Legendary former Giants coach Bill Parcells is expected to advise Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton after a devastating ankle injury to quarterback Bo Nix, according to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio.
Nix suffered a fractured right ankle toward the end of the Broncos’ 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday and will undergo surgery on Tuesday, Paolantonio reported Sunday on “SportsCenter.” Payton told Paolantonio he expects to hear from his mentor Parcells soon. Payton served under Parcells as assistant coach and quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-5.
Parcells is familiar with what Payton is dealing with because backup QB Jeff Hostetler led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXV against the Buffalo Bills on January 27, 1991, after taking over as starting quarterback for an injured Phil Simms.
“[Payton] said he’ll probably hear from his mentor, Bill Parcells, who will talk to him about how the New York Giants had to play with Jeff Hostetler in the Super Bowl when Phil Simms got hurt,” Paolantonio said. “He knows that his team is strong and that his quarterback is stronger, and that they will come through this and be alright in the AFC Championship game.
“‘At least, [Payton] said, that is the hope.”
Backup QB Jarrett Stidham, a fourth-round pick out of Auburn in 2019, will start in the AFC Championship Game next Sunday against either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans.
Stidham did not throw a pass all season long, while Nix passed for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.
Payton congratulated Nix when the QB came to the sideline after setting up the game-winning field goal in overtime against the Bills and that’s when Nix informed his coach of the devastating news.
“Not so fast, coach,” Nix said. “I think something happened to my ankle.”
X-rays confirmed his ankle was fractured, but Nix was in “high spirits” despite the injury, Payton told Paolantonio
Meantime, one can only wonder how Josh Allen must feel. The Buffalo QB was in tears after the loss and will now have to wonder how he and his team would have done in the AFC Championship game while Nix is sidelined.
