ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Sean Payton said at his season-ending news conference Tuesday that Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had a preexisting ankle condition that made a fracture inevitable.Nix broke a bone in his right ankle on Denver's game-winning drive in the Broncos' 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs.Nix flew to Birmingham, Alabama, last week for an operation performed by Dr. Norman E. Waldrop III, a foot and ankle specialist at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center.Nix watched from a suite Sunday as backup Jarrett Stidham took his place in Denver's 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.On Tuesday, the Broncos' brass provided the fullest accounting yet of Nix's injury, with Payton saying a preexisting issue made the fracture a matter of when.What was found was a condition that was predisposed they always find a little more when they go in, Payton said. It wasnt a matter of if, it was a matter of when. When you look at the play and youre trying to evaluate it the operating surgeon said that this was going to happen sooner than later. Now, you go about the rehab, proper orthotics, all those things."Payton said he has no concerns about Nixs health going forward even though Nix has had several ankle operations going back to high school.So listen, hell rehab his tail off and get ready and get back to being healthy, Payton said. I think for someone who runs with the ball, I think hes done a pretty good job of protecting himself, not all the time, but for the most part, hes done a pretty good job of sliding and understanding playing for another day.General manager George Paton said Nix is tracking to return in May when the Broncos begin organized team activities.Also Tuesday, Payton fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch. Lombardi and Payton had worked together for 15 years.Just before going to the lectern for his wrapup news conference, Payton said he saw Nix cruising around team headquarters on his medical scooter, which he'll use until he graduates to crutches and then a walking boot.He was just up above us here, Payton said from the atrium of the Broncos' suburban headquarters. I said, What are you doing? Getting your scooter laps in?You have to know him. Hes fidgety to begin with, Payton said. He might have just been getting his scooter laps. He was up there, like, in an area hed never be in department-wise. Hes handling it like a pro. Man, Im sure theres disappointment for him to have to watch" on Sunday.Nix led the Broncos (15-4) to a franchise record-tying 14 wins in the regular season and their first playoff triumph since Super Bowl 50 a decade ago. He's won 25 games in two seasons and has an NFL-best 11 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime during that span.Its difficult to get as far as he brought us, and then also to see one of his contemporaries, someone in his draft class who he would have loved to have competed against, advance," Payton said of Patriots QB Drake Maye, who was Nix's predraft training partner."Its a tough deal.Fourth-down fiascoPayton said he's still smarting over going for it on fourth-and-1 from the New England 14 instead of trying a chip-shot field goal that would have given Denver a 10-0 lead with a blizzard on the way.I think probably what irks me more is the call more than the decision to go for it, Payton said of the bootleg rollout that New England deciphered in what turned out to be a turning point in the game. There are those moments that you wish you had back.Salary cap reliefThe Broncos will soon be out from under the record $85 million in dead cap charges from releasing Russell Wilson. They took a $53 million charge in 2024 and $32 million against their 2025 salary cap.Combined with their new $175 million training facility and headquarters, the Broncos figure to be major players in free agency again.I think, like in any case, if I said Im going give you $50,000 to decorate your home or $200,000, your homes going to look nicer, I think if youre a decent shopper, if you have more money, Payton said. "I think the same takes place with our sport.I'm proud of the way everyone else handled it, and looked at developing young players and didnt use it as a built-in excuse. We can find those all the time. I think its significant, and its still important. We evaluate wisely. We draft wisely. We make these decisions regarding free agency with well-thought-out plans, and we go from there.Paton said, I think players will want to come here for a number of reasons, chief among them the Walton-Penner ownership group.You can see what theyve done, and what theyre doing, and what they continue to do, and all the resources and leadership theyve shown, Paton said. I think the quarterback makes a big difference. Players want to come for the quarterback, and the fan base in Denver. People love it here, and I think that helps. Now were playing at a high level, and again it starts over. I think players will want to be here.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL ...read more read less