Why Bo Nix And The Denver Broncos Are Still Searching For Their Best Football Despite A 4-2 Start

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix opens up about his ankle recovery© Image via: X/@danfetes

Winning ugly still counts as winning, but it rarely feels good. The Denver Broncos sit at 4-2, yet the mood around the team is anything but relaxed. Quarterback Bo Nix has not looked like the player who powered this offense deep into the playoffs last season. On Wednesday, he finally spoke plainly about why. His answer touched on his surgically repaired ankle, his mindset, and a plan to peak when it matters most. With the Arizona Cardinals next on the schedule, the timing could not be better for Denver fans.

Bo Nix Ankle Recovery Is Still A Work In Progress

Bo Nix broke his right ankle in the 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in last season's divisional round. Surgeries followed in January and April. So when a reporter asked whether the mental side of the comeback has been tough, he did not dodge.

“I'd be lying if I said no,” Nix said.

He was just as direct about fear. “I'm not scared. I'm not physically worried,” he said.

Bo Nix was asked if there was a mental hurdle he had to get over with from his ankle injury: “I would be lying if I said no” https://t.co/DOV9NSoWFe

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) October 21, 2026

The stat sheet hints at what may still be missing. Over his first two seasons, Nix ran for 786 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. This year, he has 37 yards in six games, or 1.7 per carry. When a quarterback stops being a running threat, defenders sit back and passing lanes shrink. That could explain a lot.

 Denver Broncos Offense Needs A Spark Against The Arizona Cardinals

Head coach Sean Payton took back play-calling from first-year coordinator Davis Webb, and the Broncos have won twice since. The offense, however, has sputtered. Nix threw for 123 yards in a 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, then 107 in a 17-14 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks. Denver converted just 4 of 26 third downs across those games.

Payton put part of the blame on himself. “I got to be better,” he said.

Nix thinks bigger than one week. “I don't want to be peaking until the playoffs. I don't want to be peaking at my best because you can't hold it the whole entire season,” he said.

Sunday offers a real opening. Arizona ranks 31st in scoring defense and allows 8.6 yards per pass attempt, the worst mark in the league. Nix averages 5.6. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman is also set to return from injured reserve, which should give the ground game a lift.

Nix knows what he wants from this trip. “We're searching for that one game that sort of just puts us right back where we were.”

If it comes against the Cardinals, the 4-2 start will finally feel as good as it looks.