To be fair, you might’ve had the same initial reaction as Peyton Manning to the Broncos’ devastating injury news.
Upon learning that quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Saturday’s 33-30 overtime win against the Bills in the divisional round, Hall of Famer Manning — who won a Super Bowl with Denver in February 2016 — thought the revelation was fake.
“Peyton Manning texted a team official, ‘Is this a hoax?’” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. “He saw it online, saw nothing after the game, could not believe it was real, in fact, it is real. Bo Nix is now focused on his rehab.”
Nix, the Broncos’ upstart quarterback, helped power the team to a grinding, entertaining triumph over Buffalo on Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High.
Unfortunately, Nix’s health was sacrificed in the process.
Following the game, it was revealed Nix sustained a broken bone in his right ankle, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
“Nix is a tough cookie,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “I said, ‘Listen, I believe you’re the second quarterback in his second year to take his team to the [conference] championship game and the first is [Patrick] Mahomes.’ … We’ll rise up for the next challenge.”
Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is expected to start in next weekend’s AFC Championship.
“Stiddy is ready to go,” Payton said. “He’s ready, he’s ready. I feel like I’ve got a two who’s capable of starting for a number of teams, and I know he feels the same way. Watch out, just watch.”
Nix’s night ended with 26-of-46 completed passes, 279 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
The second-year quarterback also rushed for 12 carries and 29 yards in the effort.
Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season game since the 2023 season, when he made two starts and three appearances. He has never played in a playoff game.
For his career, which began as a fourth-round draft choice by the Patriots in 2019, Stidham has thrown for 1,422 passing yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Stidham has made four career starts across his 20 appearances. He played for the Raiders before joining the Broncos in 2023.
