ENGLEWOOD — It was only a matter of time before Bo Nix suffered another ankle injury.

That was the word Tuesday from Broncos coach Sean Payton on his quarterback having suffered a season-ending broken right ankle in a Jan. 17 divisional playoff win over Buffalo. Nix, who had surgery Jan. 20, had suffered ankle fractures in high school and college before joining the Broncos in 2024.

“I think what was found was a condition that was predisposed,’’ Payton said two days after the Broncos lost 10-7 to New England in the AFC Championship Game with backup Jarrett Stidham at quarterback. “They always find a little bit more when they go in (to operate). It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. … The operating surgeon (Dr. Norman Waldrop III) said that this was going to happen sooner than later. Now you go about the rehab, proper orthotics, all those things.”

General manager George Paton said medical officials have said Nix will be fully recovered by “close to May.” That would put him in line to participate in spring drills.

“I think he’s going to be fine,’’ Paton said. “I mean, he’s in the building (at Broncos Park). He’s working every day, and he’ll be back. I’m not sure the exact date. We feel good about that.”

Nix was hurt late in overtime in the 33-30 win over the Bills. Payton announced his injury after the game, saying the surgery was to be performed by Dr. Waldrop in Birmingham, Ala., and the coach then made note of previous ankle fractures suffered by Nix.

“He said he had one in high school, and then he said he had one at Auburn,’’ Payton said.

The one before Nix entered the NFL came when he suffered a broken right ankle in a 43-34 loss by the Tigers to Mississippi State on Nov. 13, 2021, forcing Nix to miss the rest of the season. He played his final two college seasons at Oregon.

“He’s doing well,’’ Payton said Tuesday about Nix’s recovery. “He literally was just above us (on the second floor at Broncos Park). I asked him, ‘What were you doing, trying to get your scooter laps in?’ … He’s handling (the injury like a pro). … He’ll rehab his tail off and get ready and get back to being healthy.”

Nelson signs futures deal

The Broncos on Tuesday signed outside linebacker Garrett Nelson to a futures contract.

Nelson was released from the practice squad Jan. 19 after the Broncos signed quarterback Ben DiNucci to the squad. DiNucci was needed as their No. 3 quarterback after Nix was injured.

In the loss to the Patriots, Sam Ehlinger served as Stidham’s backup while DiNucci was elevated to the active roster for the game. A source said Monday the Broncos don’t plan to sign DiNucci to a futures deal.

Nelson was on Denver’s practice squad for much of the season. Nelson, undrafted out of Nebraska, never has appeared in an NFL regular-season game.

After the Broncos signed six players off their practice squad to futures deals Monday, Nelson became the seventh to get such a deal.

Draft doings

After the Broncos lost to the Patriots, they were slotted in to pick No. 30 in the first round of the April 23-25 draft in Pittsburgh.

“We have five picks in the first four rounds, and we could get two compensatory which would give us nine (total picks),” Paton said. “We’re going to have all sorts of flexibility.”

The Broncos have taken No. 30 in the draft two previous times. They went with Florida State tight end Reggie Johnson in the second round in 1991 and Tennessee wide receiver Marcus Nash in the first round in 1998.

Johnson played the first three of his seven NFL seasons with Denver, catching 36 passes. Nash caught just four passes in two Broncos seasons, which ended up being his career total.

Avoiding injuries

Payton often has made note of the Broncos having reduced injuries since he arrived in 2023. He did so again Tuesday.

“I think it’s important to bring up because I think (vice president of player health and performance) Beau (Lowery) has done a great job,” Payton said. “(The Broncos were) second in the NFL over a three-year span (in having the least games missed due to injury), first in the NFL in 2023, second in the NFL in 2024, and again (second in 2025). Those numbers are important because they validate the decisions in the offseason program.”

Payton often has spoken of the high number of Broncos players who take part in their offseason program.