Denver Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey didn’t sugarcoat it: losing Bo Nix is “incredibly heartbreaking.” But he also made it clear the locker room believes Jarrett Stidham is ready to step in and keep Denver moving forward.
On a media call, McGlinchey echoed head coach Sean Payton’s public confidence in Stidham and explained why the Broncos feel comfortable turning to their veteran backup at the most stressful time of the season. That confidence is coming right as the Broncos prepare to host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship on Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. ET.
Broncos’ New Quarterback Jarrett Stidham: Mike McGlinchey Says Team Has “Utmost Confidence”
McGlinchey opened by focusing on Nix, saying the injury is the “crappy part” of the game after the rookie “worked his butt off” and “led this team every step of the way.”
Then he pivoted to Stidham — referred to repeatedly as “Stiddy,” a nickname — and delivered the quote Broncos fans are going to latch onto.
McGlinchey said he’s been around Stidham for the past three years and described him as a football-obsessed grinder who has “been absorbing everything” the team is doing while staying locked into the same routine “every single day… not knowing when that opportunity is going to come.”
The bottom line from the veteran tackle: Denver’s players, coaches, and staff have “utmost confidence” in Stidham to “play well” and “lead our team forward.”
McGlinchey also pushed back on the idea that Stidham’s readiness is unknown, saying the Broncos have seen him “every single day of practice,” plus in training camp and preseason action.
Broncos vs. Patriots Odds: “Everybody’s Been Doubting Us” and McGlinchey Says That’s Nothing New
ESPN reported that the Broncos were 5.5-point underdogs to the Patriots.
When asked about the moment turning into a rallying point, McGlinchey made a striking claim: he feels like the Broncos have been doubted all season, even as a top team.
He said the outside noise has included people calling Denver “the worst one seed in the history of the playoffs,” adding, “that’s nothing new.”
Still, McGlinchey drew a line between “another test” and what this actually is. He said you don’t casually label it that way when “the leader and the quarterback of your team” gets hurt, because it’s different.
Even so, he framed Denver as “battle tested” and said he’s “incredibly confident” in the team moving forward.
Bo Nix Injury: What Mike McGlinchey Said After
McGlinchey shared a quick snapshot of checking on Nix after the game, saying he sat with him in the hallway while he was with family and teammates. Nix suffered a season-altering injury that Broncos McGlinchey called “incredibly heartbreaking,” forcing Denver to pivot to Stidham as the new quarterback.
He also said he’s texted Nix “a bunch,” reminding him he’s there “whatever he needs,” and added that Nix was in “great spirits.”
McGlinchey called Nix “as tough as they come” and predicted he’ll be “back better than ever” when it’s over.
JK Dobbins Practice Window Opens Why That Matters
McGlinchey also addressed the Broncos opening JK Dobbins’ practice window, calling the running back “a huge energy piece” and “a huge piece of what we’ve done.”
He deferred medical specifics to trainers, but said it would be “a great boost” if Dobbins is healthy.
Worth noting: when a team opens a player’s practice window, it typically starts a limited evaluation clock (often up to 21 days) to decide whether to activate him back to the roster, which makes Dobbins’ status a real storyline to track day-by-day.
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