Russell Wilson is coming back to the Mile High City. But he’ll be sidelined with a calf injury. Stay here for live updates and analysis as Denver hosts the Steelers at Empower Field at Mile High.

Live updates

Pre-match updates

Bad start (2:23 p.m.): The microphone wasn’t on to start the anthem and the flyover was about 20 seconds late. If this is a sign of the Broncos’ offensive plan…. — Gabriel

Visiting Fans (1:44 p.m.): Visiting fans always get to the stadium first, so be careful, but… there are a lot of Steelers fans in the building 40 minutes before kickoff. — Gabriel

Wilson out (12:58): Also official: Pittsburgh QB Russell Wilson is inactive and, like Zach Wilson for the Broncos, will serve as the team’s emergency third QB today. He will not be able to play in the game unless the Steelers’ other two QBs are injured. — Gabriel

Broncos inactive (12:57 p.m.):

• QB Zach Wilson (Emergency third QB)
• WR Devaughn Vele
• CB Kris Abrams-Draine
• RB Blake Watson
• TE Lucas Krull
• OL Frank Crum
• DL Eyioma Uwazurike

No surprises here. Vele was out with an injury on Friday and the rest were inactive last week. Basically a swap of Vele and rookie WR Troy Franklin, who is officially active for the first time in his career. — Gabriel

Good morning from Empower Field (11:52 am): Around 11:35 a.m., Russell Wilson took the field for his normal early workout. Not before spending a few minutes chatting with Broncos QBs Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, WRs Michael Bandy and David Sills, and some of the training staff. Wilson is not expected to start for Pittsburgh today because he is nursing a calf injury. He was inactive last week, but he was in uniform as the emergency third quarterback. He could fill the same role today. — Gabriel

Scouting report (11.00 am): See how the Broncos compare to the Steelers in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.

Game Predictions

Parker Gabriel, reporter: Steelers 20, Broncos 17

Russ or no Russ, life isn’t getting any easier for Denver rookie QB Bo Nix against the Pittsburgh defense. TJ Watt rightfully gets top billing, but Alex Highsmith (14.5 sacks in 2022, seven last year) is no pushover on the other end either. Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks played it pretty straight last week. Mike Tomlin? I bet he’s got a few more tricks up his sleeve for Nix and co.

Ryan McFadden, reporter: Steelers 17, Broncos 13

This game could get ugly. Denver’s offensive line is already injured, so quarterback Bo Nix will likely be running for his life against TJ Watt on Sunday. At the same time, Pittsburgh’s offense is questionable. Denver’s home opener will be a low-scoring game, dictated by special teams and the run game. Pittsburgh will have the upper hand against the Broncos.

Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 17, Steelers 16

No Russell Mania, so this feels like an undercard fight. But there’s urgency for the Broncos to win, because if they don’t, they’re staring at an 0-4 start with back-to-back roadies on the horizon. Bo Nix will be challenged by the Steelers pass rush, but will be helped by an improved run game. The Broncos will escape, however, thanks to three takeaways, including a strip sack of Justin Fields by Jonathon Cooper for the second straight season.

Sean Keeler, columnist: Steelers 22, Broncos 13

Russ, you sucker. Just when Bo Nix needs his run game the most and is trying to keep a pesky Steelers pass rush honest, Audric Estime goes on the injured list and starting left tackle Garett Bolles and center Luke Wattenberg are out with injuries. The Steelers will put four tight ends on the field at some point in Atlanta to run the single wing with QB Justin Fields. Mike Tomlin will happily drive the ball and challenge Nix to do the un-Bo-lievable thing. No. 10 is here yet.

Broncos-Steelers NFL Week 2: Must reads

Broncos Analysis: Is Denver at risk of relying too much on rookie QB Bo Nix to fix the long list of offensive ailments from the Russell Wilson era?

By November 2023, the Broncos had won five straight games and had just pulled off a bully-ball win over Cleveland to move above .500 for the first time this season.

At 6-5, they had legitimate playoff aspirations. Quarterback Russell Wilson had 17 touchdowns and no red zone picks.

The 17-0 TD-INT ratio didn’t factor in the sacks and penalties that plagued the Broncos’ offense. It didn’t, in Payton’s eyes, mask the fact that Denver was one of the league’s worst offenses in goal-to-go situations. It certainly didn’t convince Payton that Wilson was the man to get Denver where it wanted to go long-term, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the whole story.

Broncos Journal: Denver’s pass rush shows signs of improvement. But can the defense dominate the entire game?

The Broncos’ front seven looked to be a physical, offensive front this fall, and they wasted no time in doing just that against the Seahawks in the season opener.

Denver wasn’t happy with the outcome of their 26-20 loss to Seattle, but there were positives to report. First and foremost was the Broncos’ ability to put pressure on Smith in the first half.

After finishing 29th in pressure rate (18.2%) in 2023, the Broncos’ pass rush has shown signs of life. The next step is to make life difficult for the quarterback for an entire game, reports Ryan McFadden. Read the whole story.

Renck: Starting Bo Nix was the right decision. But soon, Broncos’ Sean Payton will have to defend it.

Bo Nix earned the right to start. And it won’t be long before coach Sean Payton is forced to defend his decision.

Listen up. Six quarterbacks were drafted in the first round last spring. Nix was the last.

Three started on opening weekend. Do you know how many will face four consecutive head coaches who were former defensive coordinators? The list begins and ends with Nix, writes Troy Renck. Read the full column.