Bo Nix’s comfort and Jaylen Waddle’s spark highlight Broncos’ preseason, despite a Packers loss

The Denver Broncos got a closer look at their offense during preseason action when Bo Nix returned and appeared comfortable running the unit, with Jaylen Waddle featuring as part of the passing-game rhythm. The overall result did not match those positive flashes. Denver lost for the first time in eight preseason games, a reminder that preseason execution still has to translate into points and consistent football against quality opponents.

The game against the Green Bay Packers served as a measuring stick for Denver’s first-and-second-team mix, particularly on offense. The Yahoo Sports report framed Nix’s performance as calm and controlled, while also noting that Waddle and the Broncos offense showed “plenty of promise.” In preseason, that kind of promise usually points to timing between quarterback and playmakers, a simplified read progression, and enough offensive structure to avoid self-inflicted setbacks.

However, head coach Sean Payton’s comments after the loss kept the message grounded. As reported, Payton said it clearly wasn’t good enough against Green Bay. That distinction matters because preseason results can be misleading, but coaches do not usually excuse poor process when the goal is to build repeatable habits for the regular season. The Broncos can take individual takeaways from how the offense looked at its best, without ignoring that it still fell short as a group.

One of the more notable storylines in the report was context. It pointed out that each of Denver’s Super Bowl wins had come with a preseason loss, implying there is some historical precedent for not overreacting to what happens in August. Still, the same history does not guarantee this edition will follow the same arc. The more practical takeaway is to watch whether Denver’s offensive promise shows up in the next preseason repetitions, especially when the game tightens and defenses play more aggressively.

For Nix, the central question is whether the comfort the report described turns into consistency across extended drives and varied defensive looks. Preseason returns often come with situational advantages for quarterbacks, but being “comfortable” in the pocket and with decision-making can be a real baseline for confidence. For Waddle, the question is how frequently he can influence games even when the offensive plan is simplified, since speed and route precision can create windows quickly if quarterback timing and leverage reads stay on track.

Denver’s follow-up is likely to focus on the parts that do not show up in highlights, such as third-down conversion patterns, red-zone decision-making, and how the offense responds after turnovers or stalled possessions. Preseason often compresses the playbook and stresses learning, but a head coach’s assessment like Payton’s tends to emphasize that improvement still has to be visible on the field. Over the next weeks, the Broncos will have a chance to turn the promising glimpses into longer stretches of production rather than isolated bursts.