The Denver Broncos' Super Bowl aspirations have been dealt a crushing blow just days before their blockbuster AFC Championship showdown with the New England Patriots. Starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a devastating season-ending injury, fracturing his right ankle in the final moments of Saturday's dramatic 33-30 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Emergency Quarterback Shuffle
With their championship dreams now resting on the shoulders of backup Jarret Stidham, the Broncos have moved swiftly to reinforce their quarterback room. One day after Nix's injury, the team signed journeyman Ben DiNucci to their practice squad, according to multiple reports. This emergency move provides an extra layer of security behind Stidham, who will start the crucial game, with Sam Ehlinger serving as the primary backup and DiNucci now positioned as the third option.
DiNucci, who spent the 2023 season with Denver and is familiar with head coach Sean Payton's system, appeared to confirm the news on social media platform X. "It has come to my attention that a team may be in need of my services…" he posted. "Good thing my schedule is open this week. Broncos country… Let’s go get a Super Bowl?"
A Dramatic Turn for DiNucci
The signing marks a remarkable and sudden change of circumstances for the 29-year-old quarterback. DiNucci had been working as a studio analyst for Saturday's game when Nix went down with the injury. Just over a week later, he finds himself potentially swapping the television studio for the sidelines of the AFC Championship.
DiNucci's career has been a rollercoaster. He made headlines last preseason for his viral reaction to being cut for a seventh time, this time by the Atlanta Falcons. After attempting just two incomplete passes in a preseason game, he was released. The NFL journeyman shared a photo of an airport beer on X, captioning it: "Not many beers better than the airport 'I just got cut from the NFL for the 7th time' beer. Trust me, you wouldn't understand."
Despite the setbacks, DiNucci maintained perspective. When asked online if he'd tried crying, he responded, "What is there to cry about? I've had a 5 year NFL career and played on Sunday night football. Pretty cool if you ask me."
Stidham Steps into the Spotlight
All eyes now turn to Jarret Stidham, who must steer the Broncos' offence against a formidable Patriots defence with a Super Bowl berth on the line. The pressure is immense, but Denver's front office has acted decisively to ensure he has experienced support behind him.
DiNucci does bring some starting experience, albeit limited. He once started for the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020, completing 21 of 40 passes and losing two fumbles in a defeat. Since then, he has taken the Seattle Sea Dragons to the XFL playoffs and had various NFL practice squad stints. In three total NFL appearances, he has thrown for 219 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Broncos' season, which promised so much, now hinges on an unproven playoff starter and a backup squad bolstered by a man who was analysing games for a living just days ago. The path to the Super Bowl has become infinitely more treacherous for Denver.
