Bo Nix's Likely Timeline to Return to Broncos After Undergoing Surgery for Ankle Injury

The Denver Broncos' Super Bowl dreams are still alive after Saturday's 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round, but they still took quite the hit when head coach Sean Payton revealed quarterback Bo Nix fractured his right ankle three plays before the winning field goal.

Payton provided a timeline for what's next and told reporters Nix will undergo surgery Tuesday and miss the rest of the playoffs.

"[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 [Patrick] Mahomes.' ... We'll rise up for the next challenge."

According to ESPN's Stephania Bell, "Nix will likely be on track to start the 2026 regular season, assuming no complications" since it typically takes 10 to 12 weeks to heal from this type of injury and three to four months to restore full motion and strength.

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Nix played well in what turned out to be the final game of his season, as he completed 26-of-46 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 29 yards.

The second-year quarterback was at his best in the biggest moments and directed an eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that he capped with a 26-yard strike to Marvin Mims Jr. in the final minute of regulation.

Nix's ability to move the Broncos into game-winning field-goal range on the last possession of overtime was also somewhat overshadowed by Ja'Quan McMillian's controversial interception of Josh Allen on Buffalo's possession in the extra period, but he led Denver all the way down the field for Wil Lutz's winning kick.

Unfortunately for the Broncos and their fans, they won't get to see Nix work like that again until the 2026 campaign.

In his place for next Sunday's AFC Championship Game will be Jarrett Stidham, who has the confidence of his head coach.

"Stiddy is ready to go," Payton said. "... He's ready, he's ready. I feel like I've got a two who's capable of starting for a number of teams, and I know he feels the same way. Watch out, just watch."

Stidham has not thrown a pass in a regular-season game since the 2023 campaign, although he does have four starts on his resume. He started two games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 and two games for the Broncos in 2023.

The Auburn product went 1-3 in those starts and has eight touchdown passes to eight interceptions in his career.

Figuring out a way to defeat the New England Patriots or Houston Texans in the AFC Championship Game without Nix will be quite the challenge for Payton and Co., but Denver can at least take solace knowing its long-term starting quarterback should be good to go by the start of next season.