Broncos owner makes big statements about futures of QB Bo Nix, HC Sean Payton, GM George Paton

Questions about the long-term status of Denver Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix arose when head coach Sean Payton said earlier this week that Nix had "a condition that was predisposed" when he suffered a broken bone in his right ankle.

Nix has since insisted that wasn't the case and that Payton might have been confused about the situation. On Wednesday, Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner addressed the future of the 2024 first-round draft pick who has gone 1-1 as a postseason starter. 

Are Broncos worried that Bo Nix is injury-prone? 

"Zero concern," Penner said about Nix's ability to stay healthy moving forward, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "His surgery was a straightforward surgery, went very well. Absolutely no issues there or concerns going forward."

ESPN's Jeff Legwold noted that Nix has a history of worrisome ankle issues going back to his high-school days. The 25-year-old is currently on track to resume training four to six weeks after going under the knife. 

"I thought he had a second-year quarterback fantastic season," Penner added about Nix. "He won 15 games for us. Showed his mettle in the fourth quarter a lot of times, bringing us back. He would say the same thing, it’s only his second year in the league, and he’s got room to grow, and fortunately, Bo has a terrific approach of studying, working. He loves the game. I look forward to watching his continued improvement over the coming years."

Broncos want to keep HC Sean Payton, GM George Paton married

According to Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post, Broncos general manager George Paton is only under contract through the 2026 season. Meanwhile, Payton has two years remaining on his deal. 

Penner left little doubt he'd like to keep the duo of Paton and Payton together beyond this year. 

"We’d love to have both of them here long-term," Penner explained. "I think the partnership they’ve created and how they work together is very complementary." 

With Payton and Paton leading the way, the Broncos have made back-to-back trips to the playoffs. One can only guess what could have been for Denver had Nix been able to play the 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. 

"In terms of the contracts, those are things that we’ll always deal with on a personal basis and in private," Penner said about the club's current regime. "We’ll take that as it comes."