Jarrett Stidham has made just four starts in five NFL seasons, yet he considers himself a “starting-caliber” quarterback.

For that reason, Stidham said after Sunday’s 38-12 win over Arizona in the final preseason at Empower Field at Mile High that he was disappointed when coach Sean Payton named rookie Bo Nix the Broncos’ starting forward last Wednesday.

“Obviously I was very disappointed,” Stidham said in his first comments since the move. “I know I’m a starting quarterback in this league. I have no doubts about that and it just didn’t work out. I know what kind of player I am, what kind of person I am.”

Stidham had been battling Nix and Zach Wilson for the starting job, though Wilson was nearly out of the running before preseason began. On Sunday, Stidham got the start and played just one series, going 2 of 4 for 28 yards and leading the Broncos to a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by rookie Audric Estime.

Wilson played the remainder of the game, completing 16 of 25 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns.

After the game, Payton said all three quarterbacks will make the team when the 53-man roster is finalized Tuesday. It remains to be seen whether Stidham or Wilson will be Nix’s backup.

Meanwhile, Stidham vows to help Nix wherever he can.

“Of course. I’m going to do whatever I can to help Bo get ready,” he said. “Obviously, he’s never had a real season like this in the NFL. I’m going to help him in whatever way I can, and then be ready to go if he needs to.”

Stidham played the least of the three quarterbacks in the preseason, but he wasn’t disappointed.

“I think they know what I can do,” said Stidham, who is entering his second season with Denver and started the final two games of last season when Russell Wilson was benched. “I think I showed that last year when I was asked to play the final two games, during practice, during training camp (spring drills).”

For the preseason, Stidham completed 13 of 22 passes for 130 yards and no touchdowns. Nix completed 23 of 30 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. And Wilson completed 28 of 44 passes for 397 yards and three touchdowns.

“I was excited for him,” Wilson said of Nix’s win. “I don’t think it was a surprise, obviously. I think he’s had a great camp. I told him I’m excited for him to have this opportunity. I really believe they’re putting him in a good situation. … Bo just kept getting better. So I’m excited to see what he can do, and I think he’s ready.”

Franklin Expects 53

Rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin hasn’t exactly performed stellarly during his preseason, but he’s expected to make Denver’s 53-man starting roster.

“Yeah,” the fourth-round pick told The Denver Gazette. “One, because of my assignments. I really haven’t had any (mistakes) or anything. Two, I know what I can do. I know what I’ve done. … The coaches know.”

Franklin didn’t have a single catch in the first two preseason games. On Sunday, he had one reception for 21 yards and a run for 9 yards.

“I think my preseason was actually pretty good,” Franklin said. “I don’t think I did anything wrong or anything. I just didn’t get the opportunities until this game. So I’m just a team player. … I think my preseason performance was pretty cool.”

The Broncos have a lot of receivers, but it would likely be a big risk to move Franklin off waivers and onto the practice squad.

One receiver who may have a better chance of making the roster is Brandon Johnson, even though he had two catches for 83 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

“There are definitely some nerves,” Johnson said of the roster cuts on Tuesday. “You don’t know what’s going to happen, but whatever the decision is, I have to live with it.”

Johnson was happy to have two big catches on Sunday. He had a 37-yard reception in the third quarter to the Cardinals 1 that led to a touchdown and a 46-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter in which he narrowly avoided a big hit.

“Very focused, very confident that my head wouldn’t get cut off,” Johnson said.

Bailey overcomes blunders

Payton liked the 94-yard interception for a touchdown that rookie linebacker Leelle Bailey had in the fourth quarter. He didn’t like two plays he had shortly before that.

“I got Levelle,” Payton said. “I thought he had two bad plays and I kind of went after him.”

But Bailey intercepted the ball and was mobbed by his teammates in the end zone after scoring.

“It was definitely a moment I will never forget,” he said.

Two plays before that were quickly forgotten.

“(Payton) kind of gave it to me,” Bailey said. “I just had to make (the interception) to prove that I belong in the NFL.”

Short

In competition to become Denver’s punter, Riley Dixon had two punts for an average of 45.5 yards gross and 37.5 net and Trenton Gill had two punts for an average of 61.0 yards gross and 48.5 net. Gill had a 73-yard punt that went into the end zone. Before the preseason, both had five punts. Dixon averaged 46.6 yards gross and 41.6 net and Gill 53.6 yards gross and 48.6 net. … Former Air Force star defensive lineman Jordan Jackson had two sacks. “I just went out there and tried to have fun. … I just tried to let it out,” he said. … Estime had five carries for 18 yards. “I feel like I’m more confident going into the season now,” he said.