After a short week of preparation, former Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix will lead the Denver Broncos (3-3) against the New Orleans Saints (2-4) on Thursday Night Football. Nix and the Broncos have a chance to win their third straight road game and find some positive momentum after being defeated by AFC West division foe Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

The primetime game marks Denver coach Sean Payton’s first return to New Orleans, the city where he coached for 16 years and helped rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

No doubt emotions will be high and there will be plenty of distractions in Caesars Superdome… Denver will lean on rookie Nix to help the team focus. It’s a responsibility Nix’s brother, Oregon Ducks receiver Tez Johnson, can certainly handle. Johnson isn’t surprised Nix has adapted quickly to the NFL.

“He loves Denver. It’s the same (as when he first arrived),” Johnson told Oregon Ducks reporter Bri Amaranthus. “When I call him and ask him how he’s doing, he’s enjoying it… He’s the same guy, he just wants to get better. He’s playing with a former receiver teammate, Troy Franklin. You can’t ask things like that. ” something better.”

Franklin caught his first NFL touchdown pass from Nix in Denver’s loss to the Chargers.

“When I look at Nix, I see Max Crosby or TJ Watt out there, and when he’s on the field, I pray he doesn’t get hit by those guys,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “Meanwhile he’s thinking: how can he beat those guys.”

Nix has taken some hard hits this season, in a few “Welcome to the NFL” moments. However, Nix’s ability to avoid sacks was also impressive.

In Oregon, Nix was tense and never came across as anything but poised. So when Nix and coach Payton were seen on the TV broadcast having a fiery altercation in the game against the Las Vegas Raiders, many Oregon fans were quite surprised.

Johnson doesn’t, because he knows Nix’s fiery side all too well.

“He’s just passionate – passionate about the game, passionate that every time you go on the attack you’re going to score,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “I haven’t seen the piece before (sideline exchange). But obviously it’s probably a piece that didn’t work. And he was so passionate that he wanted to finish it.”

“That’s how passionate he is about the game of football, being better and competing,” Johnson continued. “He competes at a high level. Everything he does is at a high level. He competes. He wants to be first in everything. He doesn’t settle for anything. When he sets his mind to something, he’s going to do it. is happening. It’s unbelievable.”

When Nix was asked about the heated exchange after the match, he joked that it was actually just him and Payton telling each other, “I love you.”

“…And I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what was said. I’m sure that’s exactly what he said,” Johnson laughed.

Coach Payton “liked” his starting quarterback’s behavior.

“Absolutely. Absolutely,” Payton said when asked if he liked Nix’s animated sideline spit. “All good. All good. It’s the heat of the moment, it’s the game. It’s competitive, he’s fiery. We are working with passion.”

Payton, Nix and the Broncos are also looking to get back in the win column in New Orleans. Nix has the potential for a breakout game against the Saints, who had a historically poor defensive performance in their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay scored 51 points on Sunday, the most points given up by a Saints team since 2012.

In six games this season, Nix has completed 121 of 198 pass attempts (61.1 percent) for 1,082 yards and five touchdowns with five interceptions. Nix has added 180 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.

Nix certainly has the support of his family, as Johnson traveled to Seattle to watch Nix play the Seahawks at boisterous Lumen Field in Nix’s first NFL start.

“It was electric. The Seahawks fans are electric,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “It reminded me of the game when we went there (to play the Washington Huskies in 2023). They have some really good fans.”

Johnson and many Oregon fans will be cheering on Nix on Thursday night as he takes on the Saints at 5:15 PM PT.