Broncos Add a QB Following Bo Nix’s Harm, Signing Ben DiNucci to Apply Squad

[ad_1] Jarrett Stidham will begin in Bo Nix's spot at quarterback within the AFC Championship Sport, however the Denver Broncos are including some depth on the place.

Ben DiNucci has signed a deal to hitch the Broncos' observe squad, he confirmed in a social media submit on Sunday.

"It has come to my consideration {that a} crew could also be in want of my providers… Good factor my schedule is open this week," DiNucci wrote. "Broncos nation… Let’s go get a Tremendous Bowl ?"

Within the social media submit, DiNucci included a picture of himself when he was with the Broncos in 2023. However he hasn't performed a regular-season snap since he was a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. He additionally hasn't been on a roster for the reason that Atlanta Falcons waived him throughout preliminary coaching camp cuts in August.

In actual fact, DiNucci was really analyzing the impression of Nix's season-ending ankle harm for the Broncos in a broadcast for CBS Sports activities on Saturday. DiNucci, 29, has additionally hung out in coaching camp or on a observe squad with the Buffalo Payments and New Orleans Saints since his final NFL begin. On prime of that, DiNucci spent a season with the Seattle Sea Dragons within the XFL.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton has iterated that Stidham can be beneath middle for subsequent Sunday's recreation in opposition to the New England Patriots. It will mark Stidham's first begin since 2023. Sam Ehlinger can be slated to be Stidham's main backup after getting known as up from the observe squad earlier in January.

By way of what different choices the Broncos may flip to at quarterback for the rest of the playoffs, the record is slim. They cannot signal any quarterback who completed their season on an energetic roster. So, Philip Rivers will not have the ability to make one other legendary comeback, as an example. Additionally they cannot add a quarterback who's on an opposing crew's reserve/retired record, like Derek Carr. Carr is on the Saints' reserve/retired record after asserting his retirement in March.

The one quarterbacks the Broncos can signal are gamers who ended the 2025 NFL common season as a free agent. Drew Brees, as an example, may signal with the Broncos and reunite along with his former Saints coach as no NFL crew holds his contract rights.

However Payton has expressed confidence in Stidham forward of the backup quarterback's first playoff begin.

"There’d be practices the place I’m taking a look at [defensive coordinator] Vance [Joseph] and getting (mad) as a result of Stiddy’s making our protection look unhealthy," Payton informed reporters. "He’s very correct. He’s obtained so much to his ball."

Stidham will really go up in opposition to a Patriots crew that chosen him within the fourth spherical of the 2019 NFL Draft. Payton stated that he had his eyes on probably drafting Stidham when he was nonetheless with the Saints.

"I do know precisely how he was coached in New England, after which I understand how [Patriots offensive coordinator Josh] McDaniels felt about him when he introduced him from New England to Vegas. After which I do know studies on how he performed after which we noticed him play in actual time," Payton stated.

"However finally ... it’s our three years right here and our three years watching him day in and time out ... And so he can be able to go and prepared for the second."

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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