Rookie Bo Nix's strong NFL debut leads Broncos past Colts 34-30 in preseason opener

It seemed a rookie quarterback Bo Nix who contributed one touchdown pass and took Denver for long scoring drives at the end of the first half and the start of the second half on Sunday as the Broncos eked out a 34-30 win at Indianapolis in their preseason opener.

Nix, the No. 12 overall draft pick in April, was fifteen of twenty one for one hundred and twenty five yards while rushing three times for seventeen yards before leaving the field in the middle of the third quarter and handing over to the former New York Jets starter, Wilson.

Veteran Jarrett Stidham began the game and completed 4 of 7 passes for 57 yards and an interception.

And in his first NFL game, Nix may have leapfrogged Hill in the competition for Denver’s starting gig.

‘Bo Nix is just a freak of athleticism, and I was like almost on that dude’, said Colts rookie Laiatu Latu. But I didn’t get him.

He certainly was the most efficient of the three and put the difference in to stark relief when playing mainly against Indy’s second string defense.

For the Colts, it was all about getting a look at second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson and 2021 NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor in the same backfield after the pair combined for only two snaps all of last year.

They only managed two series and clearly were not very active. In his first game since going down with a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder in October, Richardson completed 2 of 4 passes for 25 yards and had one carry for one yard. Taylor, as a part of the rushing attack had two attempts and earned 4 yards.

In a conversation after the match, Richardson said he and his teammates discussed what was happening at the half-time: practically, he mentioned having been looking forward to his first match since October. ‘We were kind of disappointed we didn’t get more reps than that’. But of course we know that there is time for that. ”

Joe Flacco, a Colts’ team veteran, made a field goal on his team’s only series, and was 3 of 5 for 28 yards.

Nix appeared to break the 3-3 deadlock after he hit Marvin Mims Jr on a 1-yard TD pass just before halftime and after Hull’s equalizing one-yard scoring rush, he set up the stage to help Will Lutz slot in the decisive 27-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Estime scored on a 2-yard TD run to make it Broncos 20, Indys 10 midway through the third but the big play of the night came from Indy cornerback Micah Abraham, who stripped the ball from Estime’s grasp and raced 45-yards down the field for a touchdown, to make it Broncos 20, Indys 17.

Blake Watson put the final nail into the coffin for Denver with a 6-yard TD run at the 5:55 mark.

Homecoming

Estime and another Broncos rookie, cornerback Reese Taylor, played in their first NFL game in a familiar state.

Estime, who played for three seasons at Notre Dame, rushed 10 times for 31 yards.

Taylor a defensive back came during kickoff and made a tackle of the opponent. He began his college football career at Indiana University; transferred the to Purdue University; and was also the quarterback for Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and was the state of Indiana’s 2017 Mr Football.

Injuries

Broncos: But tight end Lucas Krull did not come back after getting diagnosed with an injured toe in the third quarter. He had four receptions for 31 receiving yards. CB Art Green departed the game late in the third quarter and did not return after being diagnosed with the possibility of a concussion.

Colts: Backup running back Trey Sermon was limited, after he strained his left hamstring in the first half. During the second half, defensive end Titus Leo also reported to the injury tent. Early in the training camp, Leo had to be taken off the practice field on a cart after sustaining an injury in his knee. Many players got injured during the game, including running back Trent Pennix, who had to leave the field due to a groining injury.