Broncos Teammates Back Bo Nix to Make Major Leap in Third NFL Season

While outside observers can only speculate about a player's development, Nix's teammates have had a close-up view of his progress throughout the offseason and training camp. Linebacker Alex Singleton, who regularly lines up just a few yards from the quarterback during practice, has been particularly impressed.

“He’s playing out of his mind,” the linebacker entering Year 8 said this week.

Nix enters Year 3 with renewed confidence

Nix arrived at training camp with some uncertainty surrounding his recovery after suffering a serious ankle injury during the playoffs.

Those concerns, however, appear to have faded quickly, with the quarterback looking increasingly comfortable as Denver prepare for the 2026 season.

The focus has now shifted toward whether Nix can make the kind of significant improvement often associated with a quarterback's third year in the league.

New play-caller Davis Webb has previously suggested that quarterbacks often make a bigger jump between their second and third seasons than they do from their first to second.

Webb said Nix has been “right on par with the other guys I’ve been around going into Year 3.”

One of the quarterbacks Webb witnessed developing ahead of a third season was Josh Allen during his time in Buffalo. Allen subsequently enjoyed a spectacular third campaign, throwing for more than 4,500 yards and earning his first Pro Bowl selection.

Strong foundation from second season

Nix enjoyed a productive second season, helping Denver finish with a 14-3 record.

He attempted an NFL-high 612 passes and finished the campaign with 3,931 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Despite those impressive numbers, there were stretches when the Broncos' offense struggled to maintain momentum. Eliminating those inconsistencies could be the next major step in Nix's development.

His teammates have also noticed changes in his approach away from the field.

“I think he’s letting things that are out of his control not bother him,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey told The Post. “I think, as a young player, you think you need to take on every challenge and take on all these different things. Bo is now learning, ‘Hey, that can be a waste of my energy, but that isn’t.’ He’s learning how to pick his spots.

“He’s learning what to get fired up about, what to fight the things he doesn’t like and let the things go that maybe don’t really matter.”

Quarterback looks sharp in preseason

Nix also provided an encouraging glimpse of what could be ahead during his preseason appearance last Friday.

The quarterback completed six of nine passes for 76 yards and threw an accurate touchdown pass to running back RJ Harvey on a wheel route.

Backup quarterback Sam Ehlinger believes Nix's growing familiarity with Denver's system is giving him another advantage heading into the new campaign.

“He knows the ins and outs of the offense, he’s comfortable with the offensive line,” backup QB Sam Ehlinger added. “He has a ton of reps. Add up how many reps he’s had in the regular season, and that’s a lot of ball. He knows all the receivers and all the running backs too. He’s making great decisions.

“He’s always been really talented as a thrower but you can really tell that everything’s lining up really well for him.”

Broncos have strengthened around Nix

Denver have also given their quarterback additional weapons during the offseason as they look to build on last year's impressive campaign.

The Broncos notably added wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, providing Nix with another explosive option in the passing game.

With a stronger supporting cast and another year of experience in Sean Payton's system, Nix is positioned to play a central role in Denver's ambitions.

The Broncos believe they have the pieces necessary for another deep playoff run. Whether they can achieve that goal may ultimately depend on how far Nix can take his game in Year 3.