The Denver Broncos face the Atlanta Falcons tonight in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason, but starting quarterback Bo Nix will not play in Denver’s preseason opener.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton has confirmed that Nix will sit out Friday night’s game, with Denver instead turning to Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger at quarterback.
Stidham is expected to start against Atlanta and play the first half, while Ehlinger is slated to handle the second half.
Nix’s absence is a planned decision rather than an indication that Denver’s starting quarterback has lost his position or is dealing with an injury that would prevent him from playing in a regular-season game.
Is Bo Nix Playing Today vs. Falcons?
No, Bo Nix is not playing against the Atlanta Falcons tonight.
Denver has decided to hold its starting quarterback out of the first preseason game as Payton manages Nix’s workload ahead of the 2026 regular season.
Payton indicated that Nix is healthy enough to play and would be available if Friday night were a regular-season game.
Instead, the Broncos will use the matchup to evaluate their backup quarterbacks while giving Nix additional time before his first preseason appearance.
Who Is the Broncos Starting Quarterback vs. Falcons?
Jarrett Stidham is expected to start at quarterback for the Denver Broncos against the Atlanta Falcons.
Denver’s quarterback plan calls for Stidham to play approximately the first half before Sam Ehlinger takes over for the second half.
That should give both quarterbacks significant opportunities to operate Denver’s offense and compete for positioning behind Nix on the Broncos’ depth chart.
The Broncos’ quarterback rotation against Atlanta is expected to look like this:
- Bo Nix — Not playing
- Jarrett Stidham — Expected starter and first-half quarterback
- Sam Ehlinger — Expected to play the second half
The arrangement gives Denver an extended look at both of its backup options without exposing Nix to unnecessary preseason contact.
Why Is Bo Nix Not Playing?
Nix’s absence appears to be primarily about workload management and Denver’s preseason plan.
Payton has indicated that Nix could play if the Broncos were preparing for a regular-season game, making it clear that his absence is not expected to be a significant health concern.
NFL teams frequently take cautious approaches with established starting quarterbacks during preseason games because the benefits of a handful of exhibition snaps must be weighed against the risk of injury.
For Denver, the preseason opener also provides an important opportunity to evaluate Stidham and Ehlinger.
Both quarterbacks should receive considerably more meaningful playing time against Atlanta than they would if Nix were taking the opening portion of the game.
When Will Bo Nix Play in the Preseason?
Nix is expected to make his 2026 preseason debut against the Green Bay Packers on Friday, August 21.
That would give the Broncos an opportunity to get their starting quarterback live game repetitions before the regular season while still keeping his overall preseason workload relatively limited.
How much Nix plays against Green Bay will ultimately depend on Denver’s plans entering the game.
The Broncos could use that matchup to get Nix and the starting offense valuable game-speed repetitions before turning the offense over to the backups.
Jarrett Stidham Expected to Start vs. Atlanta
With Nix sitting, Stidham becomes the quarterback to watch during the opening half.
The veteran has extensive experience in Denver’s offensive system and provides the Broncos with an established backup option behind Nix.
Playing an entire half would give Stidham more than just a handful of preseason snaps.
He should have opportunities to operate multiple drives, work through different down-and-distance situations and demonstrate his ability to manage the offense if Denver needs him during the regular season.
Preseason statistics will only tell part of the story.
Denver will also be evaluating Stidham’s decision-making, accuracy, command of the offense and ability to avoid turnovers.
Sam Ehlinger Expected to Play Second Half
Sam Ehlinger is expected to take over after halftime and handle the second half against Atlanta.
The extended playing time gives Ehlinger an important opportunity to make his case within Denver’s quarterback room.
Preseason games are particularly valuable for backup quarterbacks because practice repetitions can be limited once the regular season begins and the majority of first-team work shifts toward the starter.
Ehlinger should have multiple possessions Friday night to show what he can do within Payton’s offense.
Broncos Starters Expected to Play vs. Falcons
While Nix will sit, Denver is not planning to keep all of its starters on the sideline.
Many Broncos starters are expected to play approximately 15 snaps against Atlanta.
That should allow Denver’s first-team units to receive some live-game work without requiring them to play deep into the preseason opener.
The quarterback position will be the notable exception, with Stidham operating the offense instead of Nix.
That could also provide Stidham with valuable repetitions alongside some of Denver’s starting offensive personnel.
Falcons Starting QB vs. Broncos
Atlanta is expected to take a different approach with its starting quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa is expected to start for the Falcons against Denver and receive a limited number of snaps.
The Falcons are expected to give many of their starters roughly 10 snaps before turning the game over to players competing for roster and depth-chart positions.
That creates an interesting early-game matchup, with Atlanta giving Tagovailoa preseason work while Denver keeps Nix on the sideline.
Broncos vs. Falcons Game Time
The Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons meet Friday night in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason.
Matchup: Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons
Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Game: 2026 NFL Preseason Week 1
The matchup gives both coaching staffs an opportunity to evaluate their rosters as they move closer to the regular season.
Is Bo Nix Starting Tonight?
No. Bo Nix will not start or play for the Broncos against the Falcons tonight.
Instead, Jarrett Stidham is expected to start, with Stidham handling the first half and Sam Ehlinger taking over for the second half.
Denver’s decision to sit Nix is part of its preseason plan, and Payton has indicated that his starting quarterback is healthy enough to play if this were a regular-season game.
Nix is instead expected to make his preseason debut against the Packers on August 21.
For Broncos fans, the biggest quarterback storyline Friday night will therefore be the performance of Stidham and Ehlinger as Denver evaluates the depth behind its established QB1.