Bo Nix looked good to Sean Payton in his first appearance back on the field

Bo Nix took the field on Friday night against the Green Bay Packers, and for the first time since a broken ankle ended his playoff run against Buffalo seven months ago, the Broncos franchise quarterback was back doing what he does best.

It was only 14 snaps. But Nix made every single one of them count.

On the opening possession, Nix marched Denver 65 yards down the field with the kind of command and poise that made Broncos Country fall in love with him in the first place. He connected with Jaylen Waddle for a 35-yard strike, the first real taste of what that connection is going to look like, before capping the drive with a 21-yard touchdown toss to running back R.J. Harvey. By the time he was done, Nix had completed six of nine passes for 76 yards, a touchdown, and a 129.9 passer rating.

Nix himself wasn’t making it complicated. “It felt great,” he said after the game. “It was just like riding a bike; nothing really changed.”

The Broncos ultimately lost the game 33-13, with the reserves struggling badly after the starters exited. But that final score was never the point. What mattered was watching Nix move around comfortably, plant on that surgically repaired ankle without hesitation, and deliver throws with the same zip and accuracy that carried Denver to a 14-3 record last season.

Sean Payton was candid after the game, admitting the overall team performance “wasn’t good enough.” But when it came to his quarterback specifically, he had nothing but good things to say after watching the film.

“Good. I thought he did a good job,” Payton said on Monday. “His movement skills were good. Overall he did a good job operating the huddle. He’s moving around well. Had a couple big throws, and felt very comfortable.”

Immediately following Friday’s game, Payton kept it lighter. “Yes, I thought overall… It seemed like six hours ago, so I’m having trouble with his three series or whatnot, but I thought he was solid.”

Nix underwent surgery in January and had a follow-up procedure in the spring to remove bone spurs. The recovery was long and the road back required patience. But on Friday night, none of that baggage was visible. Nix looked healthy, confident, and ready.

The Broncos close out the preseason Friday against the Minnesota Vikings, and Nix is expected to play again. From there, all eyes turn to the regular-season opener in Kansas City. Fourteen snaps won’t tell the whole story, but they told Broncos Country exactly what it needed to hear.

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