Jan 18, 2026
3 min read
“This team, all year long, is missing key players,” coach Sean Payton said.“We will prepare for the next challenge and go from there.”
DENVER - The Broncos will be without starting quarterback Beau Nix for the remainder of the postseason.
Nicks broke his right leg late in overtime in the Broncos' 33-30 win over the Bills and will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday, according to coach Sean Payton.
"He's a tough cookie," Payton said."I said [to him], 'Listen, I believe you're the second quarterback in Year 2 to take your team to the championship game.'And the first one was [Patrick] Mahomes.
Veteran quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 25, and Sam Ehlinger will serve as the Broncos' No. 2 quarterback.
"I'll say this based on what you've seen, which is very limited: He's ready," Payton said of Stidham.is."
Nix, who joined John Elway as the only quarterbacks in franchise history to throw three touchdown passes in a postseason win, started all 36 games over his two-year career.
Stidham has started four games in his career and won his last home start in 2023. In his most recent action, Stidham completed 30-of-38 passes for 376 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 143.0 quarterback rating in the 2025 preseason.
“There's going to be a lot of emotion and then there's going to be a reset,” Payton said of how the team can respond."We celebrated the season for [Nix]. Listen, Stiddy is ready and we are ready for the next challenge."
