where he is now: Lock, 28, signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Giants in March. He finished the season as New York’s starter after Daniel Jones was released and Tommy DeVito was injured. In eight games (five starts), he completed 59.1% of his passes for 1,071 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. He had a 1-4 record during that span.

Jeff Driskel

How he landed with the Broncos: Driskel signed as a free agent before the 2020 season.

How he fared in Denver: Driskel made his first appearance in Week 2 of the 2020 season after Drew Lock suffered a shoulder injury early in the game against the Steelers. He started in Week 3 in a losing effort to the Buccaneers but was pulled in the fourth quarter. In three appearances (one start), he completed 54.7% of his passes for 432 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Where he is now: The 31-year-old signed with the Commanders in April. He is the third-string quarterback behind starter Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.

Brett Rypien

How he landed with the Broncos: Rypien signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

How he fared in Denver: The nephew of former Washington star quarterback Mark Rypien came on in relief of Jeff Driskel in Week 3 of the 2020 season during Denver’s loss to Tampa Bay. He earned the start in Week 4, leading the Broncos to a 37-28 road win against the Jets. He also had four appearances (two starts) in 2022, coming in for an injured Russell Wilson. In eight games (three starts) in Denver, he completed 61.5% of his passes for 778 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Where he is now: Rypien, 28, signed with the Vikings prior to the start of the 2024 season. He was on Monday to make room for Daniel Jones.

Kendall Hinton

How he landed with the Broncos: Hinton signed as an undrafted free agent in April 2020. He was waived before the start of the season, but signed to the practice squad that November.

How he fared in Denver: Hinton was a quarterback at Wake Forest but was projected to be a receiver in the NFL. He became the Broncos’ emergency starter in Week 12 of the 2020 season after all four of Denver’s quarterbacks were ruled ineligible to play due to COVID-19 protocol. While Phillip Lindsay technically started under center, Hinton was the team’s primary passer for the game. He completed 1 of 9 passes for 13 yards and two interceptions in a 31-3 loss to the Saints.

Where he is now: After emerging as a depth receiver for the Broncos from 2021-22 (39 catches for 486 yards and a touchdown), he was waived during training camp in August 2023. The 27-year-old is currently a free agent. He’s also a , according to his Instagram.

Teddy Bridgewater

How he landed with the Broncos: Denver traded a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Panthers to acquire Bridgewater in April.

How he fared in Denver: The journeyman quarterback emerged as the team’s starter after beating out incumbent Drew Lock in the preseason. The Broncos’ record was 7-6 through his 13 starts. He has completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,052 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Where is he now: The 32-year-old quarterback had temporarily retired and became a head coach at this alma mater, Miami Northwestern Senior High School, leading the team to a state championship this past season. He came out of retirement to rejoin the Lions as Jared Goff’s backup in December.

Russell Wilson

How he landed with the Broncos: In one of the biggest trades in Denver sports history, the Broncos traded for Wilson and a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick.

How he fared in Denver: Prior to the 2024 season, Wilson had been the most stable starter for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired. He started 30 games for Denver, completing 63.3% of his passes for 6,594 yards, 42 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. The Broncos compiled an 11-19 record during that span. In addition, he and his wife, Ciara, bought a $25 million mansion in Cherry Hills Village (and sold it for $21.5 million).

Where he is now: The 36-year-old was released by the Broncos in March and signed a one-year contract with the Steelers. He beat out Justin Field for the starting job and led the team to a playoff berth. He started 11 games for Pittsburgh and compiled a 6-5 record, while completing 63.7% of his passes for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Jarrett Stidham

How he landed with the Broncos: Stidham signed a two-year, $10 million contract in March 2023.

How he fared (so far) in Denver: Stidham, 28, made his first start in Week 17 of the 2023 season against the Chargers. In three appearances (two starts), he’s completed 60.6% of his passes for 496 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He beat out Zach Wilson to be the team’s backup in 2024.

Where he is now: He is Denver’s backup quarterback to Nix.

Bo Nix

How he landed with the Broncos: Nix was selected in the first round (12th pick overall) in the 2024 NFL draft out of Oregon.

How he fared (so far) in Denver: The 24-year-old had a stellar rookie season in Denver, leading the team to its first playoff berth since the Peyton Manning era. He had a 10-7 record in 17 starts, completing 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also had 92 carries for 492 yards and four touchdowns. And he caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from receiver Courtland Sutton.

Where he is now: He is Denver’s starting quarterback.

During the holiday the previous eight years, the NFL season tested my ability to enjoy a conversation about the Broncos. No matter how admirable the effort, the topic turned to the quarterback, a character more terrifying than Michael Myers and Pennywise.

Emotions were raw. Everyone had their fangs dropped after an avalanche of disappointments. The previous 13 starters varied from underwhelming to awful. It created a buzz kill.

So who is ruining Thanksgiving now? The nonBolievers in Bo Nix.

I don’t get it. No matter how much life after Peyton Manning has put your guard up, how can you not embrace the rookie? Truth be told, I am over it.

This is not about keeping receipts. It is about facts, trying to understand why a faction in the media — national and local — and fans (or perhaps social media trolls) cannot see the truth.

All anyone wanted since Peyton was a serviceable leader, someone who could win games, and throw more passes to players in an orange jersey than the other team.

Over the past 10 games, Nix has delivered 20 touchdowns — 16 passing, three rushing, one receiving — with two turnovers. According to CBS Sports, the quarterbacks who have matched or bettered that stat line over the past 10 years are Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.

All first-ballot Hall of Famers.

Yet, we have those diminishing Nix for his perceived low ceiling, inconsistent footwork and lack of success against man coverage. Still, others insist with a straight face that they would rather have Russell Wilson.

What in the actual heck is going on here?

Nix is putting up historically great numbers — the best by a rookie since Dak Prescott in 2016 — and a loud faction refuses to recognize it, creating straw arguments that go deeper into the weeds than bees and butterflies.

I am not saying you should wear your passion for Nix like a thorny crown. But is it too much to ask for an open mind and common sense? Those reluctant to admit Nix is succeeding are revealing their own ego, making their dislike personal, either for the kid or coach Sean Payton.

I believed Nix would work because of Payton’s confidence when he drafted him. Payton told us at the combine that he would be better at identifying a quarterback than most. This stuck with me because the coach’s Hall of Fame legacy hinged on getting this decision right. He had never worked with a rookie, but he had 15 years of offensive dominance in New Orleans that suggested he knew what he wanted his handpicked quarterback to look like.

Payton screwed it up the first few weeks, trying to make Nix drink out of a fire hose with endless dropbacks. But after the opening two losses, the two have met in the middle. An appreciation for his athleticism emerged — he runs better than scouts expected — along with his edge. When Nix yelled at Payton on the sideline on Oct. 6 — something the coach appreciated — he showed why he was the starter.

Everything since has shown why he is clearly the future. He has been the Broncos’ best player on the field since the end of October.

But, but, but, he can’t throw downfield. Really? That����ap funny. He has 716 yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 126.9 rating on passes of 10-plus yards over the past five games, per Fox Sports.

This includes multiple darts between the numbers and over layered defenders to Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele. But those were off-script, right? Try again. Nix delivered these lasers from the pocket.

Listen, he is not perfect. He will have bad games. But do you remember what life looked like with Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco and Teddy Bridgewater? Worse, some of the same people who were Druthers for Drew Lock refuse to acknowledge Nix’s development.

Make it make sense.

Nix boasts four games with a 70% completion rate with at least two touchdown passes and no picks. You know how many Broncos quarterbacks have done that since Peyton? Zero. Lock did it once in 24 games. Wilson twice in 30 starts.

When Keenum was missing Demaryius Thomas sprinting open down the sideline, when Flacco looked like he had never seen a blitz, when Brandon Allen couldn’t throw the ball into the wind, when Paxton Lynch was showing up late and leaving early, ����apountry had fever dreams about the type of stats Nix is compiling.

Still, I can’t go on my Twitter timeline or turn on the radio without hearing someone dissing Nix or advocating for Wilson.

Yes, Wilson was functional last year, and made terrific plays scribbling outside the lines. But the Broncos stunk in goal-to-goal situations and were awful in the red zone. By the time the Broncos beat the Chiefs last October, Payton had seen enough. He was over the veteran, viewing his style of play as unsustainable because of the lack of timing throws and endless sacks (45 in 15 games). Compare that to Nix, who is on pace for 27.

Payton chose to absorb a $53 million dead cap hit this season and $32 million next year to cut Wilson. It was uncommon, but not surprising if you know anything about how that relationship had deteriorated. Would you rather they stayed together for the kids, delaying the divorce until after this season when the quarterbacks available in the draft are Two Men (Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward) and Four Maybes (Jalen Milroe, Quinn Ewers, Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck)?

It is OK to take a deep breath, trust your eyes and the numbers and admit Nix is playing well. If you are still tearing him down, the problem is you, not him.

Sean Keeler: Here’s a low bar: The Broncos record for passing yards by a rookie QB remains in the hands of Mickey Slaughter — 1,689, . If Nix can get ol’ Mickey off the books, that’s a win right there. As far as actual wins? Let’s put it this way: The four Broncos rookie signal-callers since 1992 who threw the most passes in their rookie seasons in Denver — Drew Lock, Jay Cutler, Tommy Maddox and Brandon Allen (!) — made a combined 17 starts and posted a record of 7-10. Ya know what? That sounds just about right.

Renck: After a few hours of research, the numbers are sobering. Of the 16 quarterbacks taken in the first round from 2019-2023, only four posted a winning record (Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett and C.J. Stroud) and one didn’t take a snap (Jordan Love). The average season for the 15 over the past five years: 4-7 record, 14 touchdowns, nine interceptions and 32 sacks. The sweet spot for Nix resides in Jones’ 2021 season with the Patriots. So along the lines of 22 touchdowns, 13 picks, 28 sacks and a completion percentage of roughly 63%.

Keeler: If he looks like 2021 Mac Jones, the Broncos will be in pretty decent shape. If he looks like 2023 Mac Jones, Katie bar the door. From a statistical standpoint, anything in the range of 15-18 touchdowns, with five to six more TDs than interceptions (so, 10-13 picks), and 2,800-3,000 passing yards would have to be a success, right? But those numbers assume he’s playing pretty much from Day 1, Week 1. And those numbers feel awfully optimistic.

Renck: But Sean, the evaluation goes beyond the numbers. I expect Nix to have a losing record. But what does he look like? Does he command the huddle? Is he audibling at the line of scrimmage and executing the offense on time and using the entire route tree? Does he avoid silly sacks? And do his coaches and teammates see him as a leader, as the future? If the answer to the last question is yes after the final game on Jan. 5 vs. Chiefs, then his season will be a success.

Keeler: Sean Payton isn’t playing to win a fantasy league — he’s trying to win games in the AFC West. With a rookie QB, intangibles matter just as much, if not more, than the stats. It’s about comfort level, process and progress. The sacks and the ill-advised picks are inevitable, forgivable mistakes for a first-year guy. But do those moments wane over the course of the season? Or do they get worse? If defenses start to fear Nix more by late December than the other way around, that’s a heck of a good sign.

Trevor Siemian

Tenure: 2015-17, 13-11 record

Highlight: Four-touchdown, 312-yard performance in 2016 win at Cincinnati.

Lowlight: Three-interception game in 2017 at KC, leading to benching.

Paxton Lynch

Tenure: 2016-17, 1-3

Highlight: Threw for 254 yards, nearly beating first-time starter Patrick Mahomes in 2017.

Lowlight: Sobbing as he covered his face in a towel after hurting ankle vs. Raiders in ugly loss.

Brock Osweiler

Tenure: 2017, 0-4

Highlight: 5-2 in ’15. Doesn’t count. In relief at Colts, led the team to its only road win of ’17 season.

Lowlight: Picked twice, sacked three times in a 51-23 loss at Eagles.

Case Keenum

Tenure: 2018, 6-10

Highlight: Rallied Broncos to 24-17 win over Steelers, keeping Denver briefly in playoff race.

Lowlight: Missed open Demaryius Thomas for TD vs. KC at home, changing course of season.

Joe Flacco

Tenure: 2019, 2-6

Highlight: Ripped head coach, OC after loss to Colts: “We are afraid to go for it.”

Lowlight: In same game, he suffered season-ending neck injury, ending his career with Broncos.

Brandon Allen

Tenure: 2019, 1-2

Highlight: Threw two touchdowns with no interceptions in debut win over Browns.

Lowlight: Needed cutoff man to make long throws in wind at Bills. Completed 10 passes in loss.

Drew Lock

Tenure: 2019-21, 8-13

Highlight: Looked like star in 309-yard, three-TD outing at playoff-bound Texans in ’19.

Lowlight: Completed 48% of passes with four INTs in 37-12 loss at Raiders in 2020.

Jeff Driskel

Tenure: 2020, 0-1

Highlight: Staged spirit comeback in relief at Steelers, throwing two touchdowns.

Lowlight: Started the next week at home vs. Bucs, was sacked five times and benched.

Brett Rypien

Tenure: 2020-22, 2-1

Highlight: Let it Ryp in prime time game vs. Jets, delivering two scores in 2020.

Lowlight: Lost to Jets at home in 2022, producing one touchdown drive.

Phillip Lindsay

Tenure: 2020, 0-1

Highlight: Taking the snap in the Wildcat formation as the COVID starter vs. Saints in 2020.

Lowlight: Giving way to Kendall Hinton in the COVID game. Hinton completed one pass in loss.

Teddy Bridgewater

Tenure: 2021, 7-7

Highlight: Delivered 328 yards passing at Jacksonville. Part of a terrific 3-0 start to season.

Lowlight: Did not try to tackle Eagles’ Darius Slay on fumble return for TD. Fans turned on him.

Russell Wilson

Tenure: 2022-23, 11-19

Highlight: Thought he would be benched during bye week. Then rallied Broncos to win at Bills.

Lowlight: Needing FG to win vs. Colts, threw awful INT to Stephon Gilmore in crippling ’22 loss.

Jarrett Stidham

Tenure: 2023, 1-1

Highlight: Won starting debut vs. Chargers by taking care of the ball and only taking two sacks.

Lowlight: Threw pick and was sacked five times in discouraging season-ending loss to Raiders.

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Troy Renck: There’s never an offseason when covering the Broncos. Or postseason. I kid because I care. It has been a long eight years since Super Bowl 50. Denver has made the right decision to rebuild. However, the Broncos still plan to add a veteran quarterback this season to help them compete. It will not preclude them from drafting one, so simmer down. When Russell Wilson turned inside the 20 to the red-faced zone, Sean Payton went to Jarrett. Stidham wasn’t exactly a diamond in the rough. The name I like as a veteran backup? Washington’s Sam Howell. He could rebound better than Dennis Rodman with Payton. He has been ordinary or worse as a starter, going 5-13 with 21 interceptions and 21 touchdowns. Get him in a timing offense with better pass protection and he could be Baker Mayfield Lite.

Keeler: Sean Payton walked around Indianapolis in a Paris Saint-Germain FC hoodie and with the swagger of Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western. But I’m not convinced he can turn our man Jarrett into a capable gunslinger yet. For me, the sweet spot in floor and price probably intersects at Sam Darnold, especially with Brandon Allen signing a 1-year deal to back up Brock Purdy in San Francisco. In his last seven NFL starts dating back to 2022, the 26-year-old sports a TD-to-pick ratio of 9-to-4 and a win-loss record of 4-3. Even better, per OverTheCap.com, he’s coming off a ’23 contract worth $2 million in guaranteed salary and a $6.3-million cap number. Both numbers work if you’re dumpster-diving.

Renck: I am intrigued by Sam Darnold. Former Broncos players I trust — Mark Schlereth and Ryan Harris — have told me he is worth taking a chance on, that he will be improved after undergoing football rehab with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. The 49ers traded Trey Lance because Darnold clearly beat him out last summer. Darnold was not good initially — though he played well vs. the Broncos while a member of the Jets and Panthers — but can he be good eventually? I think so. But I am not sure he fits the Payton offense. And with Payton, a noted Jordan sneakerhead, fit is everything.

Keeler: Hey, the sentimental side of me would love a reunion with Drew Lock, here, too. Although given that Payton’s got all the warm and fuzzy sentiment of a piranha, you can probably throw that one out the window. All the Band-Aids on the open market have downsides, and at least Darnold has some youth and gravitas. Granted, the next drafted QB needs a mentor, too — a better mentor than Joe Flacco was, at any rate.

Renck: Please no on Drew Lock. My Twitter feed cannot take the Druthers. I hope he lands on his feet, but Payton is about as sentimental as a jury summons. He is running off the most veteran players for a reason — to create a fresh start. Bringing back Lock is anything but. I can live with Darnold. Low risk, high reward. But Howell brings a higher upside in the Payton offense. This season will feature the Broncos running on parallel tracks. The Broncos are rebuilding, but Payton wants to try to keep winning. Steady play at the most important position remains critical when a team is not tanking. Wilson put up decent numbers — 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions — but struggled to avoid sacks (100 in two seasons) and keep the team in rhythm in goal-to-goal situations. The Broncos ranked dead last. There was plenty of blame to go around, but Payton clearly pointed his finger in Wilson’s direction. Howell brings intrigue and issues. He takes way too many sacks, while trying to make plays that are not there. Payton can put up guardrails, make him play cleaner, smarter. It will require a trade. But a flier on a quarterback is worth a sixth-round pick. In the end, we can agree we want a Sam Dunk.

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Jarrett Stidham, who took over as the team’s starter in Week 17, will now be the only quarterback on Denver’s roster to have started a game for the team.

From Trevor Siemian to Stidham, here’s a look at who they are, how they fared in the role and where they are today.

Trevor Siemian

How he landed with the Broncos: Siemian was selected in the seventh round (250th pick overall) by the Broncos in 2015.

How he fared in Denver: Siemian played 25 games, making 24 starts for the Broncos, leading them to a 13-11 record. He completed 59.3% of his passes for 5,686 yards, 30 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He was traded to the Vikings along with a 2018 seventh-round pick following the 2017 season for a 2019 fifth-round pick. The fifth-round pick would be used to select linebacker Justin Hollins.

Where is he now: The 32-year-old quarterback played for the Jets in 2023. He appeared in five games (starting three), leading the Jets to a 2-1 record while completing 56.2% of his passes for 724 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. He is slated to be an unrestricted free agent when the NFL free agency period begins at 2 p.m. MT on March 13.

Paxton Lynch

How he landed with the Broncos: The Memphis standout was selected by the Broncos in the first round (26th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft. “He was the guy,” general manager John Elway said after selecting Lynch. “And we’re thrilled to have him.”

How he fared in Denver: Lynch didn’t live up to his first-round hype in Denver, playing just five games (starting four) in his two seasons with the Broncos. He had a 1-3 record while completing 61.7% of his passes for 792 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He was cut before the start of the 2018 season.

Where is he now: Lynch, 30, last played professionally with the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL after the Orlando Guardians waived him on April 5, 2023, following an 0-5 start.

Brock Osweiler

How he landed with the Broncos: Osweiler was originally selected by Denver in the second round (57th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. Following the Super Bowl 50 win, he signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Houston Texans. He was traded a year later to Cleveland but was released before the start of the 2018 season. Shortly after, he re-signed with Denver after Lynch suffered a shoulder injury.

How he fared in Denver: His second stint with the Broncos wasn’t as memorable as his first. He played in six games (starting four) and finished with an 0-4 record in his starts. He finished the year completing 55.8% of his passes for 1,088 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Where is he now: Osweiler, 33, is retired and watching a lot of football.

Case Keenum

How he landed with the Broncos: Keenum signed a two-year, $36 million deal with Denver before the start of the 2018 season.

How he fared in Denver: Keenum became the first Broncos quarterback to start every game in a season since Peyton Manning’s 2014 season. He opened strong, leading Denver to a 2-0 start, but the team finished the season 6-10. Keenum completed 62.3% of his passes for 3,890 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He was traded along with a seventh-round pick to Washington for a sixth-round pick following the end of the season.

Where is he now: The 36-year-old Keenum signed a two-year deal with the Texans — his first team in the NFL — before the 2023 season. He started two games last year, leading Houston to a 1-1 record while completing 64.2% of his passes for 291 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He was benched in the second half of the Week 16 game against the Browns.

Joe Flacco

How he landed with the Broncos: The former Super Bowl MVP was traded to Denver in February 2019 for a fourth-round draft pick.

How he fared in Denver: Flacco started eight games before the Broncos placed him on injured reserve for a herniated disc in his neck. Denver went 2-6 in his starts, where he completed 65.3% of his passes for 1,822 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Where is he now: Flacco, 39, was the Browns’ No. 1 starter in 2023 following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury. In five starts, he led Cleveland to a 4-1 record, completing 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He completed 34 of 46 passes for 307 yards, a touchdown and two picks in the Browns’ 45-14 loss to Houston in the AFC wild-card game. Flacco was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year and is slated to be an unrestricted free agent.

Brandon Allen

How he landed with the Broncos: Allen was claimed off waivers from the Rams prior to the start of the 2019 season.

How he fared in Denver: He started in three games for the Broncos after Flacco suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9 of the 2019 season. He won his first game and lost the other two, completing 46.4% of his passes for 515 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Where is he now: The 31-year-old Allen signed with the 49ers before the start of the 2023 season. He was the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Brock Purdy and backup Sam Darnold. He is slated to be an unrestricted free agent.

Drew Lock

How he landed with the Broncos: Lock was selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2019 NFL draft out of Missouri.

How he fared in Denver: Lock made his first start during his rookie season in Week 13. In his five starts, he helped the Broncos to a 4-1 record to close out the season. He started 13 games in 2020 and three in 2021. He finished his time in Denver with an 8-13 record, 59.3% completion percentage, 4,740 yards, 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Where is he now: Lock, 27, was the backup to Seahawks starter Geno Smith in 2023. He played in four games (starting two) and completed 63.2% of his passes for 543 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Seattle was 1-1 in his starts. He is slated to be an unrestricted free agent.

Jeff Driskel

How he landed with the Broncos: Driskel signed with Denver as a free agent before the 2020 season.

How he fared in Denver: Driskel made his first appearance in Week 2 of the 2020 season after Drew Lock suffered a shoulder injury early in the game against the Steelers. He started in Week 3 in a losing effort to the Buccaneers but was pulled in the fourth quarter. In three appearances (one start), he completed 54.7% of his passes for 432 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Where is he now: The 30-year-old Driskel spent much of last year on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. He was signed by the Browns just before the end of the regular season and started in a Week 18 loss to the Bengals where he completed 13 of 26 passes for 166 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He is slated to be an unrestricted free agent.

Brett Rypien

How he landed with the Broncos: Rypien came to the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

How he fared in Denver: He came on in relief of Jeff Driskel in Week 3 of the 2020 season during Denver’s loss to Tampa Bay. He earned the start in Week 4, leading the Broncos to a 37-28 road win against the Jets. He also had four appearances (two starts) in 2022, coming in for an injured Russell Wilson. In eight games (three starts) in Denver, he completed 61.5% of his passes for 778 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Where is he now: Rypien, 27, signed with the Rams before the start of the 2023 season. In two appearances, including one start, he completed 47.4% of his passes for 172 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception. After Los Angeles waived him, Seattle signed him to its practice squad. He finished the season with the Jets and is slated to be an unrestricted free agent.

Kendall Hinton

How he landed with the Broncos: Hinton signed as an undrafted free agent in April 2020. He was waived before the start of the season, but signed to the practice squad that November.

How he fared in Denver: Hinton was a quarterback at Wake Forest but projected to be a receiver in the NFL. He became the Broncos’ emergency starter in Week 12 of the 2020 season after all four of Denver’s quarterbacks were ruled ineligible to play due to COVID-19 protocol. While Phillip Lindsay technically started under center, Hinton was the team’s primary passer for the game. He completed 1 of 9 passes for 13 yards and two interceptions in a 31-3 loss to the Saints.

Where is he now: After emerging as a depth receiver for the Broncos from 2021-22 (39 catches for 486 yards and a touchdown), he was waived during training camp in August 2023. The 27-year-old is currently a free agent.

Teddy Bridgewater

How he landed with the Broncos: Denver traded a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Panthers to acquire Bridgewater in April.

How he fared in Denver: The journeyman quarterback emerged as the team’s starter after beating out incumbent Drew Lock in the preseason. The Broncos’ record was 7-6 through his 13 starts. He has completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,052 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Where is he now: The 31-year-old quarterback signed with the Lions before the start of the 2023 season. He was the backup to starter Jared Goff. He retired following the season and is now the head coach at his alma mater, Miami Northwestern Senior High School.

Russell Wilson

How he landed with the Broncos: In one of the biggest trades in Denver sports history, the Broncos traded for Wilson and a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick.

How he fared in Denver: Wilson had been the most stable starter for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired. He started 30 games for Denver, completing 63.3% of his passes for 6,594 yards, 42 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. The Broncos have compiled an 11-19 record during that span. In addition, he and his wife, Ciara, bought a $25 million mansion in Cherry Hills Village and opened The House of LR&C, a clothing boutique.

Where is he now: The 35-year-old quarterback was told by the Broncos on Monday that he will be released by the team.

Jarrett Stidham

How he landed with the Broncos: Stidham signed a two-year, $10 million contract with Denver in March.

How he fared in Denver: Stidham, 27, make his first start in NFL Week 17 against the Chargers. In three appearances (two starts), completed 60.6% of his passes for 496 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Where is he now: He finished the season as Denver’s starting quarterback and has one year remaining on his contract.

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Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel, Bret Rypien, Teddy Bridgewater. These are some of the Broncos starting quarterbacks since Peyton Manning retired eight years ago.

They finally got a future Hall of Fame quarterback when they traded for Russell Wilson. Although Russell had a tough season last year, he turned it around this year. He was playing extremely well and led the Broncos to a victory over the Chiefs for the first time in eight years. He also has worked hard to stay healthy in a season of backup quarterbacks, not to mention that he is a quality human being who would never embarrass the team and loves the Broncos, his family, and his teammates. (Look how much Cleveland paid for Deshaun Watson). And this is how the Broncos treat him after he beat the Chiefs? All he did was turn the season around and allow me to enjoy Broncos football again.

I’ve been a Broncos fan since 1973, for exactly fifty years, and I’ve supported the team through the good and bad years. I’m so disgusted by how they treated Russell Wilson that I’m going to become a Raiders fan, a team I used to despise. I know football is a business, but the Broncos just went Chapter 11 with a self-inflicted wound that they didn’t need to do. Let����ap see if it takes another eight years to find a quarterback.

Steve Antonuccio, Pueblo

The Denver Broncos’ new owners claim they want a championship team. Still, they retain the general manager, George Paton, who arranged the ridiculous trade for an on-the-way-out quarterback and the unrealistic $245 million contract extension for Russell Wilson before he ever proved himself in Denver. Paton should be removed. Russell Wilson has been afforded a two-season trial period that has proven unsuccessful. Wilson should be released.

Coach Sean Payton was hired to coach the rebuilding of the Denver Broncos. Either he can’t do that, or he hasn’t been given the tools to do so. So, either CEO Greg Penner isn’t providing the resources for the coach to succeed, the GM George Paton can’t negotiate the hiring of appropriate players, or the coach Sean Payton can’t coach the players he has. Someone has to go.

No business can succeed by repeating the same mistakes over and over. What the Broncos need is a plan to hire a quarterback that they can build a team around over two to three years and players around the quarterback that can execute a successful game plan. Throwing money at a sinking NFL franchise without hiring the proper people to run it is just a waste of money.

Remember, it’s not what they say they want; it’s what they do to show they are truly a successful NFL franchise. Hopefully, the Broncos won’t continue on the same path that has plagued the Colorado Rockies and become satisfied with a “successful” .500 season. Go Broncos.

Steve Crain, Denver

At least give Broncos management credit for “showing up” after a disappointing season. They had a post-season press conference where the owner, GM and coach “showed up” and spoke to the press about how disappointing their season was. Contrast that to the post-season comments from Rockies management … ’nuff said.

Curt Anderson, Broomfield

Paying respect to Prof. Nanda

Re: “After more than 30 years, Ved Nanda’s voice in The Post falls silent,” Jan. 7 commentary

I, and many others, will greatly miss Ved Nanda. No matter how much I swore at some of the letters to the editor in the Perspective section, the articles by Nanda were always well thought out, intelligent, and calming.

He will be greatly missed as much as he was greatly appreciated.

William Hineser, Arvada

Don’t blame the scientists

Re: “The incalculable damage wrought by COVID-19 is everywhere,” Jan. 10 commentary

There’s one thing I agree with in Cory Franklin’s commentary: Everyone is burned out from the pandemic. But when he accuses physicians and scientists of abandoning “their independence” and letting “politicians exploit them,” I have to call foul to this overly broad condemnation.

What we saw was quite the opposite – it was politicians who at first denied COVID as a problem, then predicted it would simply disappear, and when none of that happened (as the scientists predicted), even suggested injecting bleach. Many politicians opposed masks, social distancing, and lockdowns despite COVID-19 being a “novel” virus with unknown transmissibility, morbidity and mortality. This just piled confusion on top of fear.

Franklin points out that we don’t know what would have happened if we had taken a “Barrington response” – focusing on high-risk groups and leaving the rest of us alone. In fact, we do know what would have happened because that’s what many places did. Compare the areas that had the most political opposition to the advice of the physicians and scientists (masks, social distancing, lockdowns, and finally, vaccines). They all had much higher COVID-19 death rates. Any pandemic is going to be a catastrophe, but Franklin should be pointing his finger at the “Trumps” of this country, not the “Faucis.”

Joe McGloin, Sheridan

Belmar Park: Nature and nurture

Re: “Residents battling apartment project,” Dec. 24 news story

I have just returned from walking in Belmar Park. It was, as always, nurturing and peaceful. This walk was especially delightful because it included the sighting of a bald eagle.

Add my name to the list of fans devastated by the proposed apartment development on the east side of the park. Looking across Wadsworth to the east is a continuous sea of apartments and condos. It is hard to imagine more are in the works. Please do everything possible to downsize the current plans for 412 apartments and leave this wonderful park alone, as it is a true tribute to nature and a place for contemplation.

“In wildness is the preservation of the world.” (Henry David Thoreau)

June Jones Paulding, Lakewood

Funding an unexpected humanitarian crisis

I commend the City of Denver for its humanitarian response of sheltering the thousands of migrants arriving here. These needy human beings (including children) are stranded here in the cold after being sent here by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a callous and vicious ploy, being treated as mere pawns in a political game.

I am proud and moved by how Denver residents have responded with an outpouring of donated clothing.

Now we know that the city needs funds for this unplanned expenditure, and all agencies must look for what could be pared back. I have a suggestion: Eliminate the continuing spread of white plastic posts in our streets!

These unsightly posts are littering our streetscapes. These posts are ugly and unwanted, having been imposed in a stealth bureaucratic invasion under the previous mayoral administration. They are misguided. They not only mar our scenic and historic neighborhood streets, but they have created significant roadside hazards. The gratuitous safety problems resulting from these plastic posts — for bicyclists, pedestrians, as well as vehicles — have been widely reported.

Yet this unchecked blight spreads around the city like a fungus epidemic. I wonder who’s making money from selling this trash to the city.

Let����ap stop funding this plastic plague and eliminate that from the city’s budget. Let����ap redirect that money to pay for the immediate life-saving sheltering of shivering families.

Pay for people, not plastic!

Christiane H. Citron, Denver

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