ENGLEWOOD — Bo Nix still has plenty of work to do in his quest to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback, and that includes his rookie chores.

After Wednesday’s training camp practice at Broncos Park, Nix carried the pads off the field of veteran quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. Then Stidham, battling Nix to be the starter, outlined some of the rookie’s duties.

“He’s got to carry our pads. That’s mandatory,’’ Stidham said. “And pretty much anything that goes wrong, I just blame him. I had a rookie haircut from Tom (Brady) my rookie year (with New England in 2019). I think that’s against the rules nowadays. If I forget something in my locker, I make him go get it.

“And at whatever point we decide to do his rookie dinner, I will be getting a nice bottle of wine or something. He’s going to be paying for it, so I’ll make sure that’s a really, really nice dinner and I’ll leave very happy and not hungry.”

On the field, though, the rookie from Oregon is making strides. And in Sunday’s preseason opener at Indianapolis, he will face a different NFL team for the first time.

Broncos coach Sean Payton had planned to discuss Wednesday night with his coaches the rotation for Sunday’s game and he could announce Thursday his starting quarterback. He said starters will play about 15 to 18 reps, similar to the first preseason game last year.

“When you get into real games, you get a better feel for the pass rush and all those things that come with playing that position,’’ Payton said of his quarterbacks.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Stidham, a holdover from last season who is No. 1 on the depth chart, gets the initial start. But Nix talked Wednesday about the progress he has made in the first two weeks of training camp.

“I feel much better,’’ he said. “It’s starting to be kind of second nature as far as play calling, getting in and out of the huddle, operation and that sort of thing. … I think the game is starting to slow down a little bit and I’m starting to feel very comfortable with the base install and there’s a lot more plays I’m feeling comfortable with.”

Nix, the No. 12 pick in the draft in April, has started every game he has played at quarterback since he was in the ninth grade, so beginning one on the bench would end a nine-year streak. Regardless, he is looking forward to Sunday’s game.

“I’m excited to get out there and play against another defense and just go out there and execute,’’ he said.

Stidham is in his sixth season but has started just four regular-season games. He entered last year as the backup to Russell Wilson but insisted he’s not handling this preseason any different than in 2023.

“Kind of the same mindset,’’ Stidham said. “Obviously, last year was kind of a different situation with Russ, but for me it’s about competing and executing at the highest level and (scoring) some points.”

While Payton ponders who will be his starting quarterback in the Sept. 8 opener at Seattle, Stidham is confident he has put himself so far in a good position.

“I felt like quite honestly I had a great spring, second year in the system, and things are just coming more naturally for me,’’ he said. “I feel like training camp so far has been really good.”

Stidham is followed on the depth chart by Wilson at No. 2 and Nix at No. 3. However, Payton put all his rookies at the back of the depth chart, and Wilson obviously is now the third quarterback.

Nix said he “couldn’t care less” about being listed No. 3. Wilson, in his fourth season, said it’s out of his hands that he’s currently running mostly with the third team.

“Obviously, I don’t have control over that situation,’’ he said. “I’m just going out there and doing my best every day. … I think the worst you can do is let it affect you. The best you can do is just say, ‘OK, I’m going to take what I’ve got. Go out there and do the best I can.'”

Nix has a similar attitude, saying, “Nobody has a higher standard for how I play than me.”

Asked about the high expectations surrounding him, Nix vowed to shut out “the outside noise” and said those outside the organization “see a throw and they may know about 25% of what is actually going on with that throw.”

As for being a leader, Nix believes he’s on the right track.

“No matter if you’re in the cafeteria or if you’re in the training room, a quarterback’s job is to be a leader at all times and getting everybody in the right direction,’’ Nix said.

For now, though, Nix must listen to some orders from veteran quarterbacks, especially Stidham.

“He’ll kind of bicker a little bit back at me,’’ Stidham said. “And I’m like, ‘Bo, we’ve literally all done this before.’ So I make sure he gets his rookie duties done, especially being a first-round pick. I actually make fun of him and Zach all the time because in their rookie contracts, they’ve made more money than I have in my entire career. So I’m like, ‘You two are not off the hook.'”