It’s only been 7 months since Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix last played a game at Empower Field. It sure seemed like a lot longer.
Nix took the field on Friday for the 1st time since fracturing his ankle on 1 of the final plays in an AFC Divisional Round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, and looked sharp as he ever was in the 1st quarter of a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.
Nix finished 6-of-9 passing for 76 yards and 1 touchdown — a 21-yard touchdown pass to running back RJ Harvey. Nix led the Broncos to scores on both of his drives, with the other ending in a 53-yard field goal by Wil Lutz.
The Denver Broncos open the regular season on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
“Bo Nix is back,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account.
“Year 3 Bo Nix elite tier qb breakout?” Football Performance wrote on its official X account.
“Bo Nix in his first two drives back: 6/9 76 yards, 1 TD, 129.9 passer rating,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens wrote on his official X account. “That’ll do.”
Nix Connected With Waddle for 35-Yard Pass
Nix did not play in the Broncos’ 1st preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Perhaps the play that got fans the most stoked was a 35-yard pass to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, whom the Broncos traded a 1st-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for in March.
“Bo Nix answers the Jordan Love drive by going 3/5 for 60 yards and a TD pass of his own,” NFL on Prime’s James Palmer wrote on his official X account. “He connected to a wide-open Jaylen Waddle over the middle for 35 yards to get into Packers territory. Denver had 13 pass plays over 30 yards last year.”
Bo Nix Suffered Injury Setback in May
The 4-6 week recovery window following Nix’s surgery in January was quickly blown out of the water when another twist came down the pipe.
Palmer reported during a May 19 appearance on the “Up & Adams Show” that the 2024 1st-round pick wouldn’t even be cleared as a full participant in team activities until July following a surprise follow-up surgery on the ankle in April.
“This was a big talking point in Denver because everybody was going ‘He’s ahead of schedule’ from (owner) Greg Penner to (head coach) Sean Payton to (general manager) George Paton,” Palmer said. “Everything is perfectly fine. Easy procedure … and then he has a 2nd procedure, and it slides him back a little bit. But he’ll be on the field in June, and he’ll be full-go in July, so when training camp starts, he should be right there.”
Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix Wows in Preseason Debut Following Ankle Injury