The Denver Broncos, coming off a major high after defeating the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs, experienced an incredible low immediately afterwards.
Sean Payton came out to address the media, giving the worst news the team could have possibly had. Bo Nix had fractured a bone in his ankle on one of the final plays of the game and would need surgery and will miss the rest of the season. It was a gut punch to Broncos Country.
Though Payton proudly stated that his backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, is going to surprise you, ideas started pouring in over which quarterback the Broncos could bring in. Philip Rivers. Cam Newton. Ryan Tannehill. Even incredibly far-out ideas, such as those of Tom Brady and Drew Brees. That led to lists like this one.
All of those ideas can be put to bed.
Stidham is going to be prepared to play this game. He will be way more prepared and he will play way better than any of those names listed above. But it doesn't stop there, because there have been suggestions that the Broncos should bring in a veteran quarterback as the backup to be ready in case Stidham struggles, even if the team manages to reach the Super Bowl during those struggles.
Absolute craziness.
The Broncos have Sam Ehlinger, a No. 3 quarterback who now assumes the backup role and he is a player the team thinks quite highly of. Those sentiments are also reciprocated as Ehlinger has turned down other, better opportunities this season in order to stay in Denver with Payton.
This is not to suggest that losing Bo Nix isn't a major hurdle to overcome. It is and there is no getting around that. But because he now has to navigate this process, Payton is prepared with the players he has. Stidham has the talent to be one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league. You can scoff at the way he played in the preseason with the tired "it's just a preseason game" if you'd like to, but he showed incredible command of the offense and knowledge of Payton's system in those games.
I’ve watched Jarrett Stidham in every Broncos training camp practice for the last 3 summers. This guy is no bum. Probably a top-5 backup. He’ll give Denver a shot.
— Zach Bye (@byesline) January 18, 2026
Also, don’t forget why Sean Payton originally signed him. It was his performance in 2022 vs NFL’s top defense👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/7lGIFKedub
Not only was Stidham probably the best player on the Broncos this preseason, but he also looked like one of the best players in the league. Ehlinger was no slouch either and that is why he has had the chance to hang around the organization.
READ: Broncos' major rival backs Jarrett Stidham and gives him perfect advice
It has been clear for some time that if Payton had to turn to one of these guys, he would do so with confidence. Now, that's exactly where he is. There's no need to suggest any crazy and headline-grabbing signings for this team. They have the players they want.
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