Getty

Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos have downplayed his injury and two procedures to address it, and they may have good reason.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix’s status remains a source of intrigue as the offseason program approaches.

The third-year quarterback required surgery to repair a broken bone in his ankle. He suffered the injury during the Broncos’ win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Nix recently underwent a second procedure that fueled speculation about his return timeline.

Many have weighed in, including doctors and others parsing the QB’s social media posts.

Bo Nix Timeline Gets ‘Likely Answer’

Nix and the Broncos have downplayed his recovery, saying it would not impact his offseason preparations. Those sentiments were largely relayed before news of his second procedure broke publicly, though.

The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel believes the “likely answer now” for Nix’s return is “not for a while.” The Broncos’ offseason program begins on May 4.

That is when players report, have their measurements taken, and test.

“Nix will likely still be around for Phases 1 and 2 of the offseason program over the next several weeks, but he’ll be rehabbing from the recent clean-up procedure on his surgically repaired right ankle rather than doing the full lifting and running regimen his teammates will be on,” Gabriel wrote on May 3.

“From here, sources expected [Sean] Payton and Denver’s medical and training staffs to be cautious with Nix through those weeks. The start of training camp is still nearly three months away. Having Nix back to full go then is the new priority for the staff.”

The Broncos’ offseason program has the latest start date in the NFL this year: May 4. OTAs begin on June 2, with mandatory minicamp later that month. Training camp begins in August.

That gives Nix plenty of time to heal before any on-field work actually begins.

“There is still no clear understanding of what the recent procedure entailed for Nix, but sources indicate the cleanup work was going to have to happen at some point — if not now, then likely after the 2026 season,” Gabriel wrote.

“It will cost Nix most of the early stages of the offseason program, but in return, he enters the year without the prospect of another procedure hanging out there somewhere on the horizon.”

Unaffiliated Doctor Gets Honest About Bo Nix’s 2nd Ankle Procedure

Gabriel noted that Nix, the Broncos, and the surgeon who initially repaired the fracture in the QB’s ankle, Dr. Norman Waldrop III, were pleased with the first procedure. They decided to get this one out of the way rather than wait because of that.

Dr. Aditya J. Yerrapragada, MD, from Common Spirit Health and the Boulder Center for Orthopedics, agreed that there is nothing to be alarmed about.

KKTV 11’s Damien Bartonek noted the “key detail” is that it does not indicate any complications.

“For someone in his position, it actually is pretty common,” Dr. Yerrapragada said about the Broncos’ would-be Pro Bowl QB in a segment from May 1. “This was expected. And for someone his level, you know, everything has to be perfect, right? We don’t want him to come back with some uncertainty.

“The second stage cleanup procedure is likely an arthroscopic procedure: Going in with small incisions, with a camera, looking around his ankle joint to make sure that the cartilage surfaces are lined up, and that the cartilage isn’t damaged.”

That is good news for the Broncos. They lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game 10-7 without Nix at the helm.

Bo Nix’s Social Media Post Under Microscope

Nix shared a post on Instagram, featuring a series of images. It also included a video of him running on a flat surface for a short distance at the Broncos’ facilities.

There was no date. However, the timing of the share–in a slideshow full of life-centric images–stood out. There has been much speculation about his recovery and the Broncos’ subsequent efforts to downplay the situation.

Denver Sports’ Andrew Mason believes the video was recorded before Nix’s second procedure.

“Look at the deciduous trees in the background and how little leaf coverage there is,” Mason posted on X on May 2 in response to “Mile High Monsters” host Mike Carmellini, who also doubted the clip was from after the procedure. “Besides, it’s part of an IG montage of pictures from recent weeks, so there’s no reason why it necessarily needs to be from recent days — or no implication thereof.”

Even if the video was taken before the procedure, there remains no call for alarm from those supposedly in the know, or who would otherwise be knowledgeable.