Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has been quite vocal about Bo Nix's injury, perhaps a bit more than expected. He revealed that Nix was “predisposed” to the ankle fracture that ultimately cut his season short. Nix later addressed Payton's comments, and it seems like the team has moved forward.
However, the disappointment still lingers for Broncos fans. Denver was on a promising path to the Super Bowl when Nix fractured his ankle during an overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. With Nix sidelined for the AFC Championship, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham managed only seven points in a narrow 10-7 defeat to the New England Patriots.
During an appearance with Pat McAfee at the NFL Combine, Payton shared more details about the situation. The full conversation is worth a listen, especially around the 50-second mark, though be advised that McAfee uses some colorful language at the start.
Payton described the aftermath as a surreal and numbing experience. "You just won a big game, but you just lost your quarterback," he told McAfee. "It’s unfortunate, it’s one of those deals."
Following the game against the Bills, Payton held a second press conference to break the unfortunate news, likely to preempt any leaks from NFL insiders.
Could the Broncos have triumphed over the Seattle Seahawks to claim the Lombardi Trophy? It's a question that will linger, but Nix certainly would have given them a fighting chance.
While the past can't be changed, this story will undoubtedly follow the Broncos into training camp, as Nix and his teammates set their sights on another Super Bowl run.