In a devastating twist following a monumental victory, the Denver Broncos will be without their star quarterback for the remainder of the NFL playoffs. Bo Nix suffered a broken right ankle during overtime in Saturday's divisional-round win over the Buffalo Bills and will undergo surgery.
Stunning Injury News After Historic Win
Head coach Sean Payton delivered the shocking update about his second-year signal-caller after Denver's 33-30 overtime triumph, the franchise's biggest win in a decade. The injury occurred on a quarterback keeper where Nix was tackled for a two-yard loss by Bills safety Cole Bishop. While Nix was seen limping afterward, the severity of the injury was not immediately apparent.
Remarkably, Nix stayed in the game. On the very next play, he launched a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a critical 30-yard pass interference penalty, setting up the Broncos in field goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for kicker Wil Lutz, who nailed the game-winning 23-yard field goal.
Stidham Steps Into the Spotlight
With Nix sidelined, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will take the reins for the AFC Championship game next weekend. Stidham, who has a 1-3 record as a starter across six NFL seasons, now faces the daunting task of leading Denver to the Super Bowl. Coach Payton expressed confidence, simply stating, "Stiddy's ready."
Payton revealed that Nix will have surgery on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama. He shared a lighthearted moment from the somber post-game scene, noting Nix's resilience. "He's such a strong, faith-based guy," Payton said. "He knows that God's got a plan for him." Nix mentioned he had broken the same ankle twice before, in high school and at Auburn, prompting Payton to joke, "I said if I had known that I wouldn't have drafted you."
A Rising Star's Season Cut Short
The injury halts a spectacular season for the young quarterback. Nix, the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Oregon, had just secured his first playoff victory and tied a league record by matching Russell Wilson's mark of 24 wins in his first two seasons. He led the Broncos to the AFC's top seed this year after a playoff loss in Buffalo last season.
Nix showed no signs of the injury during a post-game interview with CBS, and reporters were waiting for him in an interview room when Payton returned to break the news. The coach praised Nix's toughness and the team's next-man-up mentality, saying, "He's a tough cookie. And this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge." The Broncos' championship hopes now rest on the arm of Jarrett Stidham.
