Bo Nix sustains serious injury late in Denver Broncos' playoff win, will require surgery, says coach Payton, quarterback’s replacement named; all you need to know

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos quarterback, broke his right ankle late in overtime of his team’s divisional-round victory over Buffalo on Saturday (January 17, 2026). The injury will require surgery, due to which Nix, Denver’s second-year quarterback, will have to be sidelined for the rest of the playoffs.

The stunning news was delivered by Denver’s coach Sean Payton in the aftermath of his team’s biggest win in a decade. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC championship game next weekend. “Stiddy’s ready,” Payton said after returning to the postgame lectern to discuss the injury following Denver's 33-30 victory, according to news agency AP.

How did Bo Nix get injured?

Payton said Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost two yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop, AP reported. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.

On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a 30-yard pass-interference flag and got the Broncos well into field-goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for Wil Lutz's game-ending 23-yard field goal.

Nix will have surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, says Payton.

“He's such a strong, faith-based guy,” Payton said, as quoted by AP. “He's sitting in the hallway with his family and coming over, and we're all talking to him. He knows that God's got a plan for him, and he said he had one (a broken ankle) in high school, and then he said he had one at Auburn.

“And I said I didn't realize that. I said if I had known that, I wouldn't have drafted you,” Payton cracked. “He's a tough cookie,” the coach said. “And this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge,” he added.

Nix, the 12th overall pick out of Oregon in the 2024 NFL draft, tied Russell Wilson's NFL record with two dozen victories in his first two seasons. Saturday's victory was his first in the playoffs. The Broncos lost last year at Buffalo, but Nix led Denver to the AFC's top seed this season.