“He’s making moves,” Sutton said Tuesday. “He’s making great strides to get to where he ultimately wants to be. It was really exciting to see how he developed. I say it every week, but it's the truth. Ultimately we want him to get better week by week and I think that's what he was ultimately able to achieve.

“We left Ops out there on the table, and it looks so good for us to see it and for all of us to see it and have conversations about it, not just see it individually and say, 'That I hope.' You see what I see.' It's like I'll see it, then he'll see it and then I'll see him the next day or something and he'll be like, “Hey, have you seen this play?” “Yeah, we can in the future “To have that correlation and for us to see that and for the other pass catchers and other guys in our offense to be able to see and recognize those things and know that there's even more at stake for us, that's definitely what we want to achieve if we get it right again.” case encouraging. ”

The Broncos' next game will be doubly different for Nix. Denver will play on Thursday night when it takes on the Saints in New Orleans, where current Broncos coach Sean Payton was in charge for 15 seasons, including winning the franchise's only Super Bowl title.

“The focus for us and our team — and I told them this this morning — is: Look, our business is to get wins and this is the next one we need to get,” Payton said. “…I'm sure there will be some emotions at some point. But more importantly: it's about our team. Because really, we go to the stadium with players who say, “Man, that means something to me.” I used to be a chief or a brawler, a robber or an eagle.” And for the person who spent time there is that important. But I think because of the week and because of the schedule, I didn't really have a chance to do it – I mean, I understand. But the most important thing is to find a way to win.”

Nix said the team had the same focus.

“We understand it, but he didn’t really make much of it,” Nix said. “For us it’s just another game. I know he has put a lot of energy and effort into this organization, and so I know it means a lot to him. But we just want to treat it like a different game and just attack it and compete like it's a different game. But we know it will be a great environment, maybe some emotions, but we have to stay grounded and just take it one game or one play at a time.”

The former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn quarterback will make his first appearance in an NFL primetime slot against New Orleans.

“It’s definitely unique,” ​​Nix said of his first game Thursday night. “I've never played for close to four days before, so it was a fun challenge. You kind of have to cram everything in at once and just learn a lot at once. But that's part of the game. You know, a lot of people have to do that. Part of the fun is playing on a Thursday night, so we're ready to go. We have a good plan and we just have to implement it.”