After a dramatic playoff victory, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed concerning news: quarterback Bo Nix suffered a fracture in his right ankle.The injury occurred three plays before Wil Lutz kicked a 23-yard field goal in overtime, securing the 33-30 victory over the Buffalo Bills.Nix will undergo surgery on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama, which will leave him out for the rest of the postseason. Jarrett Stidham will take over as the starter.
Nix’s injury occurred on a designed running play on the Bills’ 36-yard line, where he was tackled for a 2-yard loss. Although he initially got up, a slight limp was noticed. On the next play, a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. was incomplete.After a pass interference penalty, the ball moved to the Bills’ 8-yard line. Nix, on the next play, knelt down, and his right ankle twisted abruptly.Nix, after the game, completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. This victory marked the sixth time this season that Nix led a winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime.Stidham, who was signed as a free agent in 2023, has played one game this season. His last significant participation was in 2023, where he started the last two games of the season.Stidham threw two touchdowns and one interception in those two games.Sam Ehlinger, who spent most of the season on the Broncos’ practice squad, will be the team’s backup.“(Nix) is a tough guy. I told him, ‘Listen, I think you’re the second quarterback in his second year to take his team to the conference championship and the first is [Patrick] Mahomes’. … We’ll rise to the next challenge”.
Sean Payton, Broncos coach
Payton revealed that Nix told him that this was the third time he had suffered an ankle fracture in his football career.“Stiddy is ready to play… He’s ready. I feel like I have a second who is capable of starting for several teams and I know he feels the same way. Watch out, just watch out.”
Sean Payton, Broncos coach
