Bo Nix keeps hearing the same message from Sean Payton: be more aggressive, trust it, and let the ball go.
That’s been easier said than done for a Broncos offense that has yet to find a steady rhythm. Nix is averaging just 5.8 yards per attempt this season, a mark that ranks 28th in the league, and he said the key to becoming more comfortable attacking downfield starts with conviction and preparation.
“I think when a coach says ‘let it rip,’ it means trust what you see,” Nix said, via Mike Klis of 9News. “Right now, there’s just a little subtle piece of overall offensive execution that we’re still working towards, because at times, it’s there and we’re really good. At times, for whatever reason, the drive stalls.”
Nix also pointed to the work that has to happen before a quarterback can really open things up.
“I think there’s a lot of pieces that go into it, but you’re right, letting it rip is one of the best things that you can do as a quarterback. At the same time, you’ve got to sort of earn that right. When you do the preparation, you earn the right to react so that you can let it rip.”
Out in Los Angeles, Quentin Johnston is a name that has started to surface in trade chatter. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said the Chargers receiver has come up as a possible candidate in conversations with league sources, though his $18 million salary in 2027 on the fifth-year option could complicate any deal.
Even with the Chargers sitting at 0-5 and staring at a difficult stretch, Fowler said rival teams don’t expect them to start unloading players before the deadline. One executive told him: “I think it’s going to be really difficult for them to admit when and if they need to trade guys.”
Fowler also noted that there aren’t many obvious names on the market from other teams, either. Besides Johnston, he said OLB Khalil Mack and possibly S Derwin James would attract interest.
In Kansas City, Kenneth Walker’s early production has fit right into what Andy Reid expected. The Chiefs running back has piled up 537 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 87 carries, and Reid said the team already had a good feel for what Walker could do from his time with the Seahawks.
“Yeah, I would tell you not really because we thought he did well, especially when [the Seahawks] had to turn everything over to him during the playoffs,” Reid said, via ProFootballTalk. “So, we saw his whole game there, and now we’re just seeing it on an extended basis where he comes in and he’s been able to showcase all that.”
In Other News...
Bo Nix Admits The Mental Battle Behind Denvers Stalled Offense
Bo Nix is still working through a tricky stretch as the Broncos try to get their offense moving again, and the issue sounds as much mental as physical. The rookie quarterback has talked about the challenge of finding the right blend of assertiveness and caution, a balancing act that matters even more when a team is trying to climb out of an offensive rut.
Denvers struggles have come with defenses shrinking the field and making the Broncos earn everything underneath, while the ground game has not given Nix enough help to keep opponents honest. He has looked more aggressive late in games, which only adds to the sense that the answers are there, even if the process of getting to them is still a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Offensive Warning Signs Are Getting Harder To Ignore
The Broncos offensive issues keep piling up, and the latest rough showing against the Chargers only added to the unease around a unit that has been too inconsistent for comfort. Bo Nix has been part of that concern throughout the season, with his play swinging from drive to drive, while Wil Lutz and RJ Harvey have also had their own stretches that have left Denver searching for steadier production.
Jaylen Waddles recent form has been another layer to watch, especially because the drops and the frustration around him have become harder to overlook outside of the Rams game. For a team trying to find any sense of rhythm on offense, the bigger question now is whether these are isolated slumps or signs of something more troubling taking hold. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Offense Faces Its Biggest Test Yet Under Sean Payton
The Broncos head into Thursday night at 3-2 with a quick turnaround and a familiar problem hanging over them: an offense still trying to find its footing under Sean Payton. Seattle arrives in the same spot record-wise, but both teams have spent much of the season searching for consistency on that side of the ball, which makes this matchup in Week 6 feel like more of a test case than a showcase.
Denver's latest shift on the offensive side adds another layer to watch, especially against a Seahawks team that has been dealing with turnovers from quarterback Sam Darnold. If the Broncos are going to make this look like a step forward, they will need cleaner production than they have shown so far, even as bettors scan the board for touchdown options like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Evan Engram and Emanuel Wilson. [Read more 🡒]