The first week of the NFL’s preseason wrapped up on Sunday with two games.
Here are some quick takeaways from Sunday’s action, including a big debut for one of the 2024 rookie class quarterbacks and a big return for a quarterback from the 2023 class.
Bo Nix makes a big statement
Sean Payton has not made an official announcement on who the Denver Broncos’ Week 1 quarterback is going to be, but Nix made a pretty strong statement in his first preseason action on Sunday in a 34-30 win against the Indianapolis Colts.
Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 17 yards on three carries. In total he led four scoring drives in his four series, including a pair of touchdown drives. That is a pretty strong way to make an argument for the starting job.
Unless Nix really falls apart over the next two weeks or simply looks overmatched in the preseason there is very little reason for the Broncos to not allow him to start. He is the future. Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham are not.
Stetson Bennett returns with a wild game
The Rams raised eyebrows when they used a fourth-round pick on Bennett during the 2023 NFL Draft, and his rookie season turned out to be a completely lost season as he stepped away from the team early in the season and was placed on the non-football injury/illness list.
The Rams have been very supportive of his return to the team this season, and he was finally back on the field for a preseason game on Sunday in a 13-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
It just did not go as he planned or hoped for most of the day.
Bennett completed 24 of 38 passes for 224 yards and a game-winning touchdown, but was also intercepted four times.
