“He’s making strides,” Sutton said Tuesday. “He is taking steps to get where he ultimately wants to get. It was very exciting to see how he continued to develop. I keep saying it every week, but it’s the truth. Ultimately, we want him to get better week in and week out, and I think that’s ultimately what he has succeeded in doing.

“We left the operations 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: “I hope they 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?’ “Yes, we can achieve that in the future if it comes back again.” It’s definitely encouraging to have that correlation and for both of us to be able to see that and for the other pass catchers and other people in our offense to be able to see those things and recognize those things and know that there’s more on the table for us. ”

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

“The focus for us and our team – and I told them this morning – is, look, we’re piling up wins and this is the next one we need to get,” Payton said. “…I’m sure there will be emotions at some point. But more importantly: it’s about our team. Because really, we go to stadiums with players like, ‘Man, this means something to me. I used to be a Chief or Charger, Raider or Eagle.” And for that person who has spent time there, that is important. But I think because of the week and the schedule, I haven’t really had a chance to – I mean, I get it. But the most important thing is finding a way to win.”

Nix said the team had the same focus.

“We understand, but he didn’t really make much of it,” Nix said. “For us it’s just another competition. I know he put a lot of energy and effort into that 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 with some emotions, but we have to play with both feet on the ground and just play one game or one game 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 on Thursday night. “I’ve never played like this in anything less than four days, so it was a fun challenge. You basically have to cram everything into one go and just learn a lot in one go. But that’s part of the game. You know, a lot of guys have to do that. It’s part of the fun of playing on Thursday nights, so we’re ready. We have a good plan and we just have to implement it.”