While the Denver Broncos had plenty of reason to celebrate after a thrilling 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Saturday, news about quarterback Bo Nix’s injury ended those moments.
After the game, news came out that Nix will be out for the rest of the NFL season, no matter how far the Broncos go beyond the AFC Championship Game next Sunday.
NFL World Stunned By Broncos QB Bo Nix News
On Saturday night, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport had the news that Nix will be out after suffering a broken ankle on Saturday.
“Heartbreaking,” Rapoport wrote. “#Broncos QB Bo Nix’s playoffs are over. He’s having surgery to repair a broken ankle, coach Sean Payton announced.”
Heartbreaking. #Broncos QB Bo Nix’s playoffs are over. He’s having surgery to repair a broken ankle, coach Sean Payton announced. pic.twitter.com/aBvg8lVTOf
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2026
It didn’t take long for the NFL world to quickly react to the awful news about Nix. Underdog NFL’s account on X shared statistics on backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who is now QB1 for Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s offense.
Jarrett Stidham has 4 career starts. None in the postseason. https://t.co/FaHQN7ujbU
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) January 18, 2026
“Jarrett Stidham has four career starts,” the account’s post read. “None in the postseason.”
ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who knows a few things about playing quarterback in the league, posted on X after hearing the news, “Wow, Respect. Tough, tough kid”. Nix reportedly broke his ankle during the overtime period against the Bills.
Trevor Knapp, who is the publishing editor for Covers, decided to make a reference to Philip Rivers, who came out of retirement this season for the Indianapolis Colts, and add a popular GIF of WWE legend The Undertaker in his message.
Philip Rivers after hearing about the Bo Nix injury pic.twitter.com/HHPN2eAZsm
— Trevor Knapp (@KnappBets) January 18, 2026
PFT Commenter, who hosts the “Pardon My Take” podcast for Barstool Sports, thinks Payton ought to pick up his cell phone and reach out to one of his former quarterbacks. “Sean Payton should literally call Drew Brees for one more ride”, he wrote on X.
MORE: Broncos QB Depth Chart: Who Will Step Up After Bo Nix’s Shocking Season-Ending Injury?
ESPN NFL analyst Peter Schrager shared a video of Payton telling reporters after the game about Nix’s condition. Schrager wrote, “This is heartbreaking.”
This is heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/fn1fd92bGT
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 18, 2026
32BeatWriters, which posts original NFL and fantasy content combined with curated beat writer updates, thought it might be time for Payton to even phone a former Broncos quarterback legend. No, not John Elway; the account was thinking more along the lines of Peyton Manning.
One man for the job… pic.twitter.com/DcqnVmAEWp
— 32BeatWriters (@32BeatWriters) January 18, 2026
“One man for the job…” the account posted along with the GIF of Manning holding up a Super Bowl trophy.
Nix had a whale of a game for the Broncos. He went 26-of-46 passing for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. But Nix will only focus on recovering from his ankle surgery. He’ll have to watch and see how Stidham does in the AFC Championship Game.
It’s a bitter, bitter way for Nix’s season to end.
