In a dramatic twist following a triumphant playoff victory, the Denver Broncos have been dealt a severe blow with the news that starting quarterback Bo Nix has suffered a season-ending ankle fracture.
Coach's Unawareness and Emotional Locker Room Scene
Head coach Sean Payton admitted he was completely unaware of the injury when he playfully jabbed Nix in the chest in celebration after the quarterback helped set up the game-winning field goal against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. "I kind of chest bump him, jab him," Payton recounted during a Sunday conference call. "He's like, 'Oh, careful.'"
The serious nature of the injury only became clear to Payton after the post-game press conference. Returning to his office, he found a group including Nix, the team's medical trainer, and General Manager George Paton waiting for him. It was there he was shown the X-ray confirming a fracture.
Payton then described finding his devastated quarterback outside the locker room, leaning against a wall with his wife, parents, and backup Jarrett Stidham for support. "I just asked him how he was doing," the coach said, acknowledging the profound disappointment of the moment.
Strategic Decision to Break the News
With 18 years of head-coaching experience, Payton knew the news would leak before the official injury report on Wednesday. Facing a locker room where half the players had already left, he made a decisive call. He chose to address the media directly again to ensure his team heard the news from him first.
"I don't want the team to hear it from you all first or any national media first because that story is going to break in 24 hours," Payton explained. He believed being straightforward and delivering the news himself from the podium was the smartest course of action, rather than letting players discover it via a reporter or insider.
Stidham Steps Up for AFC Championship Challenge
Attention now turns to journeyman quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who will start against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game this Sunday at 3pm EST on CBS. Payton, who affectionately refers to him as 'Stiddy', expressed confidence in his abilities.
Payton praised Stidham's mental aptitude and accuracy, noting that even in practice, the backup has occasionally made the first-team defence look bad. "Stiddy's great strength is his mental aptitude and his progressions in understanding plays," Payton said. "He's very accurate. He's got a lot to his ball."
While Stidham's practice reps with the starters have been limited, Payton emphasised that the quarterback has been diligent in taking mental reps while primarily running the scout team, preparing him for this unexpected opportunity on the biggest stage.
