Report: Broncos' Nix expected to miss 12 weeks after ankle surgery
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is expected to be sidelined 12 weeks after undergoing ankle surgery this week, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Nix isn't supposed to put any weight on his ankle for at least four weeks, and the 12-week timeline is when he's allowed to return to football activities, Schefter adds. This puts him on course to be ready for Denver's offseason program.
He sustained the injury in Denver's divisional-round victory over the Buffalo Bills.
The 25-year-old has now broken his ankle three times while playing football. However, this fracture is in a different spot than the previous ailments, and doctors have reportedly told him there's no long-term concern.
Nix led the Broncos to the top seed in the AFC this campaign. The Oregon product started every game in the regular season, throwing for 3,931 yards with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Nix's .706 winning percentage over the last two seasons is tied for the fourth-highest among all quarterbacks with at least 30 games played.
Head coach Sean Payton announced shortly after the Broncos' victory last week that Jarrett Stidham would start the remainder of the playoffs. Stidham, 29, hasn't started a game since the 2023 season.
"I'm not worried about Stiddy (Stidham) in this game," Payton told reporters Friday, according to Schefter. "I'm worried about everyone else and how we play. That really is the truth."
The Broncos and New England Patriots will face off in the AFC championship at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.