Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said earlier Thursday, on NFL GameDay Kickoff, that Payton was taking play-calling away from Webb. Payton then confirmed the change himself. "We'll make a change offensively. I'll call the plays," he said.
Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post wrote that Payton met with Webb on Monday and told him the switch would begin this week. Payton told reporters the weekly game plan stays a staff effort. On game day, Payton will be the voice in quarterback Bo Nix's helmet. Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper wrote the same split of duties: Webb stays in the weekly plan, and Payton calls the plays Sunday.
Denver has scored 13 first-half points in four games and ranks 27th in yards per game and in scoring, Gabriel wrote. Payton handed Webb the calls at the scouting combine in February, after Webb's promotion to offensive coordinator. The first four opponents were Jacksonville, San Francisco, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Rams. The last of those games was a 24-14 loss to San Francisco.
Payton said taking the sheet back was harder than giving it up, and that he still expects Webb to become a head coach. "I just felt like we needed the change right now," he said. Tight end Evan Engram put the slow start on the players. "All I would say is it's on us," Engram said. "It doesn't matter who's calling plays, we have to go out and execute."
For RSO owners, this is a coaching change. Nix still takes the snaps, and Webb is still the offensive coordinator. Payton said he can work with the terminology Webb already put in. Do not rebuild Denver skill-player rankings off the headset change alone.
