The Denver Broncos advanced to their first AFC championship game in 10 years with a thrilling 27-24 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, but they lost their star signal-caller in the process.
Second-year sensation Bo Nix, one of the catalysts behind Denver’s run to the top seed, suffered a fractured ankle in overtime on Denver's game-winning drive. While the Empower Field at Mile High crowd erupted as Wil Lutz nailed the game-winning field goal, the celebration was later met with agony when coach Sean Payton announced Nix will miss the rest of the season, leaving the Broncos' Super Bowl aspirations hanging in a delicate balance.
The injury sets the stage for a dramatic, full-circle moment as the Broncos prepare to host the New England Patriots with a trip to the Bay Area on the line. In the absence of Nix, the reins now fall to veteran Jarrett Stidham, the former Patriot who was once groomed to be Tom Brady's successor in Foxborough. Now, a decade after Peyton Manning bested Brady in this very stadium, Stidham must find a way to replicate that magic against his former team, leading a "No Fly Zone" caliber defense into a historic rematch that feels like destiny revisited.
It's hard to ignore the fact that Denver will be without its starting quarterback with the Super Bowl in the distance. Let's revisit what happened to Nix in the Broncos 33-30 win.
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What happened to Bo Nix?
Nix suffered a season-ending fractured ankle in Denver's win against Buffalo.
The injury occurred on a designed quarterback sweep just two plays before the winning kick, with the Broncos already in field goal territory.
Payton revealed the diagnosis in a somber post-game press conference, noting that Nix would undergo surgery in Birmingham later this week. The news has sent shockwaves through a locker room that had just finished celebrating its most significant victory in a decade, forcing the team to pivot from the euphoria of a playoff win to the reality of a postseason without their leader.
MORE: Bo Nix breaks ankle during overtime win over Bills
Bo Nix ankle injury video
Payton said that Nix injured his ankle on the second-to-last play of overtime, which can be seen below.
Based on Sean Payton's comments, the ankle injury to Bo Nix happened on this designed quarterback run, which came two plays before he took a knee to set up the game-winning field goal. Nix didn't appear injured and stayed in the game. Really unfortunate. Pic.twitter.com/bBbwwwGwcV
— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) January 18, 2026
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Bo Nix surgery
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Bo Nix was supposed to undergo surgery in Birmingham, Alabama, to repair the fractured bone in his right ankle. The procedure should be performed by Dr. Norman Waldrop III, a renowned orthopedic specialist and team physician for the University of Alabama, who has previously treated NFL stars like Joe Burrow.
Though there are no reports or announcements from the surgery yet.
Though Nix finished the game and even performed a victory interview on the field, X-rays later confirmed the fracture, which coach Sean Payton announced was a season-ending blow. The quarterback is scheduled to make a full recovery to be ready by training camp and Week 1 of the 2026 season.
When will Bo Nix return?
Nix will miss the remainder of 2025-26, but all signs point to him making a full return for the next season.
According to Payton and medical analysts, Nix is expected to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in September. He will likely be able to participate in limited activities by May (OTAs) and is expected to be "full go" for Training Camp in late July.
Because the surgery occurred in January, Nix has a very generous 7-month window before Training Camp. History shows that most NFL players return to game-ready performance within 5–6 months, placing Nix on track to be the Week 1 starter in September 2026.
MORE: Meet Bo Nix's family, from parents to 'adopted' brother Tez Johnson
Broken ankle recovery time
Bone healing typically takes 6 to 8 weeks, while full recovery of strength and range of motion generally takes 3 to 4 months.
For an NFL quarterback like Nix, the process isn't just about the bone knitting back together; it’s about regaining the explosive footwork and "proprioception" (the brain's ability to know where the foot is without looking) required to evade 300-pound linemen.
If all goes well, Nix should be fully healthy by training camp.