ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Bo Nix escaped and scrambled to his right during a training camp practice last week as defensive backs blanketed his targets and the pass rush closed in around him. The Denver Broncos quarterback turned upfield and sprinted toward the safety who was dropping down to cut off his progress. Then, Nix planted his right foot firmly in the ground and sharply cut inside to continue his run.

Coach Sean Payton has described the traits displayed by Nix in that sequence as his “superpower.”

The evasiveness has helped the Broncos take sacks over the past two seasons at easily the lowest rate in the NFL (3.8 percent of dropbacks). The quarterback’s explosiveness and getaway speed in the open field have helped the Broncos win games, too. Like when he sprinted into the end zone on a combined quarterback crack run in the fourth quarter of a thrilling comeback against the New York Giants. Or when he darted into the open field to push Denver into field-goal range during another final-drive win, this one in Houston. Only Buffalo’s Josh Allen has more quarterback runs of 20 or more yards than Nix (nine) over the past two seasons.

Yet, for all the positives Nix’s feet can produce, the Broncos are targeting a subtle change with their franchise quarterback in his third year that could reduce the frequency with which he relies on them.

“He does a very good job of avoiding the sack, the minus play,” Payton said last week when asked for an area he’d like to see Nix improve in 2026. “Then, because of that, he’s very good with his progression. I mean, clean with it. He’s not someone who’s … slow to process; it’s the other way. So there are sometimes where he’s through one (progression) so fast. … But I’d rather deal with that than the slow processor who’s getting sacked.”

The Broncos have had, by far, the NFL’s best sack differential over the past two seasons (plus-84; 53 points better than the second-ranked L.A. Rams). It is a critical part of their winning formula and a far cry from the minus-10 figure during Payton’s first season in Denver in 2023 with Russell Wilson at quarterback. That’s why Payton made clear the Broncos aren’t trying to keep Nix from accessing a strength that has ample benefits for Denver’s offensive attack. But the coach intimated there are opportunities for Nix to stick longer at times with the early reads in his progression.

“He’s a real good foot athlete,” Payton said. “You don’t feel someone who’s cumbersome at all. I think it’s one of his gifts. Within the framework of each pass play, the (defining) of a three (step drop), three-no-hitch, one big five (step-drop) and a hitch, some of those specifics that put him exactly in time with the depth of the route, I think is something I’m sure he’s working on.”

When Davis Webb was named the Broncos offensive coordinator in February, he quickly went to work on a project with the team’s passing-game staff that served as a deep audit of Nix’s first two seasons as the team’s quarterback. The big-picture goal was to identify how to best build upon Nix’s strengths in ways that benefit the efficiency of the offense as a whole. One aspect of that work, Webb said last week, was making sure routes were being designed to complement the way in which Nix scans the field.

“He’s definitely progressing in that area,” Webb said. “There were some long areas in the offseason with the pass-game staff of really trying to evaluate and watch the last two years of him playing and, ‘How does the first read marry up with our second read depth-wise and play-call wise, (given) where we are at a point in the game?’ I think we’ve done a good job managing that. … I think it’s noticeable the strides he’s taken in hanging on one (read), getting to two and three, and then getting to his legs.”

Webb said he sees a progression with Nix that closely mirrors where Allen was as he entered his third NFL season. The Buffalo quarterback in 2020 — Webb was one of the team’s backups that season — posted a 107.2 passer rating that still stands as the best in his career. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time as his completion percentage jumped from 58.8 as a second-year starter in 2019 to 69.2. Allen benefited that season from the arrival of standout receiver Stefon Diggs, and Webb said in the spring he views new Broncos receiver Jaylen Waddle as a similarly impactful addition.

“I think he’s right on par with the other guys I’ve been around going into Year 3,” Webb said. “I’m really satisfied where he’s at, both getting in and out of plays, getting to the huddle, getting in and out of the huddle fast, checking plays when it’s appropriate, not overthinking, getting completions underneath and using his feet. I think the injury last year, it was important for him to kind of move around a little bit early here, and I think he’s done a really good job. I’m really satisfied with where he is.”

The Broncos’ veteran defense has provided ample opportunities to test the tweaks the Broncos are making offensively. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has shown Nix “every defensive structure imaginable” during the camp’s first three weeks, the quarterback said Monday. Joseph on Saturday credited the way Nix has found answers to the new ways in which he’s being challenged, noting that the quarterback’s deep-ball accuracy has been “off the charts” in camp.

“It’s safeties from everywhere, blitzes from everywhere, fronts from everywhere,” Nix said of the defense. “That just helps you as a quarterback get your eyes up and then slow the game down once you get into a game setting. For me, it’s been irreplaceable to go against VJ, and not only his defense, but I can ask him questions and figure out the ‘why’ behind some things.”

One sign Nix is working on sticking with first reads a little bit more when circumstances allow: He is actually throwing in the direction of All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II. The quarterback during his first two training camps would quickly zoom past his first read if that receiver was being defended by Surtain, a decision commonly made during the season by opposing quarterbacks. In this camp, though, Nix hasn’t been shy about going after Surtain. Success has been predictably limited, but it sheds light on the comfort level Nix has to experiment with things as he prepares for his third season.

“My first two years, if he was over there, I pretty much worked the other side of the field,” Nix said. “But I don’t think that does him (due) diligence. (Let’s) get him better at the same time. I don’t mind throwing it his way and getting an incompletion on the stat sheet just to help him out. And then, every once in a while when you do complete one on him, it’s good for the morale of the offense and shows us we’re also really good and can attack the best player in football on the defense.”

The Broncos will play at least some starters Friday in their preseason opener at Atlanta, but Payton declined to say whether Nix would see the field in a game for the first time since suffering a broken ankle during the playoff win against the Bills. The quarterback, after two offseason procedures on that right ankle, has had a full workload running the first-team offense in camp, and Payton said last week that Nix’s “movement that we’re seeing right now is back to where it was.” That was evident as Nix sprinted into the open field while running the same quarterback sweep play that resulted in that aforementioned touchdown against the Giants.

Broncos trying to ‘get a handle’ on soft-tissue injuries

The Broncos finished Monday’s practice with a tweak to their normal schedule. After end-of-workout wind sprints, the team separated into lines for another stretching session, mirroring the one they conduct to begin practices. That change, Payton said, was a response to a handful of soft-tissue injuries that have crept up for the Broncos in camp over the past two weeks.

“We’ve got to get a handle on the soft tissues,” Payton said. “We’ve had a couple strains — either hamstring or groin — and we continue to fight through that.”

The latest player to deal with one of those issues is running back J.K. Dobbins, who left Monday’s practice early and didn’t return. Payton said he expected Dobbins to be fine and added that the team was “just being smart” with a veteran player with a significant injury history, but it has been a concerning enough issue that the coach addressed it without any prompting as he spoke to reporters following practice. Wide receivers Waddle and Marvin Mims Jr. are among the players who have missed practices in the past week due to the kind of injuries Payton described.

“I don’t think it’s heat related as much as, you’re always trying to look at your pre-practice routine,” Payton said. “Your hydration, obviously. It’s (also) incumbent on the player. It’s hard for anyone to know your soft tissue. I’m always looking at what we did leading up to a period where someone had a strain. We had a warm-down (stretch) after practice and we’ll continue to focus on it.”

After a three-year NBA career and playing pro internationally for nearly a decade, Trajan Langdon became a San Antonio Spurs scout in 2012. Fourteen years, three teams and three roles later, as president of basketball operations, Langdon has spearheaded a turnaround that saw a 14-win Detroit Pistons team blossom into a 44- and 60-win team in consecutive seasons with back-to-back postseason appearances.

The Alaska native adopted a methodical, wait-and-see approach with the Pistons in hopes of giving the team’s core enough time to reach their potential.

Langdon has prioritized internal growth while seeking to improve the team around the margins since arriving in Detroit in the summer of 2024. He’s yet to make a blockbuster trade with the Pistons. Detroit’s acquisition of forward John Collins marks the team’s biggest swing since Langdon took over.

He has, however, surrounded franchise cornerstone Cade Cunningham with veterans such as Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schröder, Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. So while the offseason progresses and Jalen Duren’s contract negotiations remain at a standstill, let’s take a look at Langdon’s role in orchestrating the Pistons’ return to relevance.

Signing Daniss Jenkins to a two-way contract (2024)

Last season, Jenkins sat at the postgame podium after leading the Pistons to an early February win over the New York Knicks and spoke about being passed over at the 2024 NBA Draft.

“Going undrafted is insanity to me,” Jenkins said. “Literal insanity. That burns inside of me every single day. That took something away from me.”

Langdon identified Jenkins as a prospect and wasted no time signing him to a two-way deal, which eventually turned Jenkins into one of the biggest surprises with his breakout play last season. Jenkins earned a guaranteed contract shortly after that talk at the podium and carved out his role as the team’s backup point guard in the process.

Signing Jenkins was one of Langdon’s earliest and best moves in Detroit.

Signing Tobias Harris in free agency (2024)

Considering Harris’ value in setting the culture alongside Langdon and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff — not to mention his play on the court — he’s arguably Langdon’s best free-agent signing.

Langdon signed Harris to a reasonable two-year, $52 million deal that was well worth it. Before he departed for the Spurs this summer, Harris spent his first season back in Detroit as Cunningham’s second scoring option and reassumed that role during the playoffs last season. Harris’ impact on the team was felt across the board from the court to the front office.

Harris undoubtedly helped usher the Pistons back to the top of the NBA, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Langdon envisioning him as Detroit’s stretch four.

Waiving Paul Reed to re-sign him to a more team-friendly deal (2024)

Langdon waived the veteran big in December 2024 before his $7.7 million non-guaranteed contract became guaranteed, putting the Pistons $1.4 million under the salary floor. Detroit then signed Reed back to the roster on a prorated veteran minimum for $1.44 million. It was a savvy move that allowed the Pistons to enter the trade deadline with $14 million in cap space as opposed to $10 million.

Inking Reed to a new deal led to Detroit being able to trade for Dennis Schröder at the deadline (see below).

Once the 2025 offseason rolled around, Langdon retained Reed on a two-year, $11 million deal that could be arguably the best value of any center in the association. Reed will step into a more featured role next season as the Pistons’ backup center, making Langdon’s discernment and handling of Reed’s contract situations so impressive.

Acquiring Dennis Schröder from the Utah Jazz (2025)

Detroit knew it needed another quality ballhandler once former Piston Jaden Ivey went down with a fractured fibula. Schröder was the solution. His postseason experience was invaluable and nearly helped push Detroit past the Knicks and into the second round. Cunningham was vocal about Schröder helping him with the nuances of the game that can only be taught by time.

Jenkins essentially assumed Schröder’s role as the backup point guard, but in the playoffs, he couldn’t replicate Schröder’s impact.

Langdon later traded Schröder in a sign-and-trade with the Sacramento Kings that created a $14.2 million trade exception. He began with KJ Martin, Josh Richardson and a second-round pick, turned that into Schröder — who contributed during the playoffs — and flipped Schröder for the exception, though Detroit never used it.

Signing-and-trading for Duncan Robinson from the Miami Heat (2025)

This sign-and-trade felt like a heist in the moment, favoring the Pistons.

Simone Fontecchio was fresh off an abysmal season that saw him average career lows in points (5.9). Robinson, on the other hand, had averaged 11 points on 39.3 percent from 3 the season prior. Robinson slotted in as Cunningham’s starting backcourt mate for each of his 77 games, while Fontecchio didn’t manage to start a single one of his 75 games in Detroit in 2024-25.

Robinson’s 220 made triples last regular season were more than Fontecchio made during his two seasons with the Pistons, and were tied for the 12th-most makes in the league. Robinson’s 41 percent shooting from long range ranked fourth among that group. This was just another example of Langdon swapping a negative for a positive without having to overpay.

Acquiring Kevin Huerter, pick swap used to trade up to draft Ebuka Okorie (2026)

Sending Ivey to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal that brought in Huerter and a pick swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves was likely Langdon’s most polarizing move.

Unfortunately for Ivey, he was unable to return to form in time for a surging Detroit. The move was scrutinized by Pistons fans, but resulted in a shooter off the bench in Huerter — who was signed to a three-year, $27 million deal this offseason. The Pistons also moved from pick No. 28 to 21 in the deal. That pick was then used to trade up to select Okorie. It was yet another Langdon win.

The Bulls have since waived Ivey, who remains a free agent, while Detroit received Huerter and Okorie, who could blossom into a long-term backup point guard and potentially a fringe starter.

Though Langdon has yet to pull off a blockbuster, his track record at identifying players who fit well and his unwillingness to accept a deal unless it’s in the Pistons’ favor has paid off thus far.

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Good morning! Watch out for trap doors today. Coming up: 

Spectrums: Feelings, everywhere

At its core, the true appeal of sports is shared emotion. Joy in success. Wonder at incredible feats of athleticism. Pain in loss, whether via blowout or nail-biter. Anger at a bad call. Etc. 

I couldn’t get the idea out of my head as I glanced across the sports landscape yesterday. A full Monday’s worth of feelings, spread across the emotional spectrum. Let’s start with the biggest talker. 

Exhaustion: The WNBA
I briefly mentioned this sentiment in a video yesterday, but the W has been a source of national conversation for the past two weeks. And as Candace Buckner wrote in a stellar column this morning, it’s becoming a source of extreme fatigue. 

It’s no simple matter, either. There is a complicated and tenuous nuance baked into a political tussle that feels binary in the spotlight. Here’s a quote: 

“Sports truly are supposed to be a diversion, something we consider fun, a reprieve from real life, but it feels like psychological warfare just to engage with the WNBA. It’s getting to the point where you have to brace for impact every time ‘WNBA’ pops up in the algorithm.” 

I agree with every word Candace wrote. Make time for her column today. 

Angst: The Bills
The Bills opened their new digs, Highmark Stadium, to fans over the weekend, expecting much adoration. Instead, what dominated social media was photos depicting poor sight lines, small video screens and general angst from Bills season ticket holders arriving at their new seats. The team claimed yesterday the vitriol was simply a loud minority of fans, which may be true. But it’s hard to get some of those images out of your brain. Catch up on the full saga here. 

Solace: Matt LaFleur
The Packers head coach has had a tough year. There were calls for his job last season despite a stellar record. He has also dealt with grief off the field recently, as the wife of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich — Cristina, a dear friend — died at just 48 years old. 

In a really well-done feature, LaFleur opened up to our Jourdan Rodrigue about the personal changes he’s undergone in the last year. He sounds like a man who knows himself better, and it certainly makes me bullish on the Packers — who have another loaded team coming into 2026 — this year. 

Read that story here.

Cole Burston / Getty Images

Confusion: How many outs?
For what I can only assume felt like hours (but was actually 15-plus minutes), bafflement reigned over the Rogers Centre in Toronto after a scoreboard error contributed to one of the strangest series of events I can remember. In essence, MLB scorers recorded one out as a double play, which led to the scoreboard showing two outs instead of one. Players from both the Red Sox and Blue Jays continued as if there were two outs, which, after a routine flyout, somehow led to Boston scoring a run, though how that happened remains … complicated. 

Our full story has the rules explanation. This emotion would be way worse if Boston had won the game. 

Let’s keep moving:

News to Know

David Salazar / AFP via Getty Images

Infantino still under fire
Despite FIFA reaffirming its support for president Gianni Infantino, three massive member leagues — UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation — remain steadfast in calling for Infantino’s resignation. The trio issued a joint letter yesterday critical of both Infantino’s original slip-up, the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, and the ensuing moves from Infantino to save face. I wonder how long this goes on. Read our full update.

USA Swimming CFO arrested
Police arrested Cory Hilliard, current CFO of USA Swimming, for embezzling nearly $10,000 while Hilliard worked for the University of Colorado. USA Swimming subsequently put Hilliard on leave. It’s the second hiring scandal for USA Swimming in the last two years. Read our full story.

More news:

• Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is back at training camp after two weeks away, following a shooting at his home that injured his wife. More here.
  
• Coming to NFL sidelines this fall: official challenge-flag throwers.
  
• Lions center Cade Mays injured his wrist in camp and could miss eight to 10 weeks. It’s a huge blow.
  
• Meanwhile, Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III is expected to miss the preseason with a groin injury. Uh oh.
  
• The Nationals promoted one of their top pitching prospects just in time for a possible playoff run. Read more on Jackson Kent here.
  
• Tim Anderson, who won a batting title and nabbed two All-Star honors while playing for the White Sox, retired yesterday at 33.
  
• A unique card box signed by Michael Jordan sold for $1.48 million. See it here.
  
• Jonah Koech, a hopeful to run for the U.S. at the 2028 Olympics, accepted a three-year ban for blood doping, which ends that hope. More details inside.

📰 Find more news here 24/7.

Oh No: Ecstasy, agony and a trap door

If you are on any sports social media, you’ve likely seen the clip of a Brazilian soccer player embarking on one of the most memorable and darkly funny celebrations we’ve seen. Here’s the clip, with an edit that comes from his own team:

Jacy, não vá embora! 😭 pic.twitter.com/D15sptguAm

— Coritiba (@Coritiba) August 9, 2026

That’s Coritiba defender Jacy Maranhao leaping over some on-field advertisements to celebrate his rare goal … and falling directly into a hole. He injured his ankle in the process, though he said after the game he’s OK. 

The worst part? The goal was disallowed. Read our full report on it.

Watch Guide

📺 MLB: Mariners at Yankees
7:05 p.m. ET on TBS
New York sits in a luxe yet unenviable spot: really good at baseball, 14 games over .500, still well outside the AL East lead but well ahead of anyone else in the AL wild-card standings. The club needs the bats to wake up. 

📺 WNBA: Liberty at Fever
7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Two star-laden teams that will make the playoffs should be a good enough sell for Tuesday TV fare. But add in the off-court hubbub, and it makes for must-see TV, for better or worse. 

📺 Leagues Cup: FC Juárez at Real Salt Lake
9:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
Juárez is tied atop the Liga MX side of the Leagues Cup standings, while Salt Lake is down the MLS ranks without being eliminated just yet. We have a few more days of games before Phase One finishes and the knockout bracket is decided. Tune in.

Pulse Picks

F1 drivers are getting a well-deserved break, which is a perfect time for us to re-rank them. It’s wild how much better a teenager is than everyone else right now. 

Here are the fantasy football players to avoid in this year’s draft cycle. Necessary reading. 

The key to Sonny Gray’s excellent year in Boston? A little black book. 

What if Congress can’t save college sports? Time for Plan B, right? As Stewart Mandel writes, there is no Plan B. 

I loved this tale from Middlesbrough, the second-tier English club with three USMNT players who all now share a house. They hope the next stop is the Premier League. 

Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Teddy Bridgewater’s departure from the Lions. 

Most-read on the website yesterday: College Football Freaks List.