ENGLEWOOD – John Elway won his first Super Bowl against the Packers and now Bo Nix will try to win a starting job against them.

Elway, the only rookie quarterback to start a Denver season opener, led the Broncos to a 31-24 win over Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII in January 1998. Now, the Packers will come to Colorado for a joint practice Friday at Broncos Park and a preseason game Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.

A good showing against them could result in Nix, on Sept. 8 at Seattle, becoming the second rookie quarterback in team history to start an opener. In his battle with veteran Jarrett Stidham, Nix seemingly gained the upper hand with his play in last Sunday’s 34-30 win in the preseason opener at Indianapolis.

“His decision making was good,’’ Broncos coach Sean Payton said after a training camp practice Wednesday at Broncos Park. “I felt he was comfortable in the pocket. I thought his locations were good. … There were a lot of positives.”

Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown and had a passer rating of 102.3. He led the Broncos to 20 points in five series.

Stidham started against the Colts and played two series. Payton announced last week that Nix will start against the Packers, and on Wednesday indicated he would get plenty of time with the first-team offense in the joint practice.

“It kind of falls in line with what we’ve been doing all of camp,’’ Payton said. “In other words, last week ‘Stiddy’ took the week’s worth of one’s and then into the game.”

Despite his strong showing against the Colts, Payton said there are still areas where Nix must improve.

“There’s two plays where I think he can set his feet,’’ Payton said. “He’s kind of backup a little and we can clean that up.”

Payton said the coaching staff is regularly “having those discussions” on who the starter will be against the Seahawks. While Payton wouldn’t put a timetable on it, it’s certainly possible that strong play against the Packers could lead to Nix getting the nod next week.

“The focus on Bo (is) understandably so when you draft a quarterback in the first round,’’ Payton said. “Everyone one of us recognizes the significance of getting that position settled and having (someone at) that position who we feel like we can win with.”

Wilson shows ‘poise’

While Zach Wilson is seemingly out of the race to become the Broncos’ starting quarterback, Payton likes the progress he has made.

Wilson took over on Denver’s second possession of the second half against the Colts and went the rest of the way. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 117 yards and had a passer rating of 103.7.

“I felt his reps in the game were really good,’’ Payton said of the three-year veteran. “There’s a poise because he’s been there.”

McGlinchey calls Broncos on ‘right track’

The opener is still 3½ weeks away, but tackle Mike McGlinchey said the Broncos already have made great strides from last season.

“I think there’s certainly an internal belief more than there was when I got here a year ago,’’ McGlinchey said of a winning culture having been established in Payton’s second season. “People believe that we can win, people believe that we’re on the right track, and people have bought into the program.”

Before signing as a free agent with Denver in March 2023, McGlinchey played his first five seasons with San Francisco.

Broncos waive rookie Jaylon Allen

The Broncos on Wednesday waived rookie outside linebacker Jaylon Allen with an injury settlement to create room on the roster to re-sign inside linebacker Alec Mock.

Mock, an undrafted rookie from Air Force, said Tuesday he was told after being waived Monday that he would be brought back. The Broncos on Monday needed a roster spot to claim defensive back Kayleb Hayes off waivers from the New York Giants and the waiving of Mock gave them time to work out the settlement on Allen.

Allen was signed in May after being undrafted out of Memphis. Against the Colts, he played five snaps on defense and one on special teams.

Injury updates

Payton said cornerback Art Green, who suffered a concussion at Indianapolis, likely won’t play against the Packers but there’s a “good chance” he will return for the Aug. 25 preseason finale against Arizona.

Tight end Lucas Krull didn’t practice Wednesday because of a toe injury suffered against the Colts, but Payton said he “should be fine.”

Safety Brandon Jones was back at practice after missing two weeks due to a hamstring injury and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was back after sitting out against the Colts with a back injury. Payton said star cornerback Pat Surtain II, who was rested at Indianapolis, will play against Green Bay.

Briefly

Payton has talked to Packers coach Matt LaFleur about the joint practice. He said it periods during the workout were discussed, including one that will be on kickoffs and one on punts Logistics were discussed, including that Green Bay’s sideline will be between the two fields. … Packers running back Emanuel Wilson returns to Broncos Park after he was signed as an undrafted free agent by Denver in May 2023 and waived after rookie minicamp. “The Broncos cut me so I’m going in there with a different mindset, prove a point to them,” said Wilson, who could be Green Bay’s No. 2 back. … Payton said Riley Moss and Damarri Mathis “looked good” starting at cornerback against the Colts.