Broncos release initial depth chart with Bo Nix as third-string QB — and a disclaimer (2024)

ENGLEWOOD — There is plenty of hype surrounding Bo Nix, but he’s still a rookie.

He carries the shoulder pads of veteran quarterbacks to the locker room after practices, and Nix got no love when it came to the Broncos’ first unofficial depth chart of the season.

When it came out Tuesday, Nix was listed as Denver’s third-team quarterback behind Jarrett Stidham on the first team and Zach Wilson on the second team.

“Rookies are at the back of the line,’’ coach Sean Payton said after a training camp practice at Broncos Park.

Nix is battling Stidham to be the starter and Wilson obviously has been the No. 3 quarterback during camp.

All of Denver’s rookies were listed at the end of the depth chart, including running back Audric Estime on the fifth team. Estime will have a chance during the preseason to push for the starting job Javonte Williams, the incumbent listed with the first team.

“Just because it’s easy and I don’t have to spend 40 minutes (on the depth chart) with Patrick (Smyth, the Broncos’ chief communications officer). I can spend five,’’ Payton said of why he put all rookies at the back.

Payton said he’s “not ready” to put out a depth chart, but rules required he had to distribute one by Tuesday. NFL teams must release a depth chart before their first preseason game, and the Broncos will take the field Sunday at Indianapolis.

Payton said he’s “not trying to send messages” to any players with his listings on the depth chart.

There was one revealing listing with Luke Wattenberg being the first-team center. Wattenberg has been working with starters in training camp, but the listing showed he might have a firm grip on the spot even though Payton backtracked a bit.

“He’s smart,’’ Payton said. “He’s doing a good job on the second level. We’ve got good competition there. We could have put ‘or’ (on the depth chart) … The word there is unofficial. … (Wattenberg is) doing a good job with what we’re doing offensively, as is Alex (Forsyth). So there’s real good competition there between those two and both of them will play a lot in this preseason.”

Forsyth is listed with the second team and veteran Sam Mustipher, who no longer seems to be much of a candidate to start, with the third team.

Payton did use “or” three times on the depth chart. A first-team inside linebacker is listed as Jonas Griffith or Cody Barton, right cornerback is noted as Damarri Mathis or Riley Moss and punter is listed as Riley Dixon or Trenton Gill.

“I look at it every day, obviously,’’ Griffith said of his battle with Barton. “It’s part of my job. But obviously you take it day-by-day and just try to help the team as much as possible and just do what I can do just to maybe solidify myself every day and just help the team win.”

Levi Wallace, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, has been considered a strong candidate to start at right cornerback. Even though he is listed as the backup at left cornerback behind Pat Surtain II, Payton said he remains in the mix to start on the other side.

“He’s battling,’’ Payton said. “He should be in there.”

Also of note, Tim Patrick is listed as a starter at wide receiver along with Courtland Sutton. That perhaps is a nod to Patrick being a returning veteran since free-agent signee Josh Reynolds has looked in training camp to have the best chance to be the other starter.

At tight end, Adam Trautman is listed as the first-team tight end with Greg Dulcich on the second team. But that’s how Trautman was listed entering last season before Dulcich missed all but two games due to hamstring issues.

Most of the focus will be at quarterback. Payton was asked whether Stidham has earned his initial listing on the first team.

“There wasn’t a lot of thought,’’ Payton said. “We just got the depth chart out and that’s it. That’s where we’re at now. He’ll get work with the ones in this preseason and we’ll see what we do with the other guys.”

Shortly after saying that, Payton got tired of answering questions about the depth chart.

“We’re spending too much time on this depth chart,’’ he said.