Broncos to split starting reps between all three quarterbacks

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said Tuesday the team's three quarterbacks, including rookie Bo Nix , will open training camp getting equal time with the starting offense but offered no guarantee how long that rotation would last.

Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson split the work with the starting offense during the offseason program and will split the work initially when the team begins its training camp practices Wednesday. But Payton made it clear if one of the quarterbacks earns more work with the starters early on, he will get more.

"We'll mix it up again,'' Payton said. "Obviously it won't stay that way for the long term, but as we get started we'll keep you posted and eventually we'll settle into the routine we want.''

Asked if it the progression would go from three quarterbacks to two quarterbacks getting the bulk of the work with the starters down to one, Payton said:

"We'll keep you posted, I'm not going to sit here and lay out here's how it goes, because I think the mistake made is deciding how it goes. Organically, my experience [is] we'll see a rotation initially and we'll move on from there.''

The Broncos have missed the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons since their Super Bowl 50 win and have endured a high-speed carousel at quarterback. Twelve different quarterbacks -- and 13 different players overall -- have opened games behind center in those eight years.

Payton benched the last potential long-term solution at the position last season when he sat Russell Wilson down for the last two games. The Broncos released Wilson in March and general manager George Payton said Nix, whom the Broncos selected with the No. 12 pick of the April draft, was one of six quarterbacks the Broncos had first-round grades on in this year's draft.

Nix, 24, who played in 61 college games at Auburn and Oregon, is also the first quarterback Payton's team has selected in the first round of a draft in his long tenure as a head coach. Payton had lauded Nix's maturity, decision-making, accuracy and composure throughout the Broncos' offseason program.

Payton was also asked Tuesday about Nix's progress with the playbook from the time the Broncos finished their offseason program in mid-June to when the rookies reported for training camp last week.

"He's a quick study, so the progress in the playbook will be just like it will be for Zach, right? They've both been here same amount of time,'' Payton said. " ... All these young players are studying pretty hard.''

Payton also said Tuesday wide receiver Courtland Sutton , who had said during the June minicamp he may not report to training camp on time if he did not receive some tweaks in his contract, had reported and "he'll be here, ready to go.''