The Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts kick off their preseason schedules on Sunday, and all eyes will be on the teams’ young quarterbacks.
Anthony Richardson, who missed most of his rookie year due to a shoulder injury, is expected to start and play a bit for Indy, while Sunday presents the NFL debut of Bo Nix, who the Broncos selected No. 12 overall in April.
Here’s everything you need to know about this Week 1 preseason matchup between the Broncos and Colts, including how to watch, how to listen, the start time, and more.
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
- Start time: Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
- Channel: NFL Network
- Live stream options: NFL App, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
- Radio stations: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM, Indianapolis Colts Radio Network
- Starting QBs: TBD, Anthony Richardson
- Betting lines:
- Spread: IND -1.5
- Total: 38
- Moneyline: IND -135, DEN +114
Sunday’s NFL action kicks off at 1 p.m. ET as the Denver Broncos head to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Indianapolis Colts.
Year 2 under Sean Payton in Denver looks extremely different. QB Russell Wilson is gone, signing with the Steelers after getting cut in the offseason. WRs Courtland Sutton and RB Javonte Williams remain on the roster, but WR Jerry Jeudy was traded to the Browns.
With no real answer at quarterback, Denver drafted former Oregon QB Bo Nix with the 12th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson are battling Nix for the starting job.
On defense, the Broncos identified some players in free agency to bolster a Vance Joseph-led group that really tightened things up down the stretch.
The Colts are poised for a bounceback in QB Anthony Richardson’s return. The second-year QB will play a few series in the preseason opener in his first NFL action since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5 of the 2023 season. Despite his limited play, Richardson took the league by storm, winning two of his first four games and showcasing his unique talents at the quarterback position.
With RB Jonathan Taylor under contract and with the team to start the season, Richardson can utilize first-team All-Pro RB to take some pressure off his need to run the ball. The injury to Josh Downs’ ankle is a bummer, but given it’s just a sprain, the Colts’ second-year wide receiver shouldn’t miss much regular season time, if any.
With Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., and 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell, Indianapolis has formed a lovely trio for Richardson to target.
As Indianapolis gears up for another season, if Richardson can stay relatively injury-free, the Colts should be right up there with Houston for the top spot in the AFC South. Today’s matchup against the Broncos is just the start.
Broncos vs. Colts Betting Preview
With an injury-hit start to his NFL career, Richardson is unlikely to be risked too heavily in the preseason. If he does play any snaps, it will likely be a very controlled offense with little or no scrambling. Then the question becomes how much we see Joe Flacco at this stage of his career, or will it be the Sam Ehlinger show?
In Denver, there is fierce competition all over this roster. The QB situation has three contenders, then there are four contenders at RB, and there are pass-catching slots to be earned. The Broncos offense could be very interesting during the preseason, and it could make them very competitive throughout games.
For more betting analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s Week 1 preseason picks and predictions.
Fantasy Players to Watch
Denver Broncos: QB Bo Nix
The Broncos are putting a lot of faith in their rookie quarterback, a guy many analysts feel was overdrafted. The fantasy outlooks of Courtland Sutton, Javonte Williams, and the rest of the Broncos offense heavily ride on how well Bo Nix is able to perform as a rookie.
Nix will definitely get on the field in the preseason. He may see extensive playing time. Fantasy managers considering the Broncos’ offensive weapons will want to pay close attention to how Nix performs.
Indianapolis Colts: WR Adonai Mitchell
It’s safe to say everyone is excited to see what QB Anthony Richardson can do throughout a full season, but we’re not going to really learn anything watching him play exhibition games.
The most intriguing player on the Colts right now is rookie WR Adonai Mitchell. The only thing that is certain on this team is that Michael Pittman Jr. is the WR1. Mitchell could be as high as the WR2 or as low as the WR4, behind both Josh Downs and Alec Pierce.
Pay attention to when Mitchell plays in preseason games, as well as how he performs. It could clue us into what his role might look like when the games actually count.
For more fantasy analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s fantasy players to watch during the NFL preseason.
