RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. After an ankle injury sidelined him in his team's playoff run months ago, Bo Nix returned to the football field under the Friday night lights for a preseason matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Nix completed 6 of 9 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in limited time on the field, achieving a 129.9 passer rating. However, that wasn't enough to propel the Denver Broncos , as the Packers won, 33-13.
Following the loss, Payton was asked about Nix's playing status ahead of the Broncos' next preseason game, but he wasn't ready to say what the plan was, especially after his team's overall performance.
"I'm not getting into next week's. I want to play them all into the third quarter next week. So, let's figure out the tape tomorrow, see where we're at, and let's do what's best for us as we prepare for the Chiefs," Payton said at his postgame press conference.
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Nix is coming off his season-ending injury, surgery, and recovery after suffering a fractured right ankle in the Broncos' AFC Divisional Round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills. He looked like he had a strong enough performance, albeit in limited time on the field, that he shouldn't risk playing again before the regular season.
Last season, Nix threw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He had the Broncos in prime position to reach the Super Bowl and potentially win it until the unfortunate injury struck.
With the new season weeks away, Payton seemed unhappy with the overall performance on both sides of the ball on Friday night, calling out the entire team for the loss.
"Obviously, that wasn't good enough. There weren't a lot of things. I said this after the game: just pick a topic. You know, pick penalties; we lose there. Kickoff, kickoff return. We lose that battle. Rushing numbers, we lose that, and we can't just say, 'Hey, this is preseason,'" Payton told reporters.
The Broncos head coach said everyone would review film to see what needs to be fixed before their final preseason game, a Friday night matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Denver then has a huge regular-season opener, visiting the Kansas City Chiefs for "Monday Night Football" on Sept. 14.
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