Sean Payton praises Broncos new starting QB, warns other team to “watch out”

DENVER — Just moments after announcing the devastating injury news about Denver Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix, Sean Payton turned his eyes to the next man up: Jarrett Stidham.

“In fairness to what you’ve seen, which is very limited — yeah, he’s ready. He’s ready,” Payton said Saturday night. “As I said, this being the season, I feel like I’ve got a two that’s capable of starting for an ample number of teams. And I know he feels the same way. So watch out. Watch. Just watch.”

Sean Payton, praising Stidham “I feel like I've got, I've got a two that's capable of starting for ample number of teams. And I know he feels the same way.” pic.twitter.com/er4gc0qxDl

— Jake Shapiro, but festive 👻🦃🎄 (@Shapalicious) January 18, 2026

Payton returned to the media room at Empower Field at Mile High long after his initial postgame press conference to deliver the gut-wrenching news: Nix fractured a bone in his right ankle on the second-to-last play of overtime and will undergo season-ending surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

The injury came on the same drive that secured Denver’s 33-30 overtime thriller against Buffalo — the franchise’s first playoff victory since Super Bowl 50. Nix completed a pass to Marvin Mims Jr. moments after suffering the fracture, finishing the game without anyone realizing the severity of the injury.

“He will have surgery Tuesday. His season is over. Man oh man,” Payton said. “He knows God has a plan for him.”

Nix was spectacular before going down, completing 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the team with 12 carries for 29 rushing yards.

Now the Broncos will turn to Stidham, the journeyman who has started just four games in his NFL career — including two for Denver in 2023. He threw for 496 yards, two touchdowns and one pick at the end of that season with little to play for, though the team was technically alive for the playoffs in one of those games.

Stidham has played in four games since 2023 in backing up Nix, but has not thrown a pass. Payton’s message about Stidham was clear: don’t sleep on him.

“He’s experienced. He’s played in games,” Payton continued. “They’re different type players to some degree, and yet they’re both — they’re very close friends, as with Sam. It’s a tight room. Sam will be our two, and here we go.”

Sam Ehlinger, who is also on the roster, will slide into the backup role behind Stidham.

Payton explained he returned to address reporters because “the odds of something like this being kept quiet” until Monday’s team meeting were “impossible.” He wanted his players to hear it from him first.

“This team all year has lost key players and we’ll rise up for the next challenge and we’ll go from there,” Payton said.

The top-seeded Broncos will host either the New England Patriots or Houston Texans in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 25.

It will be Stidham’s first start of the season — in the biggest game of his life. The only game close was a drubbing his Auburn Tigers took in the 2017 SEC Title Game during his first season at the school.

Denver hasn’t been this close to the Super Bowl since Peyton Manning hoisted the Lombardi Trophy a decade ago, a season where they relied heavily on backup Brock Osweiler. Now it will be on the backup, who was an afterthought until Saturday night, to get the Broncos to glory.

Watch out, indeed.

BREAKING BO NIX BROKE HIS ANKLE, per Sean Payton

He is done for the season pic.twitter.com/S7QIoUp95J

— Jake Shapiro, but festive 👻🦃🎄 (@Shapalicious) January 18, 2026

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