Courtland Sutton Compares Bo Nix to 'Mountain Lion' Ahead of Broncos Opener vs. Mahomes, Chiefs

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix led his team to a great 2025 season, finishing 14-3, earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, and reaching the conference championship game.

Unfortunately, Nix missed the AFC title matchup, a 10-7 home loss to the New England Patriots, after fracturing his ankle the week before against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.

Thankfully, Nix is healthy and ready to go, and Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has taken notice, comparing the signal-caller to a "mountain lion" given his intense desire to return to the field.

"I'm a little nervous for everybody else … he's a competitor now," Sutton said following Wednesday's practice, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "He's like that, like a mountain lion in the zoo, that's like pacing. I saw a mountain lion at the Colorado zoo, and he was just pacing back and forth. I was like, 'Y'all don't want that boy to get out, because that's not going to be good.' That's what Bo reminds me of … you can tell he's like, 'I'm ready to go do this.'"

Nix agreed with the assessment, via Legwold.

"Out here [in Colorado], there's different animals you can encounter, [and] I hear a lot of times it's mountain lions and bears you don't want to come across, so I guess that's a good comparison," Nix said. "The thing about mountain lions is usually when you notice them it's because they noticed you a long time ago. I'm just excited to get out there; I feel like I'm pacing, feel like I've been in this practice schedule a long time."

Nix has practiced fully at training camp, but he went through a tough road before then. He underwent surgery a few days after the initial injury to repair the fracture and then had a second surgery in April due to bone spurs.

Per Legwold, Nix did some "limited throwing" at mandatory minicamp in June, but he wasn't a full go until training camp. He made one preseason appearance this year, completing six-of-nine passes for 76 yards.

Nix has become the king of the fourth quarter comeback, engineering eight of them since becoming a starter (2024) and 10 game-winning drives overall. He has been inconsistent and erratic at times, but when the lights are brightest, Nix has produced.

It's easy to feel confident about the Broncos' 2026 season, especially with Nix back under center and Jaylen Waddle now aboard following a trade with the Miami Dolphins.

As for Nix, he won't have to pace like a mountain lion much longer, as he and the Broncos will open the season on Monday evening against the Kansas City Chiefs.