Denver, CO
Troy Franklin Reveals How Bo Nix is Really Doing After Surgery
After Bo Nix suffered his devastating fractured ankle in the Denver Broncos’ 33-30 divisional-round win over the Buffalo Bills, we didn’t hear much from him until a couple of days after the season ended. The Broncos lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game, and then Sean Payton decided to start spilling the beans on Nix’s injury during his end-of-season presser two days later.
Nix took exception to some of what Payton said publicly about his injury, opting to call a virtual press conference of his own the next day to clear some things up on the record. Nix and Payton may have gotten their wires crossed on some of the injury details, but the quarterback didn’t appreciate his head coach revealing details about his health or certain details he’d prefer to keep private, whether the revelations were true or not.
Since that virtual presser, all has been quiet on the Western Front. The Pro Bowl Games have come and gone, and Super Bowl 60 is now only a few days away.
What has Nix been up to since then? We can safely assume that his focus has been on his recovery from ankle surgery, but his teammate and friend, Troy Franklin, provided Broncos Country with a nice update on Thursday from radio row at the Super Bow.
“I’ve kind of been in the facility with him the past couple of days, the past week, man. So I’ve seen my guy scootin’ around on his scooter,” Franklin said of Nix via KOA Radio. “He’s in high, great spirits. And he’s taking it day by day.”
What happens next for the Broncos? Don’t miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!
Nix Will Return and With Gusto
It’s good to hear that Nix has been able to maintain an optimistic attitude and affable demeanor though the disappointment of his freak injury and the painful drudgery of recovery and rehabilitation. He’s sticking around Denver and spending time at the Broncos’ facility, and it’s probably safe to assume he’s doing what he can to get a jump on the 2026 season.
The good news is, despite the mixed messaging last week from Payton and Nix, the Broncos are certain that this ankle injury won’t be a long-term issue. CEO and co-owner Greg Penner made that perfectly clear in his end-of-season presser.
“[I have] zero concern. His surgery was a straightforward surgery that went very well, absolutely no issues there or concerns going forward,” Penner said.
The fullness of Nix’s recovery timetable is expected to correspond with the beginning of the Broncos’ offseason training program. By the time the veterans report for Phase 1 of OTAs, he is expected to be good to go.
It was a terrible football tragedy how Nix’s impressive 2025 season came to an end. But the silver lining is that the Broncos have found their franchise quarterback.
That was evidenced by the team’s sudden reversal of fortunes in the AFC title game without him. If Nix played in that game, the Broncos are likely preparing to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60.
If ‘ifs and buts’ were candy and nuts, we all would have a Merry Christmas. That’s not how it shook out. But Penner and his fellow owners are resting comfortably in the knowledge that the Broncos have a bona fide franchise quarterback. There will be many more opportunities to vy for World Championships.
“I thought he had, as a second-year quarterback, a fantastic season. He won 15 games for us. He showed his mettle in the fourth quarter a lot of times, bringing us back,” Penner said of Nix. “He would say the same thing. It’s only his second year in the league, and he has room to grow. Fortunately, Bo has a terrific approach to studying and working. He loves the game. I look forward to watching his continued improvement over the coming years.”
Franklin Aiming for 1,000 Yards & Double-Digit TDs in 2026
As for Franklin, after showing some development in 2025, he’s focused on taking even bigger steps next season. He finished with 65 receptions for 709 yards and six touchdowns.
Franklin is shooting for 1,000 yards and double the touchdowns in 2026, according to The Denver Post‘s Luca Evans. Franklin also told Evans that he wants to add another 10 pounds of muscle to his frame by training camp.
“I’m going to get a 1,000-yard season,” Franklin told Evans. “I’m going to double up the TDs.”
With Nix returning, Franklin has a good shot at achieving his goals.
More On SI Broncos Offseason Coverage
Students from across the Denver metro are heading to the state Capitol to push for free after-school opportunities statewide.
The proposal would create a “My Colorado Card” program, giving students in sixth through 12th grades access to cultural, arts, recreational and extracurricular activities throughout the state.
For students like Itzael Garcia, Denver’s existing “My Denver Card” made a life-changing difference. He said having access to his local recreation center helped keep him safe.
“We had a couple stray bullets go through our living room window, we had people get shot in front of our house, different things like that,” Garcia said. “Over the summer, being able to go to the public pool, it provided a space for us to all come together. In a way, it acted as a protective factor.”
The My Denver Card provides youth ages 5 to 18 with free access to the zoo, museums and recreation centers. For some, like Garcia, it has served as a safe haven.
That impact is why students involved with the nonprofit FaithBridge helped craft legislation to expand a similar pilot program to communities outside Denver.
“We really just thought that inequity and really distinct opportunity deserts for students was really important for us to correct,” said Mai Travi a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School. Another student echoed that sentiment.
“We have a lot of students in the program that come from Aurora Public Schools, and they don’t have access to the same cultural facilities that we have living here; opportunities that really define our childhood experiences,” said Jack Baker, also a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School.
Vernon Jones, director of the nonprofit FaithBridge, said organizers are still working out logistics but hope to partner with counties across Colorado.
“This is a strategy to work for all of Colorado,” he said.
Denver school board member Marlene De La Rosa said the My Denver Card program has been impactful since its launch in 2013.
“For students that are on free and reduced lunch, the ‘My Denver Card’ can help scholarship some of their fees to participate in the youth sports at the recreation centers,” De La Rosa said.
Last year, 45,000 Denver youth had a card, accounting for 450,000 visits to recreation centers, outdoor pools and cultural facilities, she said.
“I think it is very beneficial,” De La Rosa said.
The Denver program is funded by city tax dollars approved by voters in 2012. The proposed statewide pilot would instead rely on donations and grants.
The bill has cleared its first committee but still needs approval from the full House and Senate.
Denver, CO
Tempers flare during another tightly contested matchup between Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder
The University of Denver will close the Ricks Center for Gifted Children next year as enrollment has fallen in recent years, the college announced this week.
The Ricks Center, which serves gifted children as young as 3 years old, will operate for the 2026-27 academic year before closing, according to a letter DU sent parents on Wednesday.
“The University of Denver has made the difficult decision to close the Ricks Center for Gifted Children at the conclusion of the 2026–2027 academic year,” spokesman Jon Stone said in a statement. “This decision reflects long-term operational and financial considerations and is not a reflection of the school’s quality, leadership, or community.”
The center, which is located on DU’s campus, was started in 1984 as the University Center for Gifted Young Children. The program offers classes to students in preschool through eighth grade, according to the website.
The program, along with other public K-12 schools in the state, has experienced declining enrollment in recent years. The center enrolled 142 students for the 2025-26 academic year, which is down from 200 pupils four years ago.
The center will hold a meeting about the pending closure on March 6 for parents.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter.
Protestors in downtown Augusta speak out after strikes on Iran
San Francisco Ballet cancels upcoming performances at Kennedy Center
14-year-old girl shot on Cleveland’s East Side
Multiple people injured in mass shooting on 6th St; Austin Police investigating
Detroit Lions meet with Alabama star OL at NFL combine
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Mamdani’s response to Trump’s Iran strike sparks conservative backlash: ‘Rooting for the ayatollah’
Activists hail ‘historic’ EU’s decision on accessible abortion
A long-buried recording and the Supreme Court of old (CT+) : Consider This from NPR
2 Survivors Describe the Terror and Tragedy of the Tahoe Avalanche
Iran fires missiles at US bases across Middle East after American strikes on nuclear, IRGC sites
-
World3 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts4 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Louisiana6 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Denver, CO3 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT