Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is brushing off concerns about his ankles being injury-prone. And maybe he’s onto something-those ankle injuries might just be a string of bad luck. But even with that optimism, Denver's coaching staff is likely to tread carefully.
In his rookie year, Nix was a force on the ground, rushing 92 times for 430 yards and four touchdowns. Fast forward to 2025, and his rushing attempts dipped slightly to 83 carries, yielding 356 yards and five touchdowns. That small drop in carries doesn’t raise alarms, as most of Nix’s runs were more about seizing the moment rather than sticking to a script.
Sean Payton’s playbook isn’t shy about incorporating designed QB runs. Unfortunately, it was during one of these plays in the divisional playoff against the Buffalo Bills that Nix suffered a broken ankle.
So, what’s the game plan for 2026? Will the Broncos urge Nix to be more cautious?
In January, Payton remarked, "He’ll rehab his tail off and get ready and get back to being healthy. For someone who runs with the ball, he’s done a pretty good job of protecting himself. Not always, but mostly, he’s smart about sliding and living to play another day.”
The ankle injury seemed more like a freak accident than a consequence of a brutal hit during a designed run. But let’s face it, more carries mean more opportunities for mishaps. With Nix averaging just over 87 runs each season in his first two years, the big question is whether this pattern will hold as he heads into Year 3.