Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix suffered a stunning, season-ending ankle harm moments earlier than his staff defeated the Buffalo Payments within the divisional spherical of the NFL playoffs on Saturday, January 17.
“Not excellent news … Bo fractured a bone in his proper ankle,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton advised reporters after the sport. “He’s scheduled to have surgical procedure Tuesday of this week to place him out for the remainder of the season.”
Payton, 62, subsequently clarified that Nix, 25, can have surgical procedure in Birmingham, Alabama. He additionally confirmed that backup QB Jarrett Stidham will step in for the AFC Championship recreation subsequent week. (This shall be Stidham’s first begin of the season.)
It has been reported that the harm occurred with simply over 6 minutes left on the clock in extra time when Nix, 25, was tackled for a two yard loss. Nix continued enjoying within the extra time interval after the harm and led the Broncos to a 33-30 win over the Payments.
Per Fox Information, Payton opened as much as the media within the postgame press convention about Nix’s mindset following the devastating profession setback.
“I’ll let you know what, the one factor about it. He’s such a robust, faith-based man,” Payton declared. “He was sitting within the hallway together with his household, and I went over, and we’re all speaking to him. He is aware of that God has a plan for him. He stated he had one in highschool, after which he stated he had one at Auburn. I stated, ‘I didn’t understand that.’ I [jokingly] stated, ‘If I’d have recognized that, I wouldn’t have drafted you.’”
The coach went on, “He’s a troublesome cookie. I stated, ‘Pay attention. I imagine you’re the second quarterback in 12 months 2 to take your staff to a Championship recreation, and the primary is [Chiefs quarterback Patrick] Mahomes. This staff, all 12 months, has misplaced key gamers, and we’ll stand up for the following problem and we’ll go from there.”

Josh Allen of the Buffalo Payments congratulates Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos. Justin Edmonds/Getty Pictures
Payton promised that “Stiddy’s able to go” because the Payments now stay up for the prospect of making an attempt to convey house the AFC Championship with out Nix within the huddle.
Whereas Nix was noticeably limping within the ultimate seconds of extra time, he made no point out of an harm whereas talking to CBS on the sidelines after his staff’s win.
“Effectively, we performed a very good soccer staff; they performed rather well tonight,” Nix stated. “They gave us their greatest shot on a brief week after a troublesome recreation final week. Hats off to them. We simply discovered a method to win once more, and our protection made stops, and I’m simply happy with our guys. I’m happy with this group, the best way we compete, we combat, we’re simply by no means out of it.”
Bo’s harm comes at a very pivotal time in his life, as his spouse, Izzy Nix, is pregnant with the couple’s first youngster. (The couple introduced in October 2025 that they are going to welcome their first youngster in spring 2026.)
In the meantime, the Buffalo Payments suffered a season-ending loss to the Broncos regardless of Bo’s harm. Payments quarterback Josh Allen broke down in his staff’s postgame press convention as he analyzed the loss.
“It’s extraordinarily tough,” Allen, 29, admitted whereas shaking his head in disappointment. “I really feel like I let my teammates down tonight.”
Allen had a tough night time at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive in Denver, Colorado, as he dedicated 4 turnovers. The QB went 25-of-39 passing, or 64.1% general, for 283 yards and rushed for 66 yards because the Payments went down in defeat. (Payments working again James Prepare dinner additionally fumbled within the second quarter.)
“We are able to’t win with 5 turnovers,” the QB stated within the postgame media scrum. “Fumbled twice, threw two [interceptions]. If you shoot your self within the foot like that, you don’t need to win soccer video games.”
Allen continued, “We have been battle-tested all 12 months, down two scores at halftime. Come out, sack, fumble, maintain them to 3 [points]. We discover ourselves main that recreation … if one or two performs go our approach, it’s a special story.”
The 2026 AFC Championship recreation takes place on Sunday, January 25, with CBS airing dwell protection of the kickoff at 3 p.m. ET.
