Bo Nix is officially back, and after the questions surrounding his health, that’s the biggest story out of Denver right now. We all remember the absolute gut punch last season when, moments after he clinched an overtime victory in the divisional round against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Sean Payton dropped the news: Nix had a fractured ankle, and his season was done. That wasn’t just shocking, it literally altered the course of NFL history for the Broncos. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham stepped in, and the team lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, paving the way for the Patriots to get blown out in Super Bowl 60. What if Nix had been healthy? Denver fans have been living with that agonizing “what if” all offseason.
The Big Comeback Story
Heading into the 2026 season, there was legitimate uncertainty about Nix. Would his mobility be impacted by that fractured ankle? Could he really be the same player who was electric last season? All those doubts, all those worries, they just evaporated on Friday night. In his return to the field for preseason Week 2, Nix completely put minds at ease. He showed absolutely no signs of injury, none at all. More importantly, he appeared to have zero limitations out there. The guy was mobile in the pocket, rolling out on multiple occasions like he hadn’t missed a beat. He didn’t even register a rushing attempt, but his movements were a clear signal that the ground game will absolutely be on the menu once the real games start.
Nix Unleashes the Arm and Spreads the Wealth
As for his right arm? That looked like vintage Nix. He completed 6 of 9 pass attempts for 76 yards and slung a touchdown, making it look effortless. What really popped was his connection with key offseason acquisition Jaylen Waddle. We finally got to see that dynamic in action, with Nix hitting Waddle over the middle for a 35-yard catch-and-run. That’s something Broncos fans should be absolutely buzzing about, because you know they’re going to see a ton of that magic this season. Later in the drive, Nix found RJ Harvey out of the backfield on a perfect wheel route for a 21-yard score, the first TD at EmpowerField this preseason. And get this: if that play looked familiar, it’s because it was a carbon copy of a 27-yard touchdown he threw to Harvey in Week 9 last season against the Houston Texans. Talk about consistency! Nix truly spread the wealth too, targeting seven different receivers in his nine pass attempts, all with Davis Webb calling the plays. Sure, you could be picky and point to his inability to connect with Courtland Sutton on two targets, but honestly? He led the Broncos to a pair of scoring drives and walked off the field in one piece. Mission accomplished. He just shed any and all concerns about his health, loud and clear.
This performance for preseason Week 2 is exactly what Denver needed to see. The immediate focus is building on this momentum through the rest of the preseason, getting those new connections like Nix-to-Waddle even tighter. If Nix can maintain this level of health and mobility, the entire AFC better take notice of what’s coming out of Denver this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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