The Denver Broncos’ head coach Sean Payton says quarterback Bo Nix will not play in the team’s preseason opener Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Multiple outlets report Payton confirms Nix is healthy, but the Broncos are choosing not to have him return during that first exhibition game.
Context for the decision is Nix’s offseason recovery from an ankle injury. The Athletic reports he suffered a broken ankle at the end of a divisional-round playoff win against the Buffalo Bills and subsequently missed the AFC Championship Game. Yahoo Sports adds that Nix underwent two right-ankle surgeries in the offseason and did not miss any practice snaps during training camp.
Sources also describe a tentative return timeline. Yahoo Sports reports Payton expects Nix to play in Denver’s next preseason game at home against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 21, and again in the game a week later against the Minnesota Vikings. Other outlets focus on the immediate decision to sit him out against Atlanta.
