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After his season ended, Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix revealed that he played through three transverse process fractures in his back.
Nix suffered the injury against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12, then he started against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13. Denver had a bye in Week 14, giving Nix extra time to recover before the final four games of the year.
Nix has received praise for his toughness to play through the injury, but not everyone thinks the team made the right decision.
“Love his toughness, but someone needs to save Bo from himself here,” former Broncos tight end/wide receiver Nate Jackson wrote on Twitter/X. “Your rookie franchise QB should not be playing with a broken back.”
After receiving some pushback on social media, Jackson doubled down a day later.
“All of you couch potatoes cheering on Bo Nix for playing with 3 fractures in his transverse process (spinal column),” Jackson wrote. “We need Bo healthy for the next 12 years, not getting shot up in his rookie season to play the [crappy] Browns. That’s why we have Jarrett Stidham & Zach Wilson.”
All of you couch potatoes cheering on Bo Nix for playing with 3 fractures in his transverse process (spinal column). We need Bo healthy for the next 12 years, not getting shot up in his rookie season to play the shitty Browns. That’s why we have Jarrett Stidham & Zach Wilson.
— Nate Jackson (@NathanSerious) January 14, 2025
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Nix did not miss a single snap and he is said to be fully recovered without long-term concerns for his back.
Jackson is the author of Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile (affiliate link), his memoir detailing life in the NFL from the perspective of an “expendable” player going through multiple injuries.
Jackson’s pro football career came to an end after another injury in 2010, and he’s been writing about the sport ever since. He now hosts the “DUMB JOCK” podcast on Guerilla Sports.
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