Sean Payton Reveals How He Found Out Bo Nix Was Injured After Chest Bump on Broncos Sidelines

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was hoping to celebrate with Bo Nix before the quarterback gave him some bad news.

Payton revealed that he found out about Nix's injured ankle during overtime in Saturday's 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills when he greeted the second-year signal-caller on the sidelines after setting up the game-winning field goal by Will Lutz.

"I kind of chest bump him, jab him like fricking-a, he's like 'careful,'" Payton said, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "I'm like 'you all right?' and he said 'man, it's hurting.'"

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Nix suffered a season-ending fractured ankle on a designed run after driving the ball into Bills territory in overtime. When he kneeled to center the ball, his ankle "twisted awkwardly, and he showed a pronounced limp as he moved back to the Broncos' sideline," per Legwold.

The Broncos are playing in the AFC Championship Game for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in the 2015 season. After losing Nix, Denver will be forced to turn to longtime backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who hasn't thrown a pass since 2023.

"I know how he was coached in New England. I know exactly how he was coached in New England," Payton said of Stidham. "And then I know how [current Patriots OC Josh] McDaniels felt about him … but ultimately … it's our three years here, our three years watching him day in and day out. He will be ready to go."