The Denver Broncos are heading into the AFC Championship Game with their season on the line-and without their starting quarterback. Bo Nix, who had been leading the charge under center, is out with a broken ankle suffered during the overtime win over the Buffalo Bills. With the stakes this high and the quarterback room suddenly thinned out, head coach Sean Payton didn’t hesitate to make a familiar move: he brought in a former New Orleans Saints signal-caller to bolster the depth chart.
No, it’s not Drew Brees or Taysom Hill-both of whom have been floated in fan speculation since the injury news broke. Instead, it’s Ben DiNucci, a name well-known to Broncos fans and one with a bit of history in Payton’s orbit.
DiNucci spent time with the Saints last offseason before the team drafted Tyler Shough, but he chose to stay in Denver in 2023 rather than jump ship when Derek Carr went down with a shoulder injury in New Orleans. That decision now brings him full circle, as he re-enters the Broncos’ quarterback room at one of the most critical moments in recent franchise memory.
With Nix sidelined, Jarrett Stidham will get the start this Sunday against the New England Patriots. He’s been the backup all season, and now it’s his turn to take the reins.
Stidham’s been in the system, he knows the playbook, and he’s had time to build chemistry with the offense. That continuity could prove crucial in a high-pressure playoff environment.
As for the other names fans were dreaming about-Brees is eyeing a Hall of Fame induction this summer and physically isn’t in a place to return, even if the storybook reunion with Payton would’ve made for great headlines. Hill, meanwhile, is dealing with an AC joint injury to his throwing shoulder, suffered during the Saints’ regular season finale.
Even before that, retirement was reportedly on his mind. So while the idea of a late-career reunion in Denver was fun to imagine, it’s not in the cards.
Instead, it’s Stidham and DiNucci who will be tasked with keeping the Broncos’ Super Bowl hopes alive. It’s a tall order, no doubt.
But with Payton’s play-calling and a defense that’s been quietly clutch down the stretch, Denver isn’t out of this fight yet. The key now is whether Stidham can rise to the moment-and whether DiNucci can be ready if his number’s called.
The Broncos have been through their share of quarterback drama in recent years, but this latest twist might be the most unpredictable yet. One thing’s for sure: the road to the Super Bowl never comes easy. And for Denver, it just got a whole lot more interesting.