Bo Nix fractures ankle in OT, Broncos turn to Jarrett Stidham for playoff run

Roughly an hr aft the Denver Broncos celebrated 1 of the franchise’s astir melodramatic playoff wins, Sean Payton walked into the interrogation country with an update that changed the temper fast.

Payton called it “not bully news” and confirmed backmost Bo Nix fractured his close ankle precocious successful overtime, lone 3 plays earlier Wil Lutz’s 23-yard tract extremity sealed a 33-30 triumph implicit the Buffalo Bills astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High connected Saturday. Payton said Nix volition person country Tuesday successful Birmingham, Alabama, and Jarrett Stidham volition commencement for the remainder of Denver’s postseason.

"[Nix] is simply a pugnacious cookie," Payton said. "I said, 'Listen I judge you're the 2nd backmost successful his 2nd twelvemonth to instrumentality his squad to the [conference] title crippled and the archetypal is [Patrick] Mahomes.' ... We'll emergence up for the adjacent challenge."

How it happened successful overtime

With 6:04 near successful overtime, Nix was tackled for a 2-yard nonaccomplishment connected a designed tally from the Bills’ 36. He popped up rapidly to rejoin the huddle, though helium showed a flimsy limp. On the adjacent snap, helium fired heavy to Marvin Mims Jr., and Buffalo country Tre’Davious White was flagged for walk interference, moving the shot to the Bills’ 8.

Nix took the pursuing drawback and kneeled to halt the play. On that kneel-down, his close ankle twisted awkwardly, and helium grimaced portion limping backmost toward the sideline. Payton said X-rays were taken aft the game, and galore teammates had already near by the clip the manager shared the news, "so, successful essence I'm telling them now," helium said.

What it means for Denver now

Nix finished 26-of-46 for 279 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception, and the triumph marked the sixth clip this play helium led a game-winning thrust successful the 4th fourth oregon overtime.

"Stiddy is acceptable to go," Payton said. "... He's ready, he's ready. I consciousness similar I've got a 2 who's susceptible of starting for a fig of teams, and I cognize helium feels the aforesaid way. Watch out, conscionable watch."

Payton added that Nix told him it was the 3rd fractured ankle of his career, including successful precocious schoolhouse and astatine Auburn. "[He is] specified a beardown faith-based guy, [he's] sitting successful the hallway with his family," Payton said.

On the team’s response, Payton said, "They'll beryllium disappointed, volition beryllium a batch of emotions, but past the refocus takes place. We observe the play for him. Listen, Stiddy is ready, we'll beryllium acceptable for the adjacent challenge. ... [Stidham] is experienced. He's played successful games. They're antithetic types of players to immoderate degree, and yet they're precise adjacent friends. It's a choky room. ... Here we go."