Oct 4, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) looks to pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Sports media personality Colin Cowherd is raising a question that would have seemed unthinkable just a few months ago: Should the Denver Broncos already be preparing for life after Bo Nix?
"You can’t extend Bo Nix. You let the season play out… His first quarter passer rating is lower than Cam Ward and everybody thinks Cam Ward is a bust." @colincowherd thinks the Broncos need to start planning for Nix’s replacement https://t.co/nm8rbeIJhr
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) October 12, 2026
Following another uneven performance from Nix in Denver’s 23-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5 of the NFL season, Cowherd argued that the Broncos should let the season play out before making any long-term commitment to their quarterback.
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Cowherd questions whether Nix is Denver’s long-term answer
NFL: Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers
Oct 11, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Cowherd did not suggest Denver should bench Nix immediately. Instead, he argued that the Broncos shouldn’t rush into an extension before seeing how the rest of the season unfolds.
“You can’t extend Bo Nix. You let the season play out,” Cowherd said Monday. He then pointed to Nix’s first-quarter passer rating, arguing it is lower than Cam Ward’s—a quarterback many observers have already labeled a potential bust.
The criticism comes despite Denver sitting at 3-2 following Sunday’s comeback victory over the Chargers. Nix completed 18 of 30 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in the win, while Denver’s defense did much of the heavy lifting in the fourth-quarter comeback.
Nix’s overall 2026 numbers have been underwhelming compared with what Denver expected coming off his impressive 2025 campaign. Through five games, Nix has completed 97 of 162 passes for 942 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. His passer rating is 80.8.
That is a significant decline from last season, when Nix threw for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading Denver to the AFC Championship Game.
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NFL: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Sep 14, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The most concerning part for Denver is that Nix’s struggles have coincided with an offense that has repeatedly struggled to generate consistency.
Sean Payton reclaimed play-calling duties entering Sunday’s game after Davis Webb had handled them earlier in the season. The change was supposed to help create more rhythm, but Denver still produced only 224 total yards against Los Angeles.
Nix’s first-quarter passer rating is 78.8 through five games, compared with a 90.8 rating in the second half. That disparity illustrates one of the biggest issues facing Denver: the Broncos have not consistently gotten enough from their quarterback early in games.
Cowherd’s argument is therefore less about declaring Nix a bust and more about refusing to assume that last year’s success automatically guarantees his future.
Denver has time to figure it out. The Broncos are winning games largely because their defense continues to give them opportunities, and Nix still has a substantial body of work from his first two seasons that cannot simply be ignored.
But if the offensive struggles continue, the Broncos will have a difficult decision to make. Rather than immediately handing Nix a massive extension, Cowherd believes Denver should keep every option open — including beginning to plan for a potential replacement.