The Denver Broncos will be without quarterback Bo Nix for the remainder of the postseason after Nix suffered a broken ankle in Saturday’s 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, head coach Sean Payton confirmed Monday.
Payton said the injury occurred on the “second-to-last” play of overtime—a 2-yard loss on a QB sweep to the left. Nix is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama, to repair the injury.
Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start in Nix’s place for the Broncos in next Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. “Stiddy's ready to go,” Payton said. “I feel like I've got a backup QB that’s capable of starting for a number of teams. He knows it too. So, watch out.” Sam Ehlinger is expected to serve as Stidham’s backup moving forward.
The news came nearly 40 minutes after Payton’s postgame press conference following Denver’s thrilling victory, and Nix did not speak to reporters after the game. “He’s a tough cookie,” Payton said of Nix. “Year 2, he’s taken his team to a Championship Game. The first was Patrick Mahomes. This team’s lost key players all year, and we’ll rise up for the next challenge.”
Nix had a career performance in Denver’s win over Buffalo, completing 26-of-46 passes for 279 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, including go-ahead drives at the end of the fourth quarter and in overtime. Since being drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Nix started all 36 games, including postseason contests.
Stidham, a seventh-year veteran, saw limited action last season, just four snaps in Week 8 against Dallas, and hasn’t played meaningful minutes since 2023, when he started the final two games in place of an injured Russell Wilson.
Despite the loss, Payton expressed confidence in his team’s ability to respond. “There’ll be a lot of emotions, but then the refocus takes place. Stiddy's ready, and we’ll be ready for the next challenge.” Denver, boasting a top-tier defense, will now rely on Stidham to lead the offense as the Broncos aim for their first Super Bowl appearance since 2015.
