DENVER — The Broncos will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix for the remainder of the postseason.

Nix suffered a fracture in his right ankle late in overtime of the Broncos' 33-30 win over the Bills, and he will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday, according to Head Coach Sean Payton.

"He's a tough cookie," Payton said. "I said [to him], 'Listen, I believe you're the second quarterback in Year 2 to take your team to a championship game. And the first is [Patrick] Mahomes.' This team, all year, has lost key players. We'll rise up for the next challenge, and we'll go from there."

Veteran quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 25, and Sam Ehlinger will serve as the Broncos' No. 2 quarterback.

"I would say this, in fairness to what you've seen, which is very limited: He's ready," Payton said of Stidham. "He's ready. I said this at the beginning of the season, I feel like I've got a [No. 2 quarterback] that's capable of starting for a number of teams, and I know he feels the same way. Watch out. Just watch. He's experienced, he's played in games. They're different type players to some degree."

Nix, who joined John Elway as the only quarterbacks in franchise history to throw three touchdown passes in a postseason win, had started all 36 games in his two-year career.

Stidham has started four games in his career and earned a win in his last home start, which came in 2023.

"There will be a lot of emotions, and then the refocus takes place," Payton said of how the team can respond. "We celebrated the season for [Nix]. Listen, Stiddy's ready, and we'll be ready for the next challenge."