Four teams left, but still plenty of injuries impacting not only the actual games but also sports betting and daily fantasy. Bo Nix and Zach Charbonnet's seasons are over. Will their injuries carry into 2026? We discuss all the major injuries from the divisional round below.
Quarterbacks
Bo Nix
Injury: Right ankle fracture
Analysis: In a stunning turn of events, about an hour after Denver outlasted Buffalo in overtime Sean Payton announced to the world that his quarterback will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle fracture. A truly devastating injury won't just impact Nix's ability to play in the AFC championship and beyond, but this will significantly cut into his off-season training. Nix will spend the next 5-6 months rehabbing in preparation for the 2026 season.
The mechanism of injury was strange; he appeared to injure when landing from getting tackled, but nobody lands on Nix, and his foot and ankle did not twist awkwardly. It's unclear exactly which bones are fractured, but it seems that the injury happens as his foot strikes the ground. This is Nix's right ankle, meaning he needs to plant and push off to throw and step up in the pocket. He should be able to return to 100% with minimal to no impairments in his game, but much of his off-season will be spent rehabbing. This is his third combined ankle fracture in his lifetime; past injury is the biggest risk factor for future injury.
Running Backs
Zach Charbonnet
Injury: ACL tear