DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix broke his right ankle late in overtime of the Denver Broncos’ win over Buffalo on Saturday and will undergo surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the playoffs.
Coach Sean Payton delivered the stunning news about his second-year quarterback in the aftermath of Denver’s biggest win in a decade. Backup Jarrett Stidham, who is 1-3 in six seasons as a starter, will start in the AFC championship game next weekend.
“Stiddy is ready,” Payton said after returning to the post-game lectern to discuss the subsequent injury Denver’s 33-30 win about Josh Allen and the Bills.
Payton said Nix was hurt near a goalie, where he lost two yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix limped after the playbut there was no indication that he had suffered such a serious injury.
On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr., who drew a 30-yard pass interference flag and put the Broncos well within field goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for Wil Lutz’s 23-yard field goal.
Payton said Nix will have surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.
“He’s such a strong, faith-based man,” Payton said. “He sits in the hallway with his family and he comes up to us and we all talk to him. He knows God has a plan for him and he said he had (a broken ankle) in high school and then he said he had one at Auburn.
“And I said I didn’t realize that. I said if I had known that, I wouldn’t have drafted you,” Payton said.
Nix didn’t say anything about being hurt during a postgame interview with CBS. The locker room was empty and reporters were waiting in an interview room for Nix when Payton returned and delivered the news.
Nix, the 12th overall pick out of Oregon in the 2024 NFL draft, tied Russell Wilson’s NFL record with two dozen wins in his first two seasons. Saturday’s win was his first in the playoffs. The Broncos lost at Buffalo last year, but Nix led Denver to the top spot in the AFC this season.
“He’s a tough cookie,” Payton said. “And this team has lost key players all year and will rise for the next challenge.”
