Broncos Sit Bo Nix for Preseason Finale After 14 Snaps, Leaving Backup Race Open

Q: Will Jarrett Stidham’s hefty 2026 cap hit force the Broncos to trade him and hand the backup quarterback job to Sam Ehlinger?

Probably not. Stidham’s 2026 cap number makes him a logical trade or cut candidate only if Denver believes Sam Ehlinger is clearly good enough to be Bo Nix’s No. 2. Right now, the evidence points to a real competition, not a forced cap move. Sean Payton has repeatedly said the backup job is unsettled, and Ehlinger has earned meaningful second-team reps in camp while showing improved command of the offense. He is also much cheaper, which gives Denver flexibility if the coaches judge the gap between the two quarterbacks to be small. But the cap hit alone is unlikely to decide it. Multiple reports indicate the Broncos still value Stidham’s experience, his grasp of Payton’s system and his standing in the locker room. Denver also has ample overall cap space, which reduces pressure to move him just for savings. If Stidham is released before the season, Denver would save about $4.5 million while taking on roughly $3.5 million in dead money. A trade would be cleaner financially, and there has been reported outside interest, but no deal has materialized. The most likely outcome remains that Denver keeps the quarterback who gives it the best chance to function if Nix misses time. If that is Stidham, he stays despite the price. If Ehlinger proves he is essentially the same player at a much lower cost, then Stidham becomes expendable and a trade becomes much more realistic. As of now, Denver has not signaled that decision has been made.

3 articles · Updated · The Denver Post · Aug 26

Sean Payton said Bo Nix will “probably not” play Friday against Minnesota, leaving the Broncos’ starter with just 14 preseason snaps before Denver opens Sept. 14 at Kansas City.
Those 14 snaps came last week against Green Bay, when Nix went 6-of-9 for 73 yards and a 21-yard touchdown in his first game since fracturing his right ankle in January’s playoffs.
Jarrett Stidham is likely to start the finale, while Sam Ehlinger could play well over half the game as Denver still weighs who will be Nix’s primary backup and whether to keep two or three quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster.
Sunday’s cutdown deadline shapes the rest of the finale as well: Payton said several starters, if they play at all, will have limited work, while newly signed Ron Stone Jr., Foster Sarell and Israel Antwine are expected to help absorb snaps.
That setup reflects Denver’s roster crunch on a team viewed as deep enough to draw waiver claims, with bubble players effectively auditioning both for the Broncos and the league’s other 31 teams.