At a Glance
- Bo Nix fractured his right ankle on a first-and-10 overtime scramble against the Bills
- Jarrett Stidham will start the remainder of Denver’s postseason, coach Sean Payton confirmed
- Surgery scheduled for Jan. 20 by Dr. Norman Waldrop, the same surgeon who repaired Joe Burrow’s turf toe
- Why it matters: Denver’s playoff run now rides on a backup quarterback who hasn’t started since Week 2
Denver’s playoff dreams took a brutal hit when quarterback Bo Nix crumpled to the turf late in overtime against Buffalo, his right ankle twisting beneath him as safety Cole Bishop brought him down. The second-year signal-caller limped to the sideline, waved to the crowd, and never returned. Minutes later coach Sean Payton delivered the verdict no Broncos fan wanted to hear: fractured ankle, season over.
The Play That Changed Everything
With 6:12 left in overtime and the ball on Buffalo’s 36-yard line, Nix scrambled for what looked like routine yardage. Television replays show his cleat catch in the grass, his body torqueing awkwardly as Bishop wrapped him up. Nix rose slowly, already favoring the ankle. On the next kneel-down the joint buckled again; trainers rushed out and helped him hop to the blue medical tent.
Payton described the moment with blunt economy: “There will be a lot of emotions, and then the refocus takes place.”
Surgery Set for Monday
According to the team’s official X account, Nix will undergo surgery Monday, Jan. 20, to stabilize the fracture. Dr. Norman Waldrop-who operated on Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow for a similar injury earlier this season-will perform the procedure. Recovery timelines were not released, but players with comparable breaks typically miss 4-6 months.
Stidham Steps In
Payton wasted no time naming the replacement: Jarrett Stidham takes first-team reps beginning Sunday.
“Stiddy’s ready to go,” Payton told reporters. “I’ve said this at the beginning of the season, I feel like I have a [No.] 2 that’s capable of starting for a handful of, a number of teams.”
The coach added that Stidham and Nix are “very close friends,” part of a “tight room” that includes third-stringer Sam Ehlinger, who now becomes the primary backup.
Stidham’s 2025 Snapshot
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Starts | 1 (Week 2 vs. Pittsburgh) |
| Pass yards | 217 |
| TD-INT | 1-1 |
| Record | 1-0 |
What Comes Next
Denver must now prepare for the AFC Championship on the road without the quarterback who led five fourth-quarter comebacks this season. Payton insisted the playbook won’t shrink.
“They’re different-type players to some degree,” Payton said of Nix and Stidham, “and yet… watch out. Just watch. He is experienced. He’s played in games.”
The Broncos will practice Sunday afternoon with Stidham under center and Ehlinger one snap away. The winner faces either Kansas City or Baltimore for a Super Bowl berth.
Key Takeaways:
- Nix’s injury is season-ending; no timeline for 2026 return
- Stidham has one career start and a 1-0 record
- Payton praised the quarterback room’s chemistry, calling it a “tight room”
- The Broncos’ next opponent will be determined after Sunday’s divisional games
According to News Of Los Angeles, the team will release an official injury update following Monday’s surgery.
