Mike Rice

people were more upset over just the strength of the first games.

It is six games.

It is a gauntlet of a stretch over the first six weeks for the Broncos.

Sorry, that's my jet going by, Soren.

But it's a really, really tough first six games.

And then it gets much easier sort of in the next seven or eight games before finishing tough.

I think fans here were more upset by that.

than specifically opening against the Chiefs on the road.

Well, I mean, I think based on what the Broncos say, people should be confident.

Then again, he had a cleanup procedure in that ankle that wasn't scheduled, and so...

are they sort of fudging that a little bit?

And maybe there was more damage than initially thought.

I don't know.

I am expecting Bo Nix to play week one.

But I would also say, and there are people who are much more pessimistic than I, I'm looking at it from the standpoint of the ankle is something to monitor, perhaps be a little bit concerned about, but until there's another issue...

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

I hope so, and I hope they can get a longer-term deal done.

By all accounts, he likes playing here.

He enjoys being here, which, I mean, you don't always hear about players with the Rockies.

But, no, it has been a bit of a rejuvenation for a guy that was the first overall pick in the draft not all that long ago.