Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will miss 12 weeks after surgery on his broken right ankle, sources told ESPN. The injury, suffered in overtime against the Buffalo Bills, ends any chance of a Super Bowl return. He'll miss Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.

Nix is expected to miss the AFC Championship Game, where Jarrett Stidham will make his first start of the season. Coach Sean Payton has full confidence in Stidham, a free-agent signing. The Broncos' playoff hopes now rest with the backup against a Patriots team featuring Nix's draft classmate, Drake Maye.

This marks Nix's third ankle fracture, but doctors believe the injury has no long-term concerns. He can participate in Denver's offseason program upon recovery. For now, Broncos Country is rallying behind Stidham, whose social media avatar has flooded feeds in a show of fan support for the AFC title game.