Sean Payton Explains Not Naming Broncos QB1 Yet amid Bo Nix, Stidham, Wilson Battle | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

“The band’s still playing, they have one more song to go, two more songs. This next game will be important,” Payton said.

“I think it’s important to the team that they see…in other words, I’m not naming the starting cornerback between (Riley Moss) or (Damarri Mathis), meaning, I’m not doing that with these other positions at receiver, and so, it would be different if you had made a decision with one position, and I’m not ready to do it with all positions.”

Payton’s remarks came a couple days after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on NFL Live that the starting gig was Nix’s job to lose.

Denver selected Nix, the former Oregon star, with the No. 12 overall choice in this year’s NFL draft. He completed 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns and just three interceptions while adding 234 yards and six more scores on the ground.

Nix is ​​obviously the Broncos’ quarterback of the future, but it seems like he’s the one of the present as well, even if Payton hasn’t made that official.

“Look he’s playing well,” Payton added. “Now they’re a few things in the game that we’ve got to clean up, but I’m encouraged with the way he’s playing. Just as I am with (Stidham) and (Wilson), but there’s a process to it …

“We’re getting close. If you come back in the next week or two, it might time up.”

Nix looked great in the Broncos’ 34-30 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts, completing 15-of-21 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown. Wilson also excelled by completing 10-of-13 passes for 117 yards. Stidham, who ended last year as the Broncos’ starter and fared well, struggled a bit (4-of-7, 37 yards, one interception).

Denver has preseason home games against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday before the Arizona Cardinals roll into town on Aug. 25. Week 1 sees Denver visit the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.