Bo Nix named Broncos starting quarterback in blow to Zach Wilson

Zach Wilson will have to ride the pine in Denver.

The Broncos named rookie Bo Nix as their starting quarterback on Wednesday, with the Oregon product set to be under center when the team opens the 2024 NFL season against the Seahawks on Sept. 8.

Nix, 24, has impressed during training camp and in preseason action after being taken No. 12 overall in this year’s NFL draft, and Sean Payton decided to hand him the reins after Denver took on $85 million dead-cap hit to move on from Russell Wilson earlier this year.

Payton told reporters Wednesday Nix has been “outstanding” this summer.

The rookie beat out Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, whom the Broncos acquired in a trade with the Jets earlier this year following three ugly seasons.

Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, was supposed to learn behind Aaron Rodgers last year but was thrust right back into action when Rodgers tore his Achilles four offensive plays into the season.

The 25-year-old, who recently got engaged to girlfriend Nicolette Dellanno, threw for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games last year.

Nix went 8-for-9 with 80 yards and a touchdown against the Packers on Sunday, while Wilson went 2-for-6 with 29 yards and a touchdown.

Stidham, the former Patriots fourth-round pick, went 7-for-11 with 65 yards and an interception.

Nix joins the Bears’ Caleb Williams and Commanders’ Jayden Daniels as rookie quarterbacks who will start in Week 1.