With his solid performance in Sunday’s preseason game against the Colts, rookie Bo Nix added excitement to the Broncos’ quarterback competition.

While Jarrett Stidham opened the game, Nix entered the game on Denver’s third possession and led the club to four scoring drives. Zach Wilson relieved Nix after the rookie made one drive in the third quarter.

“I thought all three guys did a good job,” head coach Sean Payton said in his postgame press conference. “I think that’s probably the most important part of evaluating — those games and then the scrimmages. I mean, there are certain situations that you even get a little bit more information on, and I thought all three of them handled those situations well. I think their decisions were good for the most part, but it certainly gives us — I’ll go beyond the quarterback, you get a little bit more insight on all of those players. There are a few guys that suddenly jump out at you, and I think the tape — those are the guys we’re going to spend a lot of time with tomorrow.

“Even in wins and losses, you can find things you do well. We have to be smart enough tomorrow when we look at the video to clean up and correct some of the things we didn’t do so well.”

Stidham completed 4 of 7 passes for 37 yards, with Samaje Perine throwing an unfortunate interception that fell into the hands of a defender. Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards with a touchdown and three runs for 17 yards. Wilson completed 10 of 13 passes for 117 yards.

But Nix stood out for his ability to play in rhythm and create some positive plays outside of the game plan – like a 22-yard pass to Courtland Sutton on third down.

“Well, I mean, it was great to see it in the game,” Payton said of Nix’s mobility. “We saw it in practice, so it wasn’t alarming or surprising.”

Payton noted, however, that the quarterback assignments will likely be distributed differently next weekend when the Broncos host the Packers for their second exhibition game.

“(Stidham will) get more next week,” Payton said. “These guys get — they do a good job of handling the competition. Really. They take advantage of the reps they get when they’re in the game and they focus on putting their best on tape when they’re in the game — all three of them. So those numbers are going to play out a little differently next weekend. We’ll see it at home on Sunday.”