ENGLEWOOD, Colorado — Quarterback Bo Nix’s next game is scheduled for Week 1 in Seattle.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced Friday that Jarrett Stidham will play in the Broncos’ final exhibition game against the Cardinals and will play “the first series or so” before Zach Wilson takes the field.

“I’d like to see (Stidham) get eight to 12 plays, and then we’ll get a lot of work with Zach (starting) somewhere in the first or early second quarter,” Payton said.

Wilson is expected to begin his reps with the second offensive line after spending the last few weeks of training camp working with the third team.

“This is going to be a good test, a good opportunity for Zach to get some work in with the second wave,” Payton said. “He’s going to get a lot of snaps.”

Payton said there will be “a number of starters that won’t play at all” in the team’s final exhibition game against the Cardinals.

“A handful” of key players will still see action, including safety Brandon Jones. Payton also named cornerback Levi Wallace and running back Audric Estime as players who will see playing time.

“We’re trying to watch the snaps,” Payton said. “Look, on defense, we’ve got to watch where Jones is, we’ve got to watch where Levi is. There’s three or four guys that haven’t really gotten reps in the first two games. Those guys are all getting healthier. … This is going to be more of a two-phase game instead of a three-phase game.”

As Stidham and Wilson make their final impressions of the season, Payton said the Broncos have “a pretty good idea of ​​the direction we’re going” at the quarterback position.

“We’re going to get together here in about five minutes — (General Manager) George (Paton), myself, a couple of others — and we’re going to go over the depth chart as we see it and the players we’re discussing,” Payton said. “But I think we’re really watching that room, specifically. We’re not going to announce anything, but I think — I’ve said this, I’ll say it again — I like the room. I feel like we’ve gotten better.”