This summer, it’s Year 2 player Bo Nix who’s stealing the headlines in Mile High City—just not the way he’d want. The young QB, known for his relentless grind and commitment to “do whatever I need to do to get better,” is finding out the hard way that hard work doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride. Despite leaning heavily on the vets and showing up every rep, Nix is still getting swallowed up by a relentless Broncos defense.

The credit goes to Vance Joseph’s unit. Denver’s defense has looked dialed in since day one. As the DC himself put it, “We have guys … who are doing things right.” In almost every drill, the defense has been ahead of the offense. They’ve vexed the QBs, shut down passing lanes, and even forced Sean Payton to bench the second-team offense during one session. To top it off, they flat-out dominated both “move the ball” drills to close out practice. And yes, it’s only camp—but it’s telling.

Naturally, the struggle hit a peak on August 1st. That day, Nix threw two picks—one a perfectly timed read by Hufanga, the other a flat-out bad decision. No excuses. It wasn’t the offense’s best showing, and Nix knew it. But even with the mistakes, he’s not backing down. He trusts his offense and sees the value in getting humbled now rather than later.

In his own words, he just wants to “execute and leave it up to us and our talent to make plays.” Nix gets that they can’t afford to shoot themselves in the foot—not in this division, not this year. But he is ready for the challenge.

“We’re going to get challenged, we’re going to get challenged, you know, early in the season, throughout the season, and we’re excited. We’re excited to grow as a team, grow as an offense, and see where we can go,” he said, sounding more like a leader than a learner. “But we definitely have the guys, got the guys in the huddle, and that’s the important thing.” His message to the locker room was clear. Nix wants his entire unit to be focused and determined, giving their all.

And with the right pieces in the huddle, he believes they’ve got enough to figure it out. All things considered, it’s early. But for now, it’s Payton’s defense putting in the real work.

Bo Nix’s struggle continues in training camp

The intensity in Dove Valley has been nothing short of electric. The summer air buzzes with urgency as Broncos hopefuls grind through camp, but one battle has stolen the spotlight—Bo Nix versus Pat Surtain II. On Saturday, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year made a loud statement, picking off Nix for the second straight day. That moment? A straight-up reminder of who runs the Mile High defense.

Surtain jumped the route like he was reading Nix’s mind. “I think, you become DPOY and you’re in his echelon, then there’s that, not pressure, but there’s that added expectation as to, ‘This is the club I’m in,’” Sean Payton explained. “‘And it’s a difficult club, and this is what everyone expects.’” Surtain, with 11 INTs and 47 pass breakups, is more than just a lockdown corner—he’s the Broncos’ defensive blueprint. And yet, Nix didn’t flinch.

Because moments later, the rookie came right back. Same field, same defender—different outcome. Nix floated a beautiful red-zone fade to Courtland Sutton, threading it just beyond Surtain’s reach. Touchdown, Broncos. That back-and-forth? That’s exactly what Payton wants to see—a team building its identity on resilience.

Moreover, every practice rep between these two feels like a metaphor. “He’s a great teammate… a great leader. You could tell when he is on the field, he has great confidence… and it shines bright each Sunday,” Surtain said about Nix. That respect speaks volumes.

Still, Nix isn’t backing down anytime soon. After tossing 29 TDs last season and outdueling Caleb Williams in a shootout, the rookie knows pressure is just part of the job. As Payton put it best, “Their energy feeds the entire building.”