Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix missed crossing paths with Justin Herbert at Oregon by three seasons, beginning his freshman year at Auburn while the Los Angeles Chargers QB was completing his collegiate career.
However, the two did face each other in Nix’s first collegiate game, which ended in a 27-21 victory for Nix and his Tigers.
The two former Ducks will meet again when the Broncos host the Chargers in Week 6.
“I played with his little brother, Pat,” Nix told reporters on October 9. “He would be back every once in a while. He came to a game or two, and I was just able to be around him, talk, and just kind of get to know him. Obviously, it’s not super close because we didn’t have a whole lot of time.
“I do appreciate him coming before me. He played for a while at Oregon, went through some tough times, battled through it, and won a Pac-12 championship and a Rose Bowl. So he’s one of those guys you look up to while playing at Oregon. And now, he’s been in the league for several years, and I’ve been watching him do some great things. So it’ll be fun watching him live and great seeing him again.”
The Chargers come in rested off their bye week at 2-2. They also listed seven players on their first injury report of the week, including starters in Herbert and right tackle Joe Alt on offense, as well as Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Derwin James on defense.
Bosa and James were non-participants in the session, while Herbert, Alt, and starting left tackle Rashawn Slater were all limited.
That could bode well for Nix and the Broncos’ blitz-heavy defense.
Bo Nix Reflects on Previous Head-to-Head Matchup vs. Justin Herbert
In that game, Nix completed 41.9% of his passes, throwing for 177 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while Herbert had a 75.7% completion rate, totaling 242 yards with 1 touchdown and no interceptions.
“It was a great head-to-head battle,” Nix commented. “They had a really good football team. I still remember them being one of the best defenses that I played against. Justin had a great game himself, and it came down to the wire. It was just a really good college football game that day.”
Herbert’s Ducks led 14-6 at halftime and added another touchdown in the third quarter, but Nix and his team rallied back to score 21 consecutive points, sealing the game with the winning drive.
Auburn ended the season with an 8-4 record, while Oregon posted a 12-2 record.
Promising Broncos Rookie Returns to Practice
The Broncos missed three starting players—Josh Reynolds, Luke Wattenberg, and Alex Palczewski—in their first practice session of the week.
However, there was a notable return as rookie fifth-round pick Audric Estime, sidelined since Week 1 with an ankle injury, was designated to return on October 9 and participated fully in practice. He has recorded two carries for 14 yards, and the running game, particularly starter Javonte Williams, has gained momentum in Weeks 4 and 5.
Estime was expected to challenge Williams for playing time, although injuries have been an issue for him, dating back to the spring, when he underwent an arthroscopic knee procedure. Additionally, the team lost Tyler Badie to injured reserve due to a back injury sustained in Week 4 against the New York Jets.
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