Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix appears to be trending well towards a return ahead of the 2026 NFL season. That's what the franchise's brain trust is expecting anyway, based off recent comments from owner Greg Penner and GM George Paton.
“He’s ahead of schedule,’’ Paton told 9NEWS' Mike Klis. “He’s running, he’s jumping. Really proud of how he’s attacked rehab. He’s done a great job. He’ll be ready for OTAs.’’
"He's attacked his recovery in the same way he attacks preparing for games and just done a terrific job," Penner said, via The Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson. "He's ahead of schedule. No concerns at all for OTAs ... really, really pleased with his progress."
Positive updates indeed. The Jaylen Waddle trade with the Miami Dolphins probably wouldn't have happened if the franchise hadn't expected Nix to return. Denver is all in for a run back to the AFC Championship Game for a reason.
Bo Nix denies ankle injury was 'predisposed'
While Broncos head coach Sean Payton claimed that Nix's ankle injury was predisposed, perhaps from his junior-year injury in his last game with the Auburn Tigers in a 43-34 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Nix doesn't believe that November 2021 ankle ailment had anything to do with the recent one from Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop's tackle on a designed QB run.
"Nothing predisposed, nothing that was there originally,'' Nix said, via 9NEWS' Mike Klis. "(Sean Payton) might have gotten confused. Just a simple step with my foot up in the air, my body weight came down on it, sort of got twisted up."
Nix's view might be more important than Payton's, since the head coach would probably be the first to go if this team can't get over the hump within the next few years. Denver is providing him with endless resources through strong free agent spending.
Nix, meanwhile, is the franchise QB the team had been looking for since Peyton Manning's retirement. The Broncos hinge on Nix being able to carry them, regardless of who else is on board.
It's good to see the Pinson Valley product thriving in the pros and being depended on so heavily. Nix has unquestionably made it in the NFL.