When Bo Nix went down in the Broncos’ AFC Divisional Round win over the Bills, the timing could hardly have been worse. He broke his ankle on the second-to-last play of the game, just before Denver’s game-winning field goal sent the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game.
The injury news landed like a gut punch, and Denver’s next step at quarterback didn’t work out. Jarrett Stidham was not able to do enough for the Broncos to win the following week.
Then came the Monday Night Football pregame bombshell from Adam Schefter: Denver had at least explored an extraordinary option. According to Schefter, Pete Carmichael and Joe Lombardi, longtime Sean Payton assistants and former Broncos coaches, privately contacted Drew Brees to see whether he had any interest in coming out of retirement for the AFC title game.
“ESPN sources: Hall-of-Fame QB Drew Brees mulled playing for the Denver Broncos in last season’s AFC Championship game. https://t.co/SfsBCUPjLz
- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2026”
It never got past the interest stage. Brees ultimately passed because of discomfort in his wrist.
Still, the idea was startling enough to stop you in your tracks. With Nix injured so suddenly at the game’s most important position, the Broncos could have been kicking around all kinds of emergency solutions in the heat of the moment.
And Brees was not some random name. He and Payton built Hall of Fame careers together with the Saints from 2006 to 2020. Brees turned 47 years old in January, so the comeback ask would have been enormous, but the fact that he worked out at all suggests the possibility was seriously considered.
Brees closed his NFL run with six straight seasons of a passer rating above 100 over his final six years. He finished his Saints career with 491 touchdown passes, 142 wins, and 68,010 passing yards.
The Saints’ Super Bowl win over Peyton Manning’s Colts in the 2009 season was one of the signature results from the Payton-Brees partnership, which produced some of the league’s best offenses over the years.
In Other News...
Pelicans Give A Familiar Hustle Forward A Real Shot To Impress
Christian Shumate is getting another look in New Orleans, this time with a training camp deal that gives the familiar hustle forward a chance to make his case in a more meaningful setting. He already knows the organization from his time with the Pelicans G League affiliate, and he has been around the teams orbit through the last two Summer Leagues, so this is less of a fresh introduction than a renewed opportunity.
With Micah Peavy no longer in the picture, there is a path for a player who brings energy, effort and the kind of edge that can help him hang around the edges of a roster. Shumates style has long made him an intriguing fit for a team that could use those traits, but the real test now is whether he can turn familiarity into a stronger camp showing when the competition gets more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Still Have One Roster Battle Worth Watching Closely
The Pelicans still have one open two-way contract spot, and the competition for it gives training camp a little extra edge. Kobe Bufkin, Christian Koloko and Christian Shumate are all in the mix, and each brings a different kind of appeal as New Orleans sorts through its final roster business before the season gets rolling.
This is the sort of battle that can turn on the details, since the Pelicans are not just looking for talent but for the right fit in a limited role. Camp and preseason will sort out who makes the strongest case, and with three players chasing one opening, there is at least one roster decision worth watching closely as New Orleans keeps trimming toward opening night. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Would Be Taking A Huge Risk On Michael Porter Jr
Michael Porter Jr. has been floated as a possible trade target for New Orleans, but the appeal comes with plenty of baggage. On paper, he brings the kind of scoring punch and shot-making the Pelicans can always use, and his contract structure would force the front office to weigh him against Trey Murphy III as more than just a talent swap. It is the kind of move that can look attractive in a vacuum, especially for a team trying to sharpen its roster without taking a step backward.
The problem is the fit is not clean, and the risk does not stop at the salary sheet. New Orleans would have to sort out role overlap, roster balance and the lingering concern over Porters injury history, all while asking whether he would be in it for the long haul. Porter has also made clear he wants to stay with the Brooklyn Nets, which only adds another layer of uncertainty to any team considering a serious run at him. [Read more 🡒]