Jarrett Stidham to start AFC Championship after Bo Nix ankle fracture

Cbssports reports Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC Championship next Sunday after starter Bo Nix suffered a fracture in his right ankle during Denver's overtime win against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round; Nix's injury will require surgery and will sideline him for the rest of the season.

Stidham, 29, has just four career starts and last threw a meaningful NFL pass in Week 18 of the 2023 campaign; he signed with the Broncos in 2023 on a two-year, $10 million deal and has familiarity with Sean Payton's system. Denver earned the No. 1 seed and fields one of the league's top defenses, and Payton told reporters, via the official team website, "I would say this, in fairness to what you've seen, which is very limited: He's ready."

The AFC Championship is at home at Mile High next Sunday, but questions remain: Stidham has thrown at least one interception in all but one of his four starts and his teams are 1-3 in those contests. He will be the seventh quarterback to make his first career start of the season in the playoffs and the first to do so in a conference championship since Roger Staubach in 1972, so Denver's protection and defense will be critical if he is to help the team reach Super Bowl LX.

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Sports, Jarrett Stidham, Bo Nix, Denver Broncos, Afc Championship, Sean Payton