ENGLEWOOD, Colorado – Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s first steps in the NFL were a little shaky, but coach Sean Payton believes that was largely because Nix didn’t get enough help from his friends in the season opener.

That has to change in the coming weeks, starting with this Sunday’s home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers (4:25 p.m. ET, Empower Field at Mile High, CBS). And that change has to come from a long list of people — which, according to Payton, includes himself.

“We have to get better around him,” Payton said. “… We have to get better, I have to get better.”

Nix’s regular season debut was rocky in the 20-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The smooth efficiency of the previous season against mostly reserves was replaced by less time to throw, a stubborn running game and far fewer options as to where to go with the ball. Nix completed 26 of 42 passes against Seattle for just 138 yards (3.3 yards per attempt), threw two interceptions and was sacked twice. Thirteen of his passes went for four yards or less as the Denver offense largely treaded water, with only two passes going for more than 10 yards.

“We’ve got to outsmart (Nix),” receiver Josh Reynolds said. “… When we get a chance, we’ve got to do some tricks and just clean up.”

Nix called it a great “growth game,” but the tide changes quickly in the NFL, and significant challenges on defense await the rookie over the next three weeks. The first comes Sunday, when Nix has another “first” — his first home start — against a rogue Steelers defense led by edge rusher TJ Watt, last season’s sack champion. And that’s before a nine-day road trip to Tampa Bay, West Virginia and New Jersey, as the Broncos will stay in the Eastern time zone between their Week 3 game against the Buccaneers and their Week 4 game against the Jets, with a few days of practice at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia in between.

Those are three opponents led by coaches with defensive roots who have always made life difficult for quarterbacks, young or not. Let’s start with the Steelers, who limited Atlanta’s veteran starter Kirk Cousins ​​to 155 yards passing last Sunday. Pittsburgh also sacked Cousins ​​twice and intercepted two passes.

Payton can help his quarterback with more balance on plays. In last week’s loss, Payton decided to move away from a weak running game and drop back Nix 49 times, including penalties. All five of Nix’s runs were scrambles on what were called pass plays, including his 4-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. Considering the Steelers’ two sacks and two interceptions against Cousins ​​came on just 27 Atlanta dropbacks, Denver repeating Seattle’s game plan on Sunday against Pittsburgh may not be the best idea.

The Broncos may also be without Nix’s blindside blocker on Sunday. Left tackle Garett Bolles, who made his 100th career start on Sunday in Seattle, is a question mark after leaving the opening game with a calf injury. He did not practice on Wednesday but participated on Thursday.

Payton was not happy with the pass defense against Seattle, and facing Steelers edge rushers Alex Highsmith and Watt while Bolles is limited or not playing at all would be a difficult task. The Steelers also use safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in a variety of ways, applying pressure from different spots in the formation and routinely not letting teams get into the running game. Pittsburgh did not score a touchdown in Atlanta — Chris Boswell kicked six field goals — but never trailed in the second half thanks to its defense, led by Watt’s stellar performance (one sack, three pressures).

“I don’t name the best defensive players, but he’s part of that discussion,” Payton said of Watt. “He’s definitely disruptive in the run game and disruptive in the pass game. Any film you watch, he hits doubles. He’s very athletic. I think he’s very strong and can bend. Those are all good traits, and he’s exceptionally smart.”

Denver’s running game didn’t help Nix much in Seattle. The Broncos gained 99 yards on 25 carries, but 35 of those yards were Nix’s attempts to escape a collapsing pocket. The Broncos’ three running backs — Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime — had 64 yards on 20 carries.

“There might be a game where we want to throw 40 times, (but) not often,” Payton said of the need to help Nix in the running game. “I would say from a task standpoint, our landmarks, some of those things need to be cleaned up. Then I would tell you there are a couple of runs we need to see better from the running back position. … Overall, we need to improve in that area.”

Estime will not be available after being placed on the injured list on Wednesday with an ankle injury and will miss at least four games. That leaves Williams and McLaughlin, who averaged 2.8 yards per carry on 18 combined carries against the Seahawks, with eight of those runs being 1 yard or less.

A repeat of those numbers against the Steelers would give Pittsburgh’s defense even more opportunities to pressure Nix in third-and-long situations.

Two receivers, Reynolds (hamstring) and rookie Devaughn Vele (ribs), are on the injured list this week and did not practice Wednesday, although Reynolds participated Thursday. They were the best players in the Broncos’ limited passing attack against Seattle, with Reynolds catching five passes for 45 yards and Vele gaining 39 yards on eight receptions. Courtland Sutton, last season’s best receiver, had four receptions for 38 yards.

“We’re going to get the ball to our guys and give our playmakers the opportunity to touch the ball,” Nix said. “… We’re all going to get better just by making plays, and that starts with me.”