DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix suffered a devastating blow as he broke his right ankle in overtime during the Denver Broncos’ divisional-round win over Buffalo on Saturday. The injury will require surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the playoffs.
Coach Sean Payton dropped the bombshell news about his star quarterback following Denver’s thrilling victory. Backup Jarrett Stidham, with a 1-3 record as a starter in six seasons, will step in to lead the team in the upcoming AFC championship game.
“Stiddy’s prepared,” Payton affirmed after the game, discussing Nix’s unfortunate injury in the postgame press conference following Denver’s 33-30 win over the Bills.
Payton revealed that Nix sustained the injury on a play where he lost yardage and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Despite limping after the play, the severity of the injury was not initially apparent.
Following the injury, Nix managed to throw a crucial pass that drew a penalty, setting up the game-winning field goal by Wil Lutz.
Payton confirmed that Nix is scheduled to undergo surgery in Birmingham, Alabama on Tuesday.
“He’s a resilient and faith-driven individual,” Payton remarked. “Despite the setback, he remains positive and trusts in God’s plan for him, drawing strength from past experiences with similar injuries.”
Nix made no mention of his injury during a postgame interview with CBS before the news was delivered by Payton.
The 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Nix has already achieved significant success in his young career, tying Russell Wilson’s record for most wins in the first two seasons. This victory marked his first playoff win, leading Denver to the top seed in the AFC this season.
“He’s a fighter, and this team has overcome adversity all season long,” Payton added. “They will rally together for the challenges ahead.”
