‘He’s Got to Be Aggressive’: Broncos’ Bo Nix Finds Himself at Center of Sean Payton’s Latest Move

The Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has taken back offensive play-calling duties from Davis Webb after the team's first four games of the 2026 season. The move comes as the Broncos look to improve their offensive performance.

The Broncos are 2-2, with Bo Nix and the offense struggling to produce consistent results . Payton will now call the plays, while Webb remains the team's offensive coordinator.

Sean Payton reclaims Broncos' offensive play-calling duties

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton will resume play-calling duties beginning with the Broncos Week 5 game. Webb had been given the responsibility before the season began, but Payton has now decided to call the offensive plays himself.

The Broncos are 2-2 after four games. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers but defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams. Under Webb's play-calling, Denver averaged 280.3 total yards and 18.5 points per game across those four contests.

The Broncos also struggled to score consistently in the first half. Denver scored 40 first-half points across its first four games. Against San Francisco, however, both teams managed only three points before halftime. The 49ers later pulled away for a 24-14 victory.

Bo Nix has recorded 819 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions through four games. Nix has contributed less as a runner than he did during the 2025 season. In 2025, Nix finished with 356 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Through the first four games of the 2026 season, he has managed just 25 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah discussed Denver's offense during the October 10 episode of The Rich Eisen Show. Speaking about Webb's work and what Nix needs to do, Jeremiah said , "I think Davis Webb has done that to a decent degree. It's just getting Bo Nix to kind of get his stinger back and get him to just let it rip and play more aggressive.

"I think they got guys open. You can watch the tape, and you're like, there's guys there. He's not throwing the football. So that's again, that's not the play design. It's not the play call. It's not the timing. It's just he's got to be aggressive."

Webb will remain the Broncos' offensive coordinator despite losing play-calling duties. He will continue to help prepare the game plan and take part in offensive meetings, while Bo Nix has struggled through the team's first four games .

The Denver Broncos will face the Los Angeles Chargers on October 11 at SoFi Stadium. Denver enters the game after a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos also lost 31-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this season but defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-13 and the Los Angeles Rams 30-26.

Head coach Sean Payton assessed the team's performance, saying , "certainly this isn't championship football, what we see. How quickly can we correct those things?"

Denver will be without Patrick Surtain II, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. His absence means the Broncos will be missing an important cornerback as they prepare to defend against the Chargers' passing attack. Riley Moss will also miss the game because of a rib injury, leaving Denver without both starting cornerbacks.

Pat Bryant is also unavailable after being placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Before his injury, he recorded nine receptions for 133 receiving yards and one touchdown this season.

Meanwhile, Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack has recorded three sacks through the first four games. The Broncos offensive line will face a difficult assignment against Mack.

The Week 5 game will be the first test of Payton's return to play-calling duties. The game will provide an early look at how the Broncos offense performs under Payton's direction.