Falcons DB Jessie Bates takes jab at Bo Nix: ‘We’ve been watching him in college for the past… 10 years’

Denver Broncos (5-5) rookie quarterback Bo Nix started an NCAA record 61 games during his time at Auburn and Oregon. Based on his comments Thursday, Atlanta Falcons (6-4) safety Jessie Bates certainly had his eye on Nix while he starred at the collegiate level.

Bates, speaking with the media ahead of Sunday’s Week 11 road contest against the Broncos, was asked about the challenges of preparing for a quarterback with only 10 NFL starts under his belt. Bates joked that Nix played 10 years of college ball, making him very much unlike most rookie signal callers.

"We've been watching him in college for the past…10 years"#Falcons safety Jessie Bates talks about preparing for Denver #Broncos QB Bo Nix this Sunday. @3ptCnvrsn #NFL #RiseUp #3ptcnvrsn pic.twitter.com/ROlbkFXazc

— Raphael Haynes (@rahaynes_) November 15, 2024

“10 games, that’s usually enough film to really see a quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses and what they like to do,” Bates said, via Raphael Haynes of The 3 Point Conversion. “It’s not multiple years where we can go back and watch what he does. But sometimes, it’s a good thing when you don’t have that much. You’re not overthinking what this quarterback is capable of. We’ve been watching him in college for the past five or six years, however long it was — 10 years. He’s not a rookie quarterback, he seems like a graduate student almost. He’s doing a good job of running their offense at a high level.”

Bo Nix faces tough matchup vs. Falcons, Jessie Bates

The jab was all in fun of course, though there’s no denying Nix will have to keep an eye out for where Bates is at all times. The 27-year-old is a ballhawk with 22 interceptions since entering the league in 2018, fifth-most in the NFL over that period of time. Bates has two this season after recording six last season.

To Nix’s credit, he’s generally protected the football through the first 10 games of his NFL career. Nix has 10 touchdowns to just six interceptions, having thrown for 1,968 yards on 63.6% passing. Nix is also fifth among quarterbacks with 290 rushing yards this season.

“I think he’s really taken the league by storm with his running,” head coach Raheem Morris said, via Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “You always knew he could extend plays, but he’s had some designed runs for them and a few things that looked like the new-age running quarterback, which I didn’t give him credit for before this year.”