ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Bo Nix will stay under center for Denver when the Broncos visit Arizona on Sunday, coach Sean Payton said Monday, shutting down talk of a quarterback switch despite the roughest stretch of Nix's three seasons.
Asked whether he had considered benching his starter, Payton said no. He put the burden on the coaching staff and the rest of the offense, pointing to better blocking up front and a more balanced run game as the fixes that would lift Nix.
The numbers explain the noise. Denver is 4-2, but its offense ranks 31st in the league in yards per game at 252.2 and 28th in passing. Nix has been held under 200 passing yards in four of six starts, and his 5.6 yards per attempt sit 32nd in the league. In the last two wins, over the Chargers and in overtime against Seattle, he completed 33 of 54 throws for only 230 yards while the defense carried the team.
After the Seattle game, Nix said he could not explain why the offense was unable to push the ball downfield. Payton, who took over play calling two weeks ago, said more chances for big plays start with the coaches.
Some of the debate has centered on Nix's right ankle, which he broke in a divisional round playoff win over Buffalo in January and which required two surgeries. He was cleared as fully healthy for camp. Reports Monday said the team views the ankle as sound but believes he has been playing cautiously, often heading for the sideline or sliding early on runs instead of fighting for extra yards.
Payton did not directly address whether there is a mental hurdle, instead citing the quarterback's history of bouncing back, including a broken ankle in college before he transferred and thrived at Oregon.
Arizona, at 2-4, gives up 8.6 yards per pass attempt, the most in the league. Denver may also get rookie running back Jonah Coleman back from injured reserve.
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