Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had a cleanup procedure on his right ankle during a scheduled post-operative follow-up visit with Dr. Norman Waldrop III recently, a source confirmed to The Denver Post on Tuesday evening.

Head coach Sean Payton confirmed the visit to Dr. Waldrop Saturday after the Broncos concluded the NFL draft, but did not say anything about a cleanup operation.

Asked specifically if there had been any change to Nix’s timeline for returning to action following the visit to Dr. Waldrop, Payton on Saturday did not give a direct answer.

“He had a re-check that was scheduled,” Payton said then. “He’s doing great. We’re excited about his progress. Nothing to report.”

A source with knowledge of the situation on Tuesday evening described the clean-up as an expected part of Nix’s recovery from the ankle fracture he first sustained in January during Denver’s playoff run.

Whether Nix participates much in Denver’s upcoming OTAs and minicamp in June now is in question, a source indicated, though he is expected to be fully ready for training camp in late July at the latest.

It is possible that Nix could be medically cleared for OTAs and that Payton would still decide on his own to limit the quarterback’s workload this spring.

Regardless, if Nix is not a full participant in the offseason program, that will represent a substantial change from the tone Broncos officials have used when talking about Nix since he originally fractured his ankle Jan. 18 in overtime of an AFC Divisional win over Buffalo.

Payton, asked directly a month ago at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona, whether Nix would be a full participant during OTAs, responded “yes.”

Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner at the same gathering said of Nix, “It’s really, really good. He’s attacked his recovery in the same way that he attacks preparing for games. He’s done a terrific job. He’s ahead of schedule, no concerns at all for OTAs and go forward from there. We’re really pleased with his progress and the support from (vice president of player health and performance) Beau Lowery and everyone.”

When Denver’s season ended in late January, general manager George Paton put the timeline for Nix’s return around May. Payton, who spoke on the same day, created some confusion by saying that Nix’s ankle was “predisposed” to injury.

A source, at that time, told The Post that Payton was referring to a pre-existing fracture discovered in the ankle by surgeons. Nix then spoke with local reporters a day later to clarify his status, giving a much shorter timeline for his recovery.

“It’s a very quick procedure, very easy operation,” Nix said then. “Just a simple bone break, got that fixed up, great surgeon, great care. And just right back on my road to recovery. So, typical bone break, four to six weeks, be back training, ready to roll.”

“It’ll be absolutely no issue this offseason,” Nix continued, a sentence later. “I’ll be able to actually start training back at the same time I was going to start training. So, don’t miss any time.”

Nix, indeed, has been in the building regularly, working out and drawing rave reviews. At each stop along the way this offseason, Payton has reiterated Nix’s progress and all of Denver’s brass has consistently referred to Nix as on or ahead of schedule.

When Nix was first injured, multiple orthopedic surgeons told The Post that they, without knowing the exact extent or nature of the fracture, would be surprised if Nix was heavily involved in Denver’s offseason program this spring and that a full return for training camp in July seemed like a more realistic target.

“You’d expect by the time the next season rolls around that (Nix would) be moving back to playing,” Dr. Nicholas Strasser, an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon and assistant professor of orthopedics at Vanderbilt University, told The Post in January. … It depends on the nature of the injury, but I would suspect that April to May, that timetable, he’d be working back into doing some drills. But I wouldn’t think that he’d be pushing to be back to full speed by that time.”

If Nix is limited during OTAs and minicamp, or Payton simply opts to play it conservative with the quarterback’s recovery, backup Jarrett Stidham — who started for Nix in the Broncos’ AFC Championship loss to New England — would be first in line for reps. Denver also re-signed Sam Ehlinger in free agency as the team’s third quarterback.