Jarrett Stidham will start at quarterback in the Denver Broncos’ first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced that Stidham will play in the front row against the Colts and rookie Bo Nix will start in Denver’s second preseason game.

Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is expected to see some playing time even after Stidham is eliminated against Indianapolis.

The Broncos’ starter for Week 1 is still uncertain, as Nix is ​​competing with Stidham and Zach Wilson for the job. Denver’s first unofficial lineup was released by the team on Tuesday. Stidham starts and Nix is ​​No. 3 behind Wilson.

Still, the lineup is far from set in stone and could change if Nix delivers a strong preseason performance. The former Oregon star has already impressed his teammates in training camp.

“He’s doing great,” tight end Adam Trautman said of Nix. USA Today’s Jon Heath. “People talk about all the games he started in college. I think that really means something. You see it in the way he owns a huddle and the way he gets in the pocket, where he finds his gaps.”

Although the 24-year-old is ranked behind Wilson, he alternated with Stidham on the first team during the first week of training camp. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold reported on July 26 that “many around the league” believe Payton has been in Nix’s starting lineup since he was called up to start the regular season.

After starting two regular-season games for the Broncos in 2023, Stidham will make his first preseason start in 2024. However, Nix could still secure the front-row position as he performed confidently at quarterback in the team’s second preseason game.