Overview
- Multiple national outlets and Payton himself confirmed Thursday that he will resume primary offensive play-calling beginning in Week 5.
- The change responds to a sluggish start: Denver ranks near the bottom of the league in total yards and scoring and has produced just 13 first-half points through four games.
- Reports say the shift is collaborative, with Davis Webb remaining the offensive coordinator who helps with game planning and serves as the primary in-helmet communicator to quarterback Bo Nix.
- The decision is timed to give Payton the Chargers game this weekend and the Week 6 Thursday night matchup against the Seahawks as immediate tests of whether the tweak improves execution.
- The story moved fast from a Brandon Stokley tweet to insider confirmations, and local beat reporters noted uneven awareness inside the building, underscoring how quickly NFL operations and media cycles can change during a season.