The injury happened on a left scramble in overtime, on the third-to-last play, yet Nix still took two more snaps, drawing a pass interference flag before kneeling to set up the field goal. Denver still earned a 33-30 win over the Bills. Nix finished 26-of-46 passing for 276 yards, with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception in the game. 🏈💥
Jarrett Stidham, Nix’s backup, will start the AFC Championship Game against the winner of the Texans-Patriots matchup. Stidham is 1-3 in four NFL starts across his career, with his most extended action coming in a 2023 preseason showing where he went 14-of-15 for 136 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions, plus a handful of rushing plays. 🎯🧑💼
The injury ends a 36-game Broncos starting streak for Nix, spanning every regular-season game and two playoff games since the 2024 draft pick arrived. The moment drew strong reactions: Opta highlighted Nix’s unusual production line of 7,500+ pass yards and 750+ rush yards with a playoff win by his third NFL season, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter called the situation unprecedented, noting that a No. 1 seed would be led by a quarterback who hadn’t thrown a pass that season. 😮🔥
Looking ahead, Nix’s timeline suggests readiness for 2026 if recovery stays on track and there are no setbacks. In the meantime, Stidham steps in for the AFC Championship, trying to extend Denver’s season under unconventional circumstances. This report comes from Heavy Sports, underscoring the shockwaves such a scenario sends through the league. ⏳🏆
