Bo Nix's ankle injury during his final game with the Auburn Tigers, which was a shocking 43-34 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a game AU led 28-3 in the first half, isn't a chronic issue that will hold back the Denver Broncos quarterback for the rest of his career. In fact, it appears as though Nix's latest setback, another ankle injury that took place during a 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round, won't even keep him out of any regular-season action.
FanSided's Rucker Haringey predicts Nix returning in time to establish a rapport with the Broncos' marquee offseason addition, former former Albama Crimson Tide and Miami Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle. That could mean returning in time for some preseason snaps.
"Don't look for the Broncos to rush him back into anything before his ankle is fully healed. They know just how important the young passer is to their offensive success. Preseason reps might help him get even more comfortable with Sean Payton's offense, but that's not going to lead them to rush him back into action," Haringey wrote.
"Broncos fans should feel good about Nix being their Week 1 starter unless another injury besets their No. 1 quarterback later in the preseason. He should be ready to build rapport with new wide receiver Jaylen Waddle well before the regular season begins."
Sean Payton was wrong about Bo Nix's ankle injury
For some reason, Sean Payton insinuated back in January that Nix's injury was "predisposed," insinuating that the injury at Jordan-Hare Stadium was something that was bound to happen to Nix at some point.
“What was found was a condition that was predisposed — they always find a little more when they go in,” Payton said during a press conference. “It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. When you look at the play and you’re trying to evaluate it — the operating surgeon said that this was going to happen sooner than later.”
Nix retorted by undermining the point, saying, “Nothing predisposed, nothing that was there originally ... That 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 suffered a completely separate injury, which shouldn't be shocking considering his physical style of play. Leaving the pocket in the NFL will get you hurt, something he often chooses to do. Of course, at AU, he was often forced to operate in broken plays because of the protection, or lack thereof, in front of him.
It's hardly a stretch to say Nix's injury directly caused Denver's loss in the AFC Championship. Fellow Auburn alum Jarrett Stidham couldn't move the ball down the field against the New England Patriots' defense, which gave up 8.7 points per game over their three AFC postseason victories.
Luckily, that injury won't keep Nix out for long, or at all, beyond that AFC title game loss. Nix's ankle isn't compromised. Not over the long-term, or even the short-term.
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