The Denver Broncos’ season ended in the most painful of fashions, with a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in last season’s AFC Championship Game. With Nix suffering a broken ankle on the final drive of their playoff win over the Buffalo Bills, his absence and the effect on the game is one that will stick with Broncos fans for a very long time.

But what’s done is done, and the issue Denver fans are worried about is whether Nix will have any delays getting back to work once training camp starts and season prep gets underway in earnest.

Sean Payton doesn’t think so. He addressed the issue last week during mandatory minicamp.

“There were certain things he didn’t do in team periods,” Payton said. “He’s doing really well. He’ll clearly be ready in time for training camp. Good to have him out there in uniform.”

You can add CBS Sports writer Tyler Sullivan to those who believe that will be the case. Sullivan put out a list of overreactions vs. realities across the league, and he calls Nix being ready by the starting of training camp a “reality” for the Broncos.

CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan says it’s a ‘reality’ that Bo Nix will be ready for Broncos’ training camp

“The Broncos had their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, in attendance during minicamp,” Sullivan wrote. “Of course, Nix is still rehabbing from that fractured ankle he suffered in the final moments of Denver’s divisional round win over the Bills last postseason. The third-year quarterback underwent two surgeries on that ankle this offseason, most recently a clean-up procedure in April. Given how recently he went under the knife, it was curious to see how much Nix would participate in minicamp. Nix was limited but did participate, according to reports from camp. He even upgraded to participating in 7-on-7 drills during Wednesday’s session. On his first throw, he threw a touchdown pass to running back RJ Harvey. 

“Sean Payton said this week that Nix will ‘clearly be ready for training camp.’ With him taking these positive strides in mid-June, that should pave the way for him to be ready to roll come training camp, and that sets the stage for him to not skip a beat for the regular season. A healthy Nix for Week 1 is a seismic development for the AFC West. “

Nix has a new weapon in wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who came over from the Miami Dolphins via trade this offseason. Being able to work with Waddle as much as possible in training camp and the preseason, particularly after being on the shelf from January until recently, is critical in order to get their timing down and on the same page in the offense.

Fortunately for Denver fans, it looks like Waddle and Nix will have plenty of time come late July to begin working together. And Broncos fans hope the reality of that pairing is a Super Bowl appearance they were denied by truly unfortunate luck last season.