Broncos’ Injury Update Shakes Peyton Manning
You might have been shocked, just like Peyton Manning, when you heard about the Broncos’ recent injury news.
Manning, a Hall of Famer who led Denver to a Super Bowl victory in February 2016, initially thought the report was a joke after finding out that quarterback Bo Nix had sustained a season-ending ankle injury during overtime against the Bills in Saturday’s divisional round.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, “Peyton Manning texted team officials, ‘Is this a hoax?'” He came across the news online but didn’t see any follow-up after the game. He really couldn’t believe it was true. But it is. Nix is currently focused on his rehabilitation.
Nix, a promising player for the Broncos, played a crucial role in their thrilling win over Buffalo at Empower Field at Mile High on Saturday. However, his injury came with a hefty price.
After the game, it was confirmed that Nix had fractured his right ankle, meaning he wouldn’t return for the rest of the season.
Broncos coach Sean Payton remarked, “Nix is a tough player. I told him, ‘You’re the second QB in your second year to lead a team to a championship [conference] game, the first being [Patrick] Mahomes.’ We’ll just have to face the next challenge.”
Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is slated to start in next weekend’s AFC Championship.
“Stidham is ready to go,” Payton stated. “He’s prepared, and I believe we’ve got two quarterbacks who could start for many teams. I’m sure he feels the same way. Just take care and watch.”
In the game, Nix completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, scoring three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed 12 times for 29 yards.
Stidham, who hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular season game since 2023, has started just two games and has never featured in a playoff match.
Having begun his career when the Patriots drafted him in the fourth round of 2019, Stidham accumulated 1,422 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions over his time. He started four out of 20 career games, previously playing for the Raiders before joining the Broncos in 2023.
