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Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury during his team's 33-30 AFC Divisional Round playoff overtime win against the Buffalo Bills, Broncos head coach Sean Payton confirmed during his press conference Saturday (January 17) night.
Payton said Nix had fractured his right ankle three plays prior to Wil Lutz's game-winning 23-yard field goal in overtime and would undergo surgery in Birmingham on Tuesday (January 20). Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start in the Broncos' AFC Championship Game next Sunday (January 25) against the winner of the AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots.
"[Nix] is a tough cookie," Payton said. "I said, 'Listen I believe you're the second quarterback in his second year to take his team to the [conference] championship game and the first is [Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick] Mahomes.' ... We'll rise up for the next challenge."
Nix finished Sunday's game with 279 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 26 of 46 passing, while also leading the Broncos with 29 rushing yards on 12 attempts. The former Oregon standout was selected by Denver at No. 12 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and has gone 24-10 in 34 starts, which includes a 14-3 record during the 2025 regular season.