Pro Football Rumors
As expected, Bo Nix returned to action at Broncos minicamp. Finishing off a recovery from two ankle surgeries, the third-year quarterback was a partial participant this week.
Denver’s centerpiece player participated in seven-on-seven drills but did not do any team work, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. Nix underwent surgery to repair an ankle fracture in January and had a second procedure performed several weeks later. A bone spur impacting Nix’s rehab led to the second operation, the QB said (via The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider).
Ankle trouble has impacted Nix since his college days, and the mobile passer said (via Kosmider) he is healthier than he has been in “several seasons.” Sean Payton said recently he has no concerns about Nix’s mobility moving forward, indicating the promising QB will be “completely clean” from a mobility standpoint (Twitter links via Klis and the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson).
Nix suffered his ankle fracture late in the Broncos’ divisional-round win over the Bills. Payton confirmed the injury in a second postgame press conference that night. While Payton expressed confidence in Jarrett Stidham, the backup had not played meaningful snaps since Week 18 of the 2023 season. A costly Stidham fumble impeded a strong Broncos defensive effort in a blizzard-marred AFC championship loss to the Patriots. Nix was expected to be ready for OTAs, but his second surgery provided a complication.
One season remains on Stidham’s contract, and the Broncos re-signed Sam Ehlinger as well. The team returns the same QB room, with Stidham and Ehlinger taking the team 11-on-11 reps during OTAs and this week’s minicamp. Nix will be set to do so with the Broncos’ first-stringers — a group that now includes trade pickup Jaylen Waddle — when the team reconvenes for training camp. The Broncos wrapped their minicamp today, per Klis, with Payton nixing their Thursday offseason finale.
Nix, 26, led the NFL with 612 pass attempts last season while also managing 356 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The rushing number was down from 2024, when the ex-Oregon and Auburn passer totaled 430 yards and four TDs.
Adrift at quarterback between Peyton Manning‘s retirement and Nix’s arrival, the Broncos have relied on the young signal-caller’s mobility as he develops. The team will hope the former No. 12 overall pick, who set a Division I-FBS record with 61 QB starts, can move past this ankle issue and begin to develop a rapport with Waddle in training camp and during preseason play.
In other Broncos injury news, the team is without second-year tight end Caleb Lohner at minicamp. The 2025 seventh-round pick a lower-body cleanup surgery, Klis adds. The Utah alum is expected to be ready for training camp.
A converted basketball player, Lohner did not see game action as a rookie. His path to Denver’s 53-man roster became more complicated by the team drafting Justin Joly (Round 5) and fellow ex-Utes tight end Dallen Bentley (Round 7). The latter played with Lohner at Utah. With the team also re-signing Adam Trautman and TE/FB **[Nate...
