The Denver Broncos were still riding the high of their 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills when reality came crashing down fast. Denver’s quarterback, Bo Nix, had been terrific in the Divisional Round game, completing 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, 3 touchdowns, and one interception. Nix also added 29 rushing yards on 12 carries and several clutch first downs with his legs. But shortly after the game wrapped up, Broncos’ head coach Sean Payton confirmed that Nix’s night ended with a devastating injury.

“Second to last play overtime, Bo fractured a bone in his right ankle.” Sean Payton said in the post-game presser. “He is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday of this week, to put him out for the rest of the season. Still, he’s ready to go.”

Even though Nix appeared mostly fine while finishing the game, Sean Payton confirmed that the QB suffered a fracture in his right ankle that will require season-ending surgery. While Coach Payton initially stated in the heat of the post-game presser that the injury occurred on the second-to-last play, he later clarified it happened earlier in the overtime period on a designed run where Nix was tackled for a two-yard loss, just before his deep pass to wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr.

The injury occurred on the play with about six minutes left in overtime when Bo Nix took off on a designed run on a first-and-10 from the Buffalo 36-yard line. Nix then hit the ground as he was tackled by Bills’ safety Cole Bishop for a two-yard loss. While Nix popped right back up and hurried to the huddle, he showed a slight limp that might have been due to the fracture.

On the very next play, Bo Nix threw deep to Mims Jr., but Bills’ cornerback Tre’Davious White was flagged for pass interference. The penalty on the Bills moved the ball for the Broncos all the way to the Bills’ 8-yard line. Then came the moment that made things worse: on the next snap, Bo Nix knelt to stop the play, twisted his right ankle awkwardly, and grimaced in pain. 

As the Broncos’ QB limped back toward the sideline, it was clear something wasn’t right. Still, Bo Nix stayed in the game and finished the overtime period before later undergoing X-rays.

“He’s [Nix] a tough cookie,” Sean Payton said. “I said [to him], ‘Listen, I believe you’re the second quarterback in Year 2 to take your team to a championship game. And the first is [Patrick] Mahomes.’ This team, all year, has lost key players. We’ll rise for the next challenge, and we’ll go from there.”

Now, Nix will head back to his home state of Alabama for surgery. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X that Dr. Norman Waldrop will operate on Nix. Waldrop had also operated on Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow after he suffered a turf toe injury earlier this season. Since foot and ankle injuries are Waldrop’s specialty, it makes plenty of sense for him to operate on Nix as he looks to begin his recovery for the 2026 season.

But the injury, Bo Nix wrapped up his second year in Denver with 3,931 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Nix’s performance this season has also fueled talks of a big contract extension. With Nix under center, the Broncos went 14-3 in the regular season and made it to their first AFC Championship Game since 2015. But now the Broncos need to turn to backup QB Jarrett Stidham, who hasn’t thrown a pass in either of the last two seasons.

Can the Broncos keep their playoff run alive without Bo Nix?

With Bo Nix sidelined, veteran QB Jarrett Stidham will have to step in as the starter for the AFC Championship Game, and maybe even the Super Bowl. But Stidham has started only four games in his NFL career, and none since his two starts for Denver in 2023. Still, Sean Payton made it clear that he believes in his backup QB.

“I would say this, in fairness to what you’ve seen, which is very limited: He’s [Stidham] ready,” Sean Payton said in the post-game presser. “I said this at the beginning of the season, I feel like I’ve got a [No. 2 quarterback] that’s capable of starting for a number of teams, and I know he feels the same way. Watch out. Just watch. He’s experienced, he’s played in games. They’re different type players to some degree.”

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The New England Patriots drafted Jarrett Stidham in 2019 as the 133rd overall pick. Stidham appeared in five games for New England in 2020, throwing for 256 yards with 2 TDs and three interceptions. He then set career highs during his lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, recording 656 passing yards, 4 TDs, and an 89.2 passer rating in five games. Then, in his two starts with the Broncos that came in the 2023 season, he went 1-1 while recording 496 yards, 2 TDs, and one interception. 

Behind Stidham, the only other healthy QB on Denver’s roster is Sam Ehlinger, who is in his first season with Denver. After spending four years with the Indianapolis Colts, Ehlinger hasn’t played a regular-season or postseason snap since 2023. In fact, the last time Ehlinger started a game was in 2022, when he went 0-3 while recording 573 yards, 3 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

So, it’s questionable whether either of Denver’s quarterbacks can replicate what Bo Nix just did in the postseason. When the Divisional Round game went to overtime, Nix attacked downfield twice and delivered big throws that changed field position and set up the game-winning field goal. Nix’s confidence and aggressiveness, even as a second-year QB, defined Denver’s offensive identity this season.

Denver could still consider bringing in another QB to add depth, but for now, the Broncos are putting their faith in Stidham. He has started four NFL games in his career, won his last home start in 2023, and now faces the biggest opportunity of his career as the Broncos head into the AFC Championship game.