Bo Nix had the best season by a rookie quarterback in Denver Broncos history. But Nix knows he still has a lot to work on, starting with some much-needed recovery time.Nix played part of the season with traverse fractures in his back.

Payton expects Nix’s offseason work to continue the progress seen in the rookie’s first NFL season.

Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud were all unavailable or opted out of the Pro Bowl, so Nix was next in line. After Nix opted out, Joe Burrow is now the AFC’s top QB left with Wilson and Maye added to the squad behind him.

The rookie quarterback led the Broncos to a 10-7 regular-season record and their first postseason appearance since 2015. Even after Denver’s 31-7 wild-card loss in Buffalo, Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner was unequivocal in his assessment of Nix at the team’s end-of-season news conference on Wednesday.

Talk with Drew Brees, chat with Peyton Manning and study acting. The road to the AFC West title goes through Arrowhead and The Academy. This point was driven home during the divisional round as Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes manipulated the rules to his advantage,