Broncos Turn To Ben DiNucci After Bo Nix Injury Shakes AFC Playoff Race

The Denver Broncos’ 2026 postseason journey took a wild and unexpected turn this week, as the team scrambles to adapt following a devastating injury to starting quarterback Bo Nix. In a dramatic AFC Divisional Round clash against the Buffalo Bills on January 17, Nix suffered a broken right ankle late in the game—yet incredibly remained on the field for two more plays, helping to orchestrate the game-winning drive in a 33-30 overtime thriller at Empower Field at Mile High. The full extent of Nix’s injury became clear only after the adrenaline faded, with Broncos head coach Sean Payton breaking the news in a hastily convened second postgame press conference. Nix, who had just helped secure Denver’s first AFC Championship Game appearance in years, was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs and sent straight into surgery.

“It has come to my attention that a team may be in need of my services… Good thing my schedule is open this week. Broncos country… Let’s go get a Super Bowl,” Ben DiNucci posted on social media, confirming his return to Denver’s practice squad just a day after Nix’s injury. The move was confirmed by multiple sources, including ESPN’s Adam Schefter and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. DiNucci, a 29-year-old journeyman quarterback, is no stranger to the Broncos’ system, having spent the entire 2023 season on their practice squad. His familiarity with head coach Sean Payton’s offense made him a logical choice as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback, slotting in behind new starter Jarrett Stidham and backup Sam Ehlinger.

Stidham, who hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2023, now finds himself thrust into the spotlight as Denver’s starter for the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots on January 25. Payton expressed confidence in his new starter, telling reporters, “He’s ready. I said this at the beginning of the season: I feel like I’ve got a [No. 2 quarterback] that’s capable of starting for a number of teams, and I know he feels the same way. Watch out. Just watch. He’s experienced, he’s played in games. They’re different type players to some degree.”

Sam Ehlinger, who joined the Broncos at the start of the 2025 offseason, will serve as Stidham’s backup. Ehlinger hasn’t appeared in a game since his stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. DiNucci, meanwhile, will be the No. 3 quarterback for practices and is likely to be inactive for the championship game unless an emergency arises.

For DiNucci, this latest chapter is another twist in a winding career. Drafted in the seventh round (No. 228 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, he started one game as a rookie—going 21-of-40 for 180 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a 23-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He played in three games that season but has not appeared in a regular-season NFL contest since. After two seasons with the Cowboys, DiNucci found himself out of football for a year before resurfacing in 2023 with the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons, where he led the league with 2,671 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in just 10 games. That spring stint helped him earn a spot on the Broncos’ practice squad for the 2023 NFL season. After being waived by Denver in May 2024, DiNucci bounced between the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, and Atlanta Falcons—where he played in one preseason game before being cut in 2025. Most recently, he worked as a color commentator for CBS Sports, covering college football before being called back to the NFL this week.

The Broncos’ quarterback room isn’t the only storyline adding intrigue to Sunday’s AFC Championship. The matchup against the Patriots will feature a rare family showdown: Broncos outside linebacker Jonah Elliss will square off against his brother, Christian Elliss, a linebacker for New England. Their father, Luther Elliss, played in the NFL from 1995 to 2004, finishing his career with a stint in Denver. “If that does happen, that’s a huge accomplishment,” Jonah said before the Bills game. “It would be super fun.” With both brothers now set to face off on the conference’s biggest stage, the Elliss family will have plenty to cheer—and perhaps a little to worry—about.

Denver’s injury woes extend beyond their quarterback, however. Wide receiver Pat Bryant exited the divisional win in the first quarter with a concussion, while fellow receiver Troy Franklin was lost in the second quarter to a hamstring injury. Center Alex Forsyth also left late in regulation with an ankle injury. Coach Payton, however, declined to discuss any injuries beyond Nix’s, saying, “I’m not going to discuss any of the other injuries.” The Broncos are set to return to practice on Wednesday, at which point the team will be required to release a full injury report.

As the Broncos prepare for a daunting Patriots squad, some fans are finding hope in history. Nick Foles, the former Philadelphia Eagles backup who famously led his team to a Super Bowl win over New England in 2018, offered his support on social media. “A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup QBs in championship-type games,” Foles wrote, referencing his own underdog triumph. “I feel for Bo and the team, and I’m sending prayers for a strong recovery.”

Meanwhile, the Cowboys—DiNucci’s original NFL home—face their own offseason questions. Dallas is more than $36 million over the salary cap, but at least the backup quarterback spot seems settled. The Cowboys traded for Joe Milton, a 2024 seventh-round pick, who proved himself a capable reserve for Dak Prescott, now the highest-paid player in NFL history with a four-year, $240 million contract. In a quirky twist, Dallas hasn’t drafted a quarterback since selecting DiNucci in 2020, and some fans have taken to social media to joke that “Ben DiNucci made a Championship game before Dak Prescott.”

As the AFC Championship Game approaches, all eyes are on Denver’s reshuffled quarterback depth chart and the resilience of a team that refuses to fold in the face of adversity. With Stidham at the helm, Ehlinger ready to step in, and DiNucci waiting in the wings, the Broncos’ playoff hopes remain alive—if a bit battered. The action is set for January 25, and with so many variables in play, anything can happen. Broncos fans, buckle up: the ride isn’t over yet.