Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Bo Nix

Thursday, June 11, 10:57 AM

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) is expected to practice next week at mandatory minicamp, head coach Sean Payton told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Nix did a walkthrough before Thursday's practice, which is an encouraging sign for his availability next week. The 26-year-old fractured his right ankle at the end of the team's Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills and had surgery in late January. Nix also had a cleanup procedure on his ankle in late April, but he's trending in the right direction to participate in minicamp next week and for the start of training camp at the end of July. For what it's worth, Payton thinks that Nix will be "completely clean, mobility-wise" once he returns to the field in preparation for his third year in the NFL. The former 12th overall pick out of the University of Oregon in 2024 has thrown for 7,706 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions in 34 regular-season games in his first two years in the league, adding 786 rushing yards and nine rushing scores. Nix has been a top-10 fantasy QB in each of his first two seasons, but coming off ankle surgery, there is some concern he won't be as effective as a runner, especially with Payton looking to make the offense more balanced. Nix's dual-threat abilities give him RB1 upside, but in fantasy drafts, managers should target him as more of a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in 2026.