Bo Nix Addresses Injury Concerns, Running Style amid Recovery Ahead of Broncos' NFL Season

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix says he isn't planning on changing his playing style following the right ankle injury that prematurely ended his 2025 season.

"Absolutely not," Nix said when asked Saturday if he was considering changing how he takes off this season. "I'm going to roll, and I'm going to be as athletic as I can be... it's a strength of ours, and so we've got to use our strengths.

"For me, that's when I feel at my best, and that's when I feel free, when I'm playing like that, when I'm moving around. It's a good thing. But, at the same time, I also know what it's like to not have that asset and have to stay in the pocket. I feel strong no matter what the play is going to be, no matter what happens defensively, no matter what my reaction is."

When asked about sliding, Nix answered, "It's always the situation. If I'm out, and get a first down, I'll go down. Won't take unnecessary hits. At the same time, a key third or fourth down, you have to go get the first down. That's why you train hard in the offseason to withstand those hits."

Nix also said Saturday to NFL Network and ESPN's Steve Wyche and Cynthia Frelund: "I'm not running around crazy, because that's not what the quarterback position calls for, but when it's there I'm able to move, and I feel good when I do it."

Nix suffered his season-ending injury during the Broncos' overtime divisional-round win over the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 17.

He underwent a clean-up surgery in April from which he had recovered in time to participate in training camp.

The quarterback said in June the second procedure was done to address bone spurs, which he could have played through but had been "aggravating" him.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said back during Broncos OTAs in May the coaching staff were "kind of holding [Nix] back" from full participation amid his recovery from the surgeries.

Nix was still participating in a limited capacity as of June, although he said at the time he "could go full go right now if they wanted me to" (h/t DNVR's Zac Stevens).

Payton told reporters Saturday the team was "right where we wanted" in Nix's recovery.

"It's hard to sack some quarterbacks. He's one of them. That was something you saw on college tape and in our league," Payton said. "When you take a sack, you just do the analytics on what your points become in that drive, or likelihood to kick a field goal, and it all drops dramatically. It's certainly one of his strengths."

Nix ranked 11th among quarterbacks with 356 rushing yards last season, adding five touchdowns on the ground while taking 22 sacks.

The Broncos are running things back for a third consecutive year with the same starting offensive line after ranking 16th among NFL teams in total rushing yards last season.

Payton and new offensive coordinator Davis Webb will hope that consistency can help Nix and running back J.K. Dobbins drive improvement in the Broncos' run game this fall.