Throughout the 2026 season, everyone in the NFL world has been wondering why Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix hasn't looked like "himself".
It's fair to wonder that, considering the last time Nix was on the field in the 2025-26 season, he won a shootout with Josh Allen in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. There was a different level of aura and confidence around Nix prior to his ankle injury, and it has just felt like there was a mental hurdle he had yet to clear, at least based on the way he's been playing.
And Nix finally admitted it himself.
Ahead of the team's Week 7 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Nix admitted that he needs to play better, and also said he would be lying if he said there wasn't a mental hurdle to get over in his recovery from the ankle injury.
Bo Nix admits there has been a difficult mental hurdle after ankle injury
Here is the full quote from Nix when he was asked about the "mental aspect" of coming back from injury:
“I’d be lying if I said no. I think that’s just what happens. I think you come back, and every day is a progression. I’m not necessarily doing physical therapy treatment, but I’m out there on the practice field getting rep after rep, trying to get back in super great shape so my carries can go up, so I’m ready when my number’s called and when I can run. I’m not scared. I’m not physically worried. I just think there’s something to the sport.
I think all guys, when they come back from an injury, just doing it one day at a time. I think that’s just part of the game. That’s part of the process. I had surgery probably six months ago. It takes a while for things to fully reengage. I’m confident in myself. I know I’m going to get back and be exactly what I was, if not better. My training is going like this (points upwards), and at the end of the day, it’s all about getting better.”
Broncos QB Bo Nix (via team PR)
This is a hugely important admission from Nix, and there is absolutely no shame in it. He is working his way back from injury. He's not necessarily out there playing through pain, although CBS reported during the broadcast of the Broncos' loss to the 49ers that there is still some "swelling and stiffness" when Nix and the Broncos travel to away games after flying.
These are all important details that factor into the why behind the what. Why is Bo Nix not playing as well as we have seen in the past? It's not because he suddenly lost the ability to throw the ball or run with it. Nix himself also said that it's not even about confidence, which has been a big topic of discussion.
It seems to be all about comfortability, which is actually a huge relief for everyone in Broncos Country.
At some point, you have to figure that the marriage between confidence and comfortability is going to happen for Nix. At some point, you have to figure we're going to see this offense start clicking in ways it has in the past, but the Broncos had bigger goals than that going into the year. They wanted progression from the offense.
The problem with that is, you have a quarterback who is dealing with a lack of comfortability on the field mentally after suffering a fractured ankle.
It's not exactly good news, but it's important news, and might at least be beneficial for people around the NFL media world to know. A guy who just had a procedure on his ankle 6 months ago is still dealing with the effects of having surgery on his body, getting back to playing the most violent game in the world.
Go figure.
Even with this context in the mix, knowing that Nix has been dealing with a mental hurdle after the ankle injury, he has to play better. He also needs the players around him to be better.
The Broncos are not running the ball well. They have dropped too many passes. They have once again had too many untimely penalties offensively. They are missing blocking assignments. The change in offensive schemes and terminology is also a factor, even if it's just a slight one.
It all adds up, but it also only takes one great performance to get this team on track.
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