The Denver Broncos are heading into the AFC Championship Game with a major shift at the most important position on the field - and they’re turning to a familiar face for depth. With rookie quarterback Bo Nix sidelined after suffering a broken right ankle in the final moments of their overtime win over Buffalo, the team is signing veteran Ben DiNucci to the practice squad.
Let’s start with the injury: Nix went down late in overtime during Denver’s gritty divisional-round victory, and the news isn’t good. He’s set for season-ending ankle surgery on Tuesday - a brutal blow for a player who had been growing into his role and helping guide the Broncos through a resurgent postseason run. Now, it’s Jarrett Stidham’s show, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Stidham, who hasn’t started a game since suiting up for Denver twice in 2023, will be under center for the AFC title game - and potentially the Super Bowl, should the Broncos advance. He’s started just four games in his NFL career, but head coach Sean Payton is keeping the team focused. “We’ll rise up for the next challenge and go from there,” Payton said after the win.
The Broncos will host either the Houston Texans or the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Both teams bring their own set of challenges, and Denver has limited time to prepare, especially with a quarterback transition in play.
Enter Ben DiNucci. If the name sounds familiar to Broncos fans, it should - he spent time with the team two seasons ago.
While he hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2020, when he was with the Dallas Cowboys, DiNucci brings some experience and familiarity with the system. A seventh-round pick by Dallas in 2020, DiNucci appeared in three games that season, completing 23 of 43 passes for 219 yards.
He didn’t throw a touchdown or an interception in those appearances, but he’s remained in football circles and now gets another shot - at least in a support role - during a critical stretch.
This move isn’t about DiNucci suddenly becoming the savior. It’s about depth, insurance, and having someone in the building who knows the ropes. With Nix out, the Broncos need every option on the table - and DiNucci gives them a quarterback who’s been in the league, understands the speed of the game, and can step in if absolutely necessary.
Denver’s defense has been the backbone of this playoff push, but now all eyes turn to Stidham and how he handles the moment. The Broncos are one win away from the Super Bowl, but they’ll have to get there without the quarterback who helped get them this far. It’s a tough break - literally - but the season marches on.