Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked a pointed question on Friday afternoon.
Does he want to see Broncos QB Bo Nix run more?
Nix’s lack of a rushing attack has been a huge story through six games with the Broncos this season. He has only 22 carries for 37 yards, or 1.7 yards per carry, coming off two ankle surgeries in the last nine months.
While Nix himself has admitted the ankle is still a mental hurdle, he’s been adamant he’s physically fine.
Sean Payton took a cautious approach to the question, but gave his most revealing answer at the end.
“Listen, I think you’ve got to be careful about that. There’s certain on-the-move plays, but I think some of that can happen organically. A lot of that happens with back-to-the-QB defense. It’s a little bit different when eyes are to the QB,” Sean Payton said.
Payton mentioned “man combinations” or “match stuff” as possible instances where Nix could run, but then concluded with something that may surprise Broncos Country.
“It’s not on my top-10 list of things that we’re woking on,” Sean Payton said.
One would think the offense needing a spark could come from Nix’s legs. But according to Payton, that adjustment doesn’t even crack his top-10 priorities.
In his first NFL season Nix rushed for 430 yards on 92 carries, which was 4.7 yards per attempt. Last year it was 356 yards on 83 carries, good for 4.3 yards per rush. He’s nowhere close to either of those marks after about one-third of this season.
It could just be a deflection by Payton — he doesn’t want to reveal that Nix running more is in the Broncos game-plan.
Or perhaps, he doesn’t want to add any extra pressure on Nix, who’s been under heavy scrutiny from the local and national media for weeks.
Regardless of the reason, Sean Payton doesn’t seem to be too worried about his quarterback using his feet.
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