Bo Nix’s NFL Draft Story: How Denver Found Its Quarterback:
The Denver Broncos won their first postseason game since Super Bowl 50 when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 33–30 in the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. However, the victory came at a cost. Bo Nix's ankle injury during the game will keep him out for the remainder of the season. Here's what we know about Nix's injury and how the Broncos plan to play without their top quarterback.
Bo Nix has an ankle injury that would end his season, according to Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s postgame news conference. Payton told the media thatBo Nix suffered a fracture in his right ankle during one of the final plays in overtime, and confirmed that a scheduled surgery on Tuesday will officially bring his season to a close.
Payton went on to clarify that the injury did not occur on the second-to-last play in overtime, but rather just before to Nix passing to Marvin Mims Jr. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero shared a video of the play on social media, showing Nix being low struck by Bills safety Cole Bishop.
Despite the injuries, Bo Nix finished the overtime period. He completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in addition to led the team on the ground with 12 carries for 29 rushing yards. It’s officially the end of his season. Nix will undergo season-ending ankle surgery in Alabama on Tuesday, according to Payton.
Jarrett Stidham, the Broncos’ backup quarterback, will take Bo Nix’s spot. Payton is confident in the veteran, who is expected to start in the AFC Championship Game for the first time this season.
Using the quarterback’s nickname, Payton declared, “Stiddy’s ready to go.”
Seven-year NFL veteran Stidham, 29, was chosen by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. After making two starts for the Broncos in 2023, he ended the season with a 1-1 record. He finished 60.6% of his throws for 496 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception over those games.
Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in the regular season or the postseason since the end of the 2023 NFL season. Sam Ehlinger is presently in his debut season with the Broncos after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. The 27-year-old Texas native was deployed as Denver’s backup quarterback on Sunday even though he hasn’t played a single snap this season.
Ehlinger hasn’t played in an NFL regular-season or postseason game since 2023, much like Stidham. In 2022, he made his last throw attempt while starting three games with the Colts. In five starts, he completed 63.4% of his throws for 573 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions while going 0–3.
” Davis noted that even with limited on-field opportunities across his six NFL seasons, Jarrett Stidham has continued to earn strong praise from his coaches. Sam Ehlinger, the third-string quarterback, is likewise unproven. With Nix out, the Broncos plan to start Stidham and use Ehlinger as a backup.
Denver might also think about signing a third quarterback to give their roster more depth. Here are a few people the Broncos might take into consideration for that position.
Fans weren’t the only ones shocked by Bo Nix’s injury. James Palmer of Bleacher Report claims that until Payton made the announcement at the podium during his news conference, “players didn’t know” the second-year quarterback was hurt. Payton stated following the game that Nix had a cheerful and optimistic attitude about his injuries, which he mostly attributed to his Christian faith.
A number of quarterbacks have previously guided their teams to a conference title game in just their second season, despite Payton’s own remarks recognizing the difficulty. Among the current players on that list are quarterbacks Joe Burrow of the Bengals, Brock Purdy of the 49ers, and Patrick Mahomes.