ENGLEWOOD — There was no pomp and circumstance Wednesday when rookie Bo Nix was named the Broncos’ starting quarterback.

Before a morning practice at Broncos Park, head coach Sean Payton came up to Nix and told him he had won the job.

“He walked up and said he’s going to tell (the media) this afternoon (and said), ‘Have a good practice,’’’ Nix said.

So what was Nix’s reaction upon hearing the news?

“He smiled and he was good and we’re getting to practice, and that was it,” Payton said. “We didn’t have cake and candles or anything like that.”

The move had been expected. Nix has been by far the best of Denver’s three quarterbacks in the first two preseason games.

On Sept. 8 at Seattle, Nix will become the second rookie quarterback in Broncos history to start a season opener, the first being John Elway in 1983.

“It’s really cool,’’ Nix said. “It’s not every day you get that news (of being the starter). I’m super excited and ready to get back to work. … It’ll be special moment (against the Seahawks). Obviously, that’s great to share with such a great player like John Elway.”

Nix, the No. 12 pick in the April draft out of Oregon, primarily had been battling veteran Jarrett Stidham for the job. Zach Wilson all but fell out of the race early in training camp.

Payton said “the overall body of work” separated Nix, 34, from the other quarterbacks.

“He’s been outstanding,’’ Payton said. “Obviously, there’s a ton of room for growth. There’s a lot of things he needs to work on. …  I would say a lot of the off-schedule movement throws (separated Nix), and he’s been consistent. … It’s some of the things that he’s been able to do pretty quickly. His arm strength down the field.”

Nix, being the second quarterback in the game after Stidham, took the lead in the competition when he completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in a 34-30 win at Indianapolis in the Aug. 11 preseason opener. He seemingly sewed up the job when he started last Sunday’s 27-2 home preseason win over Green Bay and completed 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Still, after that game Payton wouldn’t name Nix the starter.

Payton said he never wanted to rush the process and it was important for Nix to earn the job. He did that with his play on the field in practice and then in the first two preseason games.

“Everything in this league is earned,’’ Payton said. “The minute that there’s someone that has something that’s not earned, that can affect can impact your locker room.”

Before Wednesday’s practice, in addition to telling Nix the news, Payton also informed Stidham and Wilson of his decision. He said he “grabbed each one of them” individually.

“(Stidham) will be a great resource for (Nix), as well as Zach,’’ Payton said.

Payton said he made no formal announcement to the team that Nix was named the starter. Defensive lineman Malcolm Roach said he found out from defensive line coach Jamar Cain before the start of practice.

“He’s very mature,” Roach said of Nix. “He’s done a great job coming in here and earning the guys’ respect. You see a hard worker. You see a guy who wants to earn everything. .. We look forward to seeing how it’s going to go. We know we’re going to have to have good defense with a rookie quarterback. So you just got to be ready and help him get out of any bad predicaments.”

Asked if he has named Nix the long-term starter or just for the opener at Seattle, Payton offered no promises.

“This goes for the team,’’ Payton said. “There’s no tour exemptions for 17 weeks like at Castle Pines right now (in the BMW Championship). These guys, they’re earning each week and playing well each week. It’s not just the quarterback position, but you don’t get a season exemption. You have to play.”

For now, with the Broncos closing the preseason Sunday against Arizona at Empower Field at Mile High, the competition shifts to whether Stidham or Wilson will be the backup. Payton said he was not ready to announce how he will use his quarterbacks against the Cardinals, however Nix is not expected to play. Payton did say that Wilson on Wednesday “had one of his better practices” and could see action earlier in the game after after being the third quarterback used in the first two preseason games.

“Those guys have pushed me extremely hard,’’ Nix said of Stidham and Wilson. “I learned a lot from those two. They’ve been incredible to have in a room for a rookie quarterback.”

Nix added that Stidham has handled the battle to start at quarterback in a “first-class” manner.

Stidham is entering his sixth NFL season and Wilson his fourth. When asked if the Broncos are leaning toward keeping three or just two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster to start the season, Payton said, “We’ll see.”

Nix was the sixth quarterback selected in the draft but Payton had him ranked higher than that. He said his first impressions of Nix when he arrived in Denver were “real positive” and that has continued.

“You get early impressions in the spring, and they’re confirmed with the pads on,’ Payton said.

Payton reiterated that there are still plenty of things Nix must work on. And the rookie agreed.

“There are still things that I’m trying to gain comfort in and other things that I feel comfortable with that started early,’’ Nix said. “I don’t think as a quarterback that you ever feel ultimately extremely comfortable because there is always a defense that you are having to go against and certain things that you see or learn on a daily basis.”

Nix goes against the Broncos’ defense regularly in practice. And two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain II sure has been impressed.

“Bo has been great as far as taking command of the offense,’’ Surtain said. “You can just tell how confident he is. We just see it each and every day, the way how his confidence sort of resonates on the whole offense.”

Come Sept. 8, Nix will run into the Seahawks. There would figure to be plenty pomp and circumstance if he emerges a winner in his debut.