The Denver Broncos were still in the afterglow of a thrilling, 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round when news struck that hit like a thunderbolt through the football world.
Quarterback Bo Nix, the team’s leader and the architect of an NFL record 12 comeback wins during the regular season, suffered a season-ending ankle injury in overtime against the Bills and will be out for the rest of the postseason.
“Broncos QB Bo Nix suffered a season-ending broken bone in his ankle during today’s overtime, victory over Buffalo,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account. “With Bo Nix out for the season, Denver’s starting QB for next Sunday’s AFC Championship Game will be Jarrett Stidham. His backup now will be Sam Ehlinger.”
According to head coach Sean Payton, Nix was already scheduled to have surgery to repair his ankle on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.
Nix engineered another game-winning drive in what would prove to be his last time on the football field this season, setting up a 23-yard field goal by Will Lutz to send the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game, where they’ll host the winner of Sunday’s game between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots next Sunday in Denver.
Nix was 26-of-46 passing for 276 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception in the win over the Bills.
According to Schefter, Nix injured his ankle on the second-to-last play in overtime.
“We felt it was better to tell everyone now,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said.
Stidham Hasn’t Started Game Since 2023
Stidham has been the Broncos’ backup quarterback since 2023, when he backed up Russell Wilson, and Nix’s backup for the last 2 seasons.
Nix and Stidham actually competed for the starting spot before the 2024 season and after Nix was selected in the first round (No. 12 overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.
Despite his disappointment in not becoming the starter for the Broncos, Stidham’s approach and how he plays when called upon has made him one of the NFL’s most coveted backup quarterbacks.
Stidham’s talents were on display in the Broncos‘ 30-9 preseason opener win over the San Francisco 49ers on August 9 — 14-of-15 passing for 136 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 3 carries for 36 yards in just 2 quarters.
Stidham spent 2023 as the backup to Russell Wilson and ended up going 1-1 in 2 starts and is 1-3 as a starter for his career.
Stidham was a fourth round pick (No. 133 overall) out of Auburn in the 2019 NFL draft and spent his first 3 seasons with the New England Patriots before spending 2 seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Reactions to Nix Injury: Devastation & Heartbreak
Nix’s injury ends a streak of 36 consecutive starts to his career — every regular season game and 2 playoff games over the last 2 seasons.
The reaction to his injury was a mix of shock, devastation and heartbreak following Denver’s first playoff win in a decade.
Nix appeared to hurt himself running to the left to set up the game-winning field goal in overtime, but didn’t seem to show any effect when he got up. He limped off the field and spoke with training staff after taking a knee on the next play.
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Nix would undergo surgery to repair his ankle.
“What if the Bo Nix doctor is wrong or a Patriots fan?” Barstool Sports’ Liam Blutman wrote on X. “Has anyone considered these possibilities??”
Broncos QB Bo Nix Suffers Season-Ending Injury Against Bills