The Denver Broncos are heading into the AFC Championship Game-but not with the quarterback they expected.
After rookie Bo Nix suffered a fractured ankle following the team’s playoff win over the Buffalo Bills, Denver’s quarterback room took an unexpected turn. With Nix now done for the season, the Broncos have turned to Jarrett Stidham as their starter for the biggest game of the year. And if they get past the Patriots and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, it'll be Stidham under center again.
To reinforce the depth chart, the Broncos are signing Ben DiNucci to the practice squad, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. DiNucci joins the team as the emergency third-string quarterback behind Stidham and Sam Ehlinger.
Now, let’s be clear: DiNucci isn’t expected to see the field. But in a season that’s already taken some wild turns, it’s not out of the question.
And for Denver, familiarity matters. DiNucci spent all of 2023 on the Broncos’ practice squad and already knows Sean Payton’s system.
That made him a logical plug-and-play option when the team needed a quick solution.
Naturally, the internet had a field day with the DiNucci news. Social media lit up with jokes, including one viral post joking that the Broncos were impressed by his flag football highlights.
One fan quipped, “Haha, they may need him. Wouldn’t that be a storyline.”
Another chimed in with a simple, “Yuuup.” It’s the kind of moment that reminds us how quickly things can change in the NFL.
And that’s exactly what Denver is dealing with right now. Just days ago, they were riding high after knocking off the Bills. Now, they’re entering the AFC title game without their starting quarterback and leaning on a signal-caller who hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season game since 2023.
Still, head coach Sean Payton isn’t hitting the panic button. Speaking to reporters, Payton backed Stidham, saying, “I would say this, in fairness to what you’ve seen, which is very limited: He’s ready.”
Stidham, a fourth-round pick by the Patriots back in 2019, has yet to start a game this season and has made just one appearance. Behind him is Ehlinger, who last played in 2023 with the Colts. It’s a thin quarterback room, no doubt, but the Broncos are hoping their system and supporting cast can carry them through.
The storyline is compelling. A team that clawed its way to the AFC Championship now finds itself the underdog in its own stadium, rolling with a QB who hasn’t had a real shot in over a year. But in the NFL, that's often when the most unforgettable moments are born.
Denver’s dream season just hit a major plot twist. Whether it ends in heartbreak or heroics, one thing’s for sure: the next chapter is going to be must-watch.