Five months after fracturing his right ankle on the penultimate play of the AFC Divisional Round, Bo Nix returned to the practice field this week for the Denver Broncos mandatory minicamp.
He did not participate in team drills and remained limited throughout the three-day session. But he was in uniform, throwing individually, and making his most visible offseason appearance since the injury ended his playoff run in January.
Jan 17, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) celebrates after winning an AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Nix suffered the fracture on a designed QB sweep in overtime against the Buffalo Bills on January 17. A tackle by safety Cole Bishop brought him to the ground on a designed run from the Bills’ 36-yard line. Nix finished the drive on the field, then walked off with a noticeable limp before Denver’s game-winning field goal. He underwent surgery in Birmingham, Alabama, under Dr. Norman Waldrop III, and had a second cleanup procedure in April. He missed the AFC Championship Game, which the Broncos lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots with backup Jarrett Stidham starting.
At minicamp on Tuesday, Nix was asked about his goals for the 2026 season. His answer was direct. “Win a Super Bowl and an MVP,” Nix said. Head coachSean Payton backed the optimism after practice. “He’s doing well, he’s doing really well,” Payton said. “He’ll clearly be ready in time for training camp. It’s good to have him out here in uniform.”
Payton later revealed that Nix had a preexisting ankle condition, making the fracture “a matter of when, not if,” according to the surgeon. That context changed how the Broncos approached the offseason recovery. Payton declared Nix “full go” for training camp well before minicamp began, and the quarterback did not dispute that timeline when he spoke Tuesday.
The ankle creates a specific concern entering 2026 beyond general availability. Nix’s rushing ability was a significant part of Denver’s offense last season, and analysts tracking his recovery flagged the QB sweep that caused the fracture as a reason to limit designed runs in 2026. Payton has not confirmed whether Denver will reduce that element of the offense this coming season.
What the Jaylen Waddle Trade Means for Bo Nix and the Broncos in 2026
Denver’s boldest offseason move came in March. The Broncos sent their 2026 first-round pick, third-round pick, and fourth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins to acquire wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Miami also sent Denver a 2026 fourth-round pick as part of the exchange. Waddle had 64 receptions for 910 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 on a Dolphins offense that finished 20th in total yards.
Waddle joins a receiver group that already includes Courtland Sutton, who led Denver with 74 catches for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, and Troy Franklin, who posted 709 receiving yards in his second season. Waddle’s career-high came in 2022 with the Dolphins, when he caught 99 passes for 1,356 yards. He is signed through 2028 at roughly $28.25 million per year.
How much Nix can run in 2026 will be one of the biggest storylines of training camp, as his mobility was a major part of Denver’s offense last season. His mobility as a rusher was described as a load-bearing element of Denver’s offense last year, and reducing that role would change how defenses prepare for Denver’s attack in 2026.
While ambitious, Nix’s goals reflect the growing confidence around a young quarterback entering Year 3 with upgraded weapons and stability. What differs is the infrastructure around him: a new top receiver, an extended head coach, a new offensive coordinator in Davis Webb, and a signed running back in J.K. Dobbins. Denver opens the 2026 regular season with one of the more complete rosters Nix has had since arriving in the first round of the 2024 draft.
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