Nix’s reaction to the diagnosis was blunt and emotional. Per DNVR Sports’ Zac Stevens, after celebrating the Bills win, Nix’s mood shifted to disbelief once he learned of the fracture: “It’s a bummer. It’s crushing, it’s defeating.” The injury left Denver with Jarrett Stidham at quarterback for the AFC title game.
Stidham started and Texas A&M product logged 133 passing yards with one touchdown pass in the loss to New England, as the Broncos’ offense struggled to move the ball without their starting QB.
In the regular season, Nix delivered strong numbers for Denver, throwing for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 63.4 percent of his passes and posting a quarterback rating of 87.8. There were discussions about a potential preexisting condition contributing to the injury, based on conversations between doctors and head coach Sean Payton, a point Nix later disputed.
Nix pushed back on injury-prone concerns during a Wednesday statement, asserting durability with long stretches of games played: “It’s been about, I’d say four years, probably over 60 games straight of me getting to play and not missing games.” He then underwent successful surgery and began the recovery process.
The Broncos finished the season 14-3 and clinched the AFC West title, despite the playoff-era setback. The latest update confirms Nix is in recovery as Denver contends with the long-term implications of losing their starter for a crucial postseason run.
