Desperate Broncos sign new quarterback who was caught drowning his sorrows after preseason setback
Quarterback Bo Nix hadn’t even gone under the knife yet and the Denver Broncos were lining up emergency backup.
With a blockbuster AFC Championship showdown against the New England Patriots just days away, the Broncos have wasted no time in reinforcing their quarterback room.
Denver lost starting signal caller Nix to a devastating season-ending injury when he suffered a fractured right ankle during the final moments of Saturday’s 33-30 victory against the Buffalo Bills.
The blow leaves the Broncos’ Super Bowl dreams in the hands of Jarret Stidham but the team isn’t taking any chances.
One day after losing Nix for the rest of the playoffs, Denver brought in another quarterback as added backup for Stidham, signing Ben DiNucci to their practice squad on Sunday, according to multiple reports.
Stidham will start for the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, while Sam Ehlinger will back him up, and DiNucci is now No. 3.
The Denver Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a fractured right ankle on Saturday
The Broncos have reportedly signed Ben DiNucci to their practice squad as backup
DiNucci appeared to confirm the news as he posted on X: ‘It has come to my attention that a team may be in need of my services…
‘Good thing my schedule is open this week. Broncos country… Let’s go get a Super Bowl ?
DiNucci previously spent a year with the Broncos in 2023 and has experience working under head coach Sean Payton.
Yet, despite his familiarity with the franchise, the move will mark a dramatic change in scenario for DiNuccui.
DiNucci had been in the studio, working Saturday’s game as an analyst when Nix went down with the crushing interview. Just over a week later, he could be swapping the studio for the sidelines.
He made headlines last preseason when he went viral for his reaction to being cut for the seventh time in his career.
The seventh-round NFL Draft pick was signed by the Atlanta Falcons last summer as coach Raheem Morris rested starter Michael Penix Jr.and backup Kirk Cousins throughout the preseason.
DiNucci attempted two passes in one preseason game, both of which fell incomplete. The following day, as was expected, he was given his walking papers.
The NFL journeyman was most recently released by the Atlanta Falcons last August
The 29-year-old shared a photo of a beer to social media as he drowned his sorrows
‘Not many beers better than the airport “I just got cut from the NFL for the 7th time” beer,’ the journeyman wrote on X alongside of picture of the one he was enjoying on his way out of Atlanta. ‘Trust me, you wouldn’t understand.’
But the 29-year-old wasn’t feeling sorry for himself. Asked by one follower if he’d tried crying, DiNucci kept things in perspective.
‘What is there to cry about?’ he asked. ‘I’ve had a 5 year NFL career and played on Sunday night football. Pretty cool if you ask me.’
DiNucci once started for the Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 after fill-in starter Andy Dalton was placed into the concussion protocol. Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh-area native, he completed just 21 of 40 passes and lost a pair of fumbles as he was sacked four times in the loss.
Since then, DiNucci has taken the Seattle Sea Dragons to the XFL playoffs before a few training camp invites and stints on various NFL practice squads.
In three NFL games, DiNucci tossed for 219 yards without surrendering an interception or throwing a touchdown pass.
