It's been a long road back for Bo Nix. The Broncos QB fractured his right ankle late in Denver's AFC divisional-round win over the Bills back in January, had surgery to fix it, then needed a second procedure in April to clean up bone spurs in the same joint. He sat out the preseason opener against Atlanta while the medical staff and Sean Payton eased him back in. Friday night against the Packers, he was finally back under center.
Bo Nix is back. https://t.co/XM4yv8bQ0d
The stat line wasn't going to blow anyone away — 14 snaps, 6-of-9 passing for 76 yards — but the number that matters is zero, as in zero setbacks. Nix looked live, moved fine, and didn't need to be pulled for anything other than the plan. Denver ended up losing the game 33-13, but a preseason score was never the point of the night.
The highlight came on a touchdown connection with RJ Harvey, Denver's second-round pick a year ago out of UCF who set the school's all-time touchdown record before landing in the Broncos backfield. Harvey broke out as a rookie, becoming the first Denver player to score 3 touchdowns in a game since Clinton Portis back in 2002, so seeing him and a healthy Nix connecting in the same frame is exactly the pairing the Broncos have been building toward.
Bo Nix ➜ RJ Harvey for 6️⃣ https://t.co/xQiRofCl5N
The football world noticed. FantasyPros posted a simple "Welcome back Bo Nix" the moment the ball crossed the goal line, and Schefter — not exactly known for hyperbole — followed with a two-word verdict of his own. That's the kind of reaction reserved for a guy who matters, and after Nix's ascent last season it's fair to say the Broncos' entire ceiling is tied to his ankle holding up.
Welcome back Bo Nix! 🔥 https://t.co/RMqOT6SWkM
Denver still has one more tune-up on the schedule against Minnesota before the games start counting, and expect Nix's workload to keep climbing as Payton builds him back toward a full Week 1 workload. For a team that leaned on his legs and his arm to make a playoff run, getting him through this preseason clean is the whole ballgame.