Payton confirmed that some of the starters will play in Atlanta, but declined to say if his third-year quarterback would be among them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019m excited,\u201d Nix said Monday at Broncos training camp. \u201cI think preseason is always a great time to get back out there and get your feet wet a little bit and see defenses be in a live situation before the first game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond further testing his surgically repaired ankle, Nix also has a new play-caller this season<\/a>. First-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb has assumed the responsibilities from <\/a>Payton<\/a>, who has called plays during his 18 seasons as an NFL head coach.<\/p>\n The game Friday will not be Webb\u2019s first time calling plays in a Broncos exhibition contest. He was at the controls during a 27-7 win against the Arizona Cardinals last season, but Nix did not play in that game.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really excited,\u201d Nix said. \u201c(Webb) is going to do a great job. He does a great job of preparing. He\u2019s going to work harder than anybody else in the building at his craft. He\u2019s going to do his job to the best of his ability. I think that\u2019s comforting when I go there and play and hear that voice inside my helmet.<\/p>\n \u201cI also think it will be fun to grow and to learn as he goes. It\u2019s definitely not going to be easy for him to do it for the first time, but that\u2019s why he\u2019s got the 11 on the field and Coach (Payton) to help support him.\u201d<\/p>\n Nix has led the Broncos to a 24-10 record in his two seasons since being the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NFL draft, including a 14-3 mark a year ago. His 54 touchdown passes are third-most in league history after two seasons, but the addition of Jaylen Waddle and continuity everywhere else could have Nix primed for a breakout season in year three<\/a>.<\/p>\n How his relationship with Webb develops could play a significant role. One question about how the logistics would work was answered pretty emphatically Monday.<\/p>\n Webb said Friday that he\u2019d prefer to be on the sidelines during games instead of up in the coaches\u2019 box. Payton and Nix both confirmed they\u2019re on board with that idea three days later.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not like we\u2019re splitting the atom. That\u2019s probably where he\u2019ll be with (his) communication with the QBs,\u201d Payton said. \u201cIt\u2019s an area where I felt comfortable. I have that same vision.\u201d<\/p>\n Payton said he and Webb haven\u2019t had the meeting that will ultimately decide that, but both are already simpatico about it. Nix is also a big fan of having the guy in his ear down on the sideline instead of up in the booth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always loved from a quarterback to a play-caller when they\u2019re on the sideline with me,\u201d Nix said. \u201cI feel like they get to feel the game a little bit differently. It\u2019s seeing the game from a different vantage point.<\/p>\n \u201cI like when the play callers are with me and I can come off (the field) and have the eye-to-eye conversation. We can sit down and look at the pictures and go through them together and really get to hear from him and not have to call up to the office or get on a headset. I think the eye-to-eye communication is really important so I\u2019m excited that he\u2019s going to be down there with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether the first chance for Nix and Webb to work together against another team comes Friday in Atlanta or at home against Green Bay the following week, they have already begun working on pre-snap communication between them in practice.<\/p>\n There have been \u201ccall it\u201d periods during camp, including one Monday, where Webb uses the headset to communicate with Nix just like he would in a game. Those periods have allowed Webb to make calls based on different situations.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s looking at the script to figure out the down and distance and shoot his shot,\u201d Nix said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got really good plays, so really it\u2019s just him giving us options and letting us go out there and play.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Head](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786399217_417_TDP-L-BroncosCamp-20260807-TH-07.jpg\")
Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos, left, talks with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, center, and offensive coordinator Davis Webb during practice on Friday, August. 7, 2026, at Broncos Park in Centennial. (Photo by Timothy Hurst\/The Denver Post)<\/p>\n