Broncos Add Quarterback Depth After Bo Nix Injury, Sign Ben DiNucci to Practice Squad

Denver adjusts its quarterback room after Bo Nix goes down

The Denver Broncos are making a late-season adjustment at one of the most important positions on the roster after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury. While the immediate plan is clear—Jarrett Stidham is set to take over as the starter—Denver is also taking steps to ensure it has enough depth behind him as the postseason continues.

Stidham is expected to start in Nix’s place, and head coach Sean Payton has reiterated that Stidham will be under center for next Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. The change marks a significant moment for Stidham, as it will be his first start since 2023.

At the same time, the Broncos have moved to bolster their depth chart by adding another quarterback to the mix. The team signed Ben DiNucci to the practice squad, giving the coaching staff another option at a time when quarterback availability across the league can be limited by roster rules and timing.

Ben DiNucci joins the Broncos’ practice squad

Ben DiNucci confirmed his addition to the Broncos in a social media post on Sunday, announcing that he had signed a deal to join Denver’s practice squad. In that post, DiNucci wrote: “It has come to my attention that a team may be in need of my services… Good thing my schedule is open this week,” followed by: “Broncos country… Let’s go get a Super Bowl ?”

DiNucci’s post also included an image of himself from his time with the Broncos in 2023, a reminder that while he is new to the practice squad now, he has been around the organization before. Still, his return comes with the reality that he has not played a regular-season snap since his rookie year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.

His most recent NFL roster stint ended earlier this year. DiNucci had not been on a roster since the Atlanta Falcons waived him during preliminary training camp cuts in August. That context helps explain why he is eligible to be signed now and why the Broncos could turn to him for depth at this stage of the season.

A unique week for DiNucci

DiNucci’s signing also stands out because of what he was doing immediately before joining Denver. He was analyzing the impact of Nix’s season-ending ankle injury for the Broncos during a CBS Sports broadcast on Saturday. The next day, he confirmed he was signing with the team.

At 29 years old, DiNucci has continued to stay connected to professional football in multiple ways since his last NFL start. Since that time, he has spent time in training camp or on a practice squad with the Buffalo Bills and the New Orleans Saints.

Beyond the NFL, DiNucci also spent a season with the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL, adding another chapter to his professional experience. For the Broncos, his background provides an additional quarterback option who has been in different systems and environments, even if he has not taken an NFL regular-season snap in several years.

Jarrett Stidham set to start, with Sam Ehlinger as primary backup

While DiNucci has been added for depth, Denver’s immediate quarterback hierarchy is centered on Stidham. Payton has been consistent in saying Stidham will start the upcoming game against the Patriots, and the move to bring in DiNucci does not change that stated plan.

Behind Stidham, Sam Ehlinger is slated to be the primary backup. Ehlinger was called up from the practice squad earlier in January, and his role as the next man up has already been established by the team’s recent roster decisions.

In practical terms, that means the Broncos are organizing their quarterback room with Stidham as the starter, Ehlinger as the main backup option, and DiNucci as additional depth on the practice squad. For a team navigating the postseason after losing its starter, having multiple layers of coverage can be important, especially given the constraints on who can be added this late in the year.

Why the Broncos’ external quarterback options are limited

As Denver looks ahead to the remainder of the playoffs, the list of quarterbacks it can add is described as slim. The limitations are not simply about who is available, but also about who the Broncos are allowed to sign under the rules at this point in the season.

According to the details outlined around the team’s options, the Broncos cannot sign any quarterback who finished the season on an active roster. That restriction narrows the pool significantly, cutting out many of the most recognizable names who might otherwise be suggested as emergency additions.

For example, Philip Rivers is mentioned as someone who would not be able to make another comeback under these constraints. Similarly, the Broncos also cannot add a quarterback who is on an opposing team’s reserve/retired list.

Derek Carr is presented as an example of that category. Carr is on the Saints’ reserve/retired list after announcing his retirement in March, meaning he would not be an option for Denver under the stated limitations.

Given these restrictions, the only quarterbacks the Broncos can sign are players who ended the 2025 NFL regular season as free agents. That eligibility framework helps explain why a player like DiNucci can be added now and why the Broncos’ choices are more constrained than casual observers might assume.

Free-agent eligibility and the mention of Drew Brees

Within the category of quarterbacks who could be signed—those who ended the 2025 regular season as free agents—the discussion includes an illustrative example: Drew Brees. The idea presented is that Brees could sign with the Broncos because no NFL team holds his contract rights, which would theoretically allow him to reunite with Payton, his former coach with the New Orleans Saints.

The mention is framed as an example of how the rules work rather than as an indication of a specific plan. The broader point remains that Denver’s options are shaped by who is eligible to be signed at this stage, and not every veteran name that comes to mind would be available under those rules.

Sean Payton expresses confidence in Jarrett Stidham

Even with the roster shuffle and the addition of DiNucci for depth, Payton has made it clear that he believes Stidham is prepared for the moment. In comments to reporters, Payton emphasized Stidham’s accuracy and the way he has performed in practice settings.

“There’d be practices where I’m looking at [defensive coordinator] Vance [Joseph] and getting (mad) because Stiddy’s making our defense look bad,” Payton said. “He’s very accurate. He’s got a lot to his ball.”

Those remarks provide insight into why Denver is comfortable turning to Stidham in a high-stakes situation. While game action is different from practice, Payton’s comments suggest that the coaching staff has seen enough in day-to-day work to trust Stidham with the offense.

A matchup with familiar ties: Stidham versus the Patriots

Stidham’s upcoming start carries an additional storyline because of his history with the New England Patriots. The Patriots selected Stidham in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, making the next game a meeting with the organization that originally drafted him.

Payton also noted that he had interest in Stidham during his own time with the Saints, suggesting Stidham had been on his radar even before the quarterback arrived in Denver. That background feeds into Payton’s broader evaluation of Stidham, which he described as informed by multiple stages of the quarterback’s career.

Payton explained that he understands how Stidham was coached in New England and referenced how Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels felt about him when McDaniels brought him from New England to Vegas. Payton added that the Broncos have also been able to evaluate Stidham directly.

“I know exactly how he was coached in New England, and then I know how [Patriots offensive coordinator Josh] McDaniels felt about him when he brought him from New England to Vegas. And then I know reports on how he played and then we saw him play in real time,” Payton said.

He continued: “But ultimately ... it’s our three years here and our three years watching him day in and day out ... And so he will be ready to go and ready for the moment.”

Those comments underscore a theme in Denver’s approach: while the team is adding depth with DiNucci and has Ehlinger positioned as the primary backup, the Broncos are placing their immediate confidence in Stidham to lead the offense.

What the roster moves indicate about Denver’s approach

Quarterback injuries often force teams to make quick decisions, but Denver’s actions show a layered response. The Broncos have a starter identified, a primary backup already in place, and now a new practice squad addition to provide further coverage. In a postseason environment, where each week can bring new challenges, that kind of depth planning can be a practical necessity.

DiNucci’s signing does not change the stated plan that Stidham will start, but it does add another quarterback to the organization at a time when the rules limit who can be brought in. For DiNucci, it represents an opportunity to rejoin an NFL team after being waived in August and after not appearing in a regular-season game since 2020.

For the Broncos, it is a move aimed at stability. With Nix out due to the ankle injury, the team is working to ensure it has enough options at quarterback as it continues through the playoffs, starting with Stidham’s next assignment against the Patriots.

• Jarrett Stidham is expected to start following Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle injury.
• Sam Ehlinger is slated to be the primary backup after being called up from the practice squad earlier in January.
• Ben DiNucci has signed with the Broncos’ practice squad to add depth at quarterback.
• Denver’s ability to sign quarterbacks is limited to players who ended the 2025 regular season as free agents, with other categories restricted.
• Sean Payton has expressed confidence in Stidham based on practice evaluations and familiarity with his background.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.