Bo Nix was back on the field Tuesday, June 16, as the Denver Broncos opened mandatory minicamp. He took part in individual work for the first time this offseason after recovering from the ankle injury he suffered during Denver’s playoff run.

The third-year quarterback took part in individual drills and spent time throwing with teammates. While there has been plenty of discussion about how the injury could affect his mobility, Nix shared concerns about his movement and agility.

“Well, my concern is they say it's back healthy, as good as new, and I hadn't really been like that in a couple years,” Nix said on June 16. “So, my concern is maybe moving around a little bit better.”

As reported by analyst Aric DiLalla on the official site of the Denver Broncos, Nix is underconfident as he is unsure if everything is truly back to normal yet.

After months of rehab, the quarterback's main worry is not just being pain-free, but whether he will be able to move more smoothly and freely on the field again.

On January 17, Nix broke his right ankle while leading a game-winning overtime drive against Buffalo, and he underwent surgery two days later in Birmingham at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Clinic.

During the Broncos’ opening mandatory minicamp practice of the week, Nix was limited to individual throwing drills and did not join team periods. He is expected to stay on a restricted workload for the remainder of minicamp, but it was his most extensive offseason work with teammates so far.

While Nix would need some time to fully regain his confidence, head coach Sean Payton noted that it was encouraging to see him back.

“He's doing well,” Payton said June 16. “He's doing really well. … It's good to have him out here in uniform.”

Looking ahead, Nix said he isn't viewing the injury as a setback. Instead, he sees it as another challenge to overcome, much like the earlier ankle injuries he dealt with in high school and college before returning to successful seasons.

“For me, it's just another bump in the road,” Nix said.

With minicamp underway and training camp on the horizon, Denver appears encouraged by where its quarterback stands heading into the 2026 season.

Bo Nix's Recovery Timeline Remains Under Focus As Broncos Open Minicamp

As the Broncos get through mandatory minicamp, the conversation around Nix shifted from the injury itself to the timeline of his return.

According to The Round Table, Payton has remained consistent in his outlook throughout the offseason. When asked about Nix's mobility, Payton made it clear he does not expect the injury to affect that aspect of the quarterback's game.

“I don’t think you’ll see that hindered at all,” Coach Payton said of Nix’s mobility on June 11.

That confidence has also been echoed in the June 15 report surrounding Nix's recovery. ESPN's Jeff Legwold noted that the quarterback remains on schedule despite undergoing a second procedure earlier this spring.

“By all accounts, especially coach Sean Payton’s, Nix has progressed on schedule from a second surgical procedure," ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote. "And Nix has begun throwing in some limited drills before OTA practices over the past two weeks. Payton has said Nix will be "full go'' when training camp opens in late July."

For the Broncos, the biggest takeaway from minicamp may not be the number of reps Nix takes. Instead, it's whether his recovery continues to follow the plan the team has laid out since the offseason began.

Will Nix be able to get over his injury concerns in 2026? Share your thoughts.

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar