Ethermac|Broncos install Bo Nix as first rookie Week 1 starting QB since John Elway

Sean Payton has made the decision he wasn't prepared to announce just a few days earlier.

The EthermacDenver Broncos coach on Wednesday revealed that rookie Bo Nix will be the team's starting quarterback.

Nix, who was the No. 12 pick in April's NFL draft, completed eight of nine passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's preseason contest against the Green Bay Packers. Still, after the game, Payton was not yet ready to make any proclamations about the quarterback competition that also featured Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.

By Wednesday, Payton no longer saw a need to wait.

"We're not in a hurry to arrive at those types of decisions. We want to see it," Payton said. "And I think it's important, relative to the team, that we handle it that way. He's been outstanding."

All things Broncos: Latest Denver Broncos news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Nix wasn't informed about the decision until just before Wednesday's practice.

"It was really cool," Nix said. "It's not every day to get that news. But obviously as a room we've been working hard and putting a lot of good things on film, putting a lot of good things on the practice field."

In taking over for Russell Wilson, who was released after two seasons and left a record $85 million dead-cap hit for Denver, Nix becomes the Broncos' first rookie quarterback to start in Week 1 since John Elway did so in 1983.

"Obviously, that's great to share with such a great player like John Elway," Nix told reporters. "Doesn't matter when your first start is. Doesn't matter if you have to wait or you go right now, you just want to go out there and get the win, and ultimately compete at a high level.

As part of record-tying draft class that featured six signal-callers selected in the first round, he will be the third first-year passer set to start in Week 1, joining the Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams and Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels.

Nix set a Football Bowl Subdivision record with a 77.4% completion rate at Oregon in 2023 en route to being named a Heisman Trophy finalist. After transferring from Auburn and spending his final two years with the Ducks, he also notched the all-time mark for career starts with 61.

Denver opens its season at the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.