Jarrett Stidham has been one of Sean Payton’s guys since the Denver Broncos head coach was hired in 2023. The 29-year-old quarterback was an early free agent signing that offseason after Payton came on board. Little did they know then that the veteran signal calling, who has not thrown an NFL pass in over two seasons, would be the one who could help get them to a Super Bowl.
“Stiddy’s been waiting for this moment for the entirety of his career,” said Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey. “He’s more prepared than anybody would be in this situation. And he can ball, he can flat out play quarterback. We’ve seen it every day in practice. We’ve seen it in training camp.
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“I have no doubts he’s going to go out there and play his butt off.”
Bo Nix is out for the rest of the season with a broken bone in his ankle.
It’ll be up to Stidham to navigate Denver past the New England Patriots, the team he was drafted by in 2019 and spent his first three NFL seasons.
While a long shot, Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins, how since Week 10 with a foot injury, has been limited in practice this week.
The Patriots don’t have any major injury concerns, but could potentially get back Mack Hollins. The wide receiver has missed four games with an abdominal injury, but the team designated him for return from injured reserve this week. Hollins was limited during Thursday’s practice.
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One concern was defensive tackle Christian Barmore, whose previous issues with blood clots could have been an issue in the thin Denver air. But head coach Mike Vrabel said it should not be a problem.
“Certainly something we have to monitor,” Vrabel said. “There are some players that we’ll have to monitor for one reason or another, but I don’t see any limitations for Christian.”
While the Seattle Seahawks will be down running back Zach Charbonnet after he tore his ACL last week, quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) will be fine to play and is off the injury report.
“Feel like the process is going right along where it should be,” Darnold said. “Feeling really good for Sunday.”
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New England Patriots at Denver Broncos, 3 p.m. ET
Patriots
OUT: OLB Harold Landry (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Mack Hollins (abdomen); LB/ST Marte Mapu (hip); DT Joshua Farmer (hamstring); RB Terrell Jennings (not injury related)
Broncos
OUT: TE Lucas Krull (foot); LB Drew Sanders (ankle); RB J.K. Dobbins (foot); QB Bo Nix (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder); C Alex Forsyth (ankle); WR Troy Franklin (hamstring); S JL Skinner (quad)
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, 6:30 p.m. ET
Rams
OUT: OL Rob Havenstein (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: OLB Bryon Young (knee)
Seahawks
OUT: LB Chazz Surratt (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: T Amari Kight (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: T Josh Jones (knee, ankle); FB Robbie Ouzts (neck)
Follow along with the latest NFL news leading up to the AFC and NFC championship games.
Live25 updates
Fri, January 23, 2026 at 4:38 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
The New England Patriots could get a boost at the receiver position for Sunday’s AFC championship against the Denver Broncos.
Mack Hollins, who has been on injured reserve with an abdomen injury since late December, was a full participant in Friday’s practice, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Hollins was limited in his return to practice on Thursday. The Patriots have to decide if they want to move him from IR to the active roster by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Fri, January 23, 2026 at 3:14 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Denver Broncos running back JK Dobbins is out and wide receiver Pat Bryant is expected to go for the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots, according to the team’s injury report.
Dobbins was limited in practice this week and has been out since Week 10 with a foot injury.
Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders has also been ruled out with an ankle injury. Centers Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth and wide receiver Troy Franklin are also questionable for Sunday’s game.
Fri, January 23, 2026 at 1:32 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Sam Darnold’s oblique issue was the talk of the town in Seattle last week, but the Seahawks quarterback looked fine during a 41-6 romp over the San Francisco 49ers.
Despite not throwing a pass after he felt discomfort in practice last Thursday, he completed 12-of-17 attempts for 124 yards and a touchdown versus the Niners.
Darnold was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week, but he’s not listed with a game designation, meaning that he’s good to go for Sunday’s NFC championship against the Los Angeles Rams.
Fri, January 23, 2026 at 10:58 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Fri, January 23, 2026 at 9:49 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
New England Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis did not wear a red, non-contact jersey in Friday’s practice, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
This signals he is no longer in concussion protocol. Davis suffered a concussion in the Texans game.
Patriots center Garrett Bradbury was also at Friday’s media session after missing the last two practices with an illness.
Thu, January 22, 2026 at 3:45 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Patriots edge rusher Harold Landry III missed his second consecutive practice with a knee injury. Landry has been struggling with a knee issue through the second half of the season, but played in last Sunday’s divisional playoff win over the Houston Texans.
Center Garrett Bradbury was added to New England’s injury report on Thursday, sitting out practice due to an illness. Additionally, cornerback Carlton Davis III, who had two interceptions versus the Texans, was a limited participant while in concussion protocol.
Thu, January 22, 2026 at 3:27 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice with a foot injury. Denver’s leading rusher during the regular season (772 yards), Dobbins hasn’t played since Week 10 with what was believed to be a season-ending Lisfranc injury in his left foot.
Additionally, receiver Pat Bryant was a full participant in practice after clearing concussion protocol. However, Troy Frankling was a limited participant with a hamstrng injury.
Thu, January 22, 2026 at 3:13 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Byron Young did not practice on Thursday due to a sore knee. But head coach Sean McVay said the pass rusher “will be chomping at the bit” to play in Sunday’s NFC championship game versus the Seattle Seahawks. Sitting Young out was viewed as a precautionary measure.
Young, 27, had 12 sacks and 12 tackles for loss during the regular season. He recorded five tackles in the divisional round playoff win over the Chicago Bears.
Safety Quentin Lake practiced on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with an illness. Lake, 26, played 10 games this season with one interception and 10 passes defended. He had seven tackles versus the Bears.
Thu, January 22, 2026 at 2:46 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Seattle Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross did not participate in practice on Thursday due to a foot injury. But head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters that the team is “optimistic” that the fourth-year veteran will play in Sunday’s NFC championship game versus the Los Angeles Rams.
Cross, 25, was limited to 14 games during the regular season due to hamstring and knee injuries. He did play in last Sunday’s divisional playoff game versus the San Francisco 49ers. But he only playe 36 of 53 snaps, per Pro Football Talk, and eventually left with a foot injury.
Seattle’s depth at left tackle could be thin with Josh Jones (knee/ankle) and Amari Kight (knee) also missing Thursday’s practice. Macdonald said “we have a plan” if all three tackles can’t go on Sunday.
Thu, January 22, 2026 at 9:54 AM PST
Thu, January 22, 2026 at 7:52 AM PST
Jason Owens
Sean Payton is confident ahead of Sunday’s AFC championship game despite taking the field without starting quarterback Bo Nix.
The Broncos head coach sang the praises of backup Jarrett Stidham Wednesday as Denver prepares to face the New England Patriots. And he expects Stidham to “rip it” against an aggressive Patriots defense that’s given C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert fits in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
“That’s his personality. He’s going to rip it,” Payton told reporters of Stidham. “He has a calm demeanor that suits him well.”
In fact, Payton says he believes that Stidham is a starting-level NFL quarterback.
“I felt like our two [QBs] were inside the best 32,” Payton said, per Troy Renck of the Denver Post. “I am glad that acquisition took place.”
Read the full story here.
Thu, January 22, 2026 at 7:50 AM PST
Criss Partee
All the finalists for this year’s Comeback Player of the Year award are as follows. Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott are in the running.
Wed, January 21, 2026 at 4:02 PM PST
Criss Partee
The Denver Broncos released their injury report for Wednesday, and Bo Nix was the only DNP for the team, which is a good sign. Even J.K. Dobbins returned to practiced albeit in a limited capacity.
Wide receiver Pat Bryant (concussion), center Alex Forsyth (ankle) and wide receiver Troy Franklin (hamstring) were also limited in practice.
Wed, January 21, 2026 at 3:43 PM PST
Criss Partee
New England Patriots linebacker Harold Landry was listed as DNP on Wednesday’s injury report with a knee injury. Linebacker Marte Mapu also missed practice with a hip injury.
Cornerback Carlton Davis III (concussion protocol), linebacker Christian Elliss (hip), tight end Hunter Henry (rest/non-injury), tackle Morgan Moses (rest/non-injury), and tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee) were all limited in practice on Wednesday.
Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer (hamstring), running back TreVeyon Henderson (shoulder), running back Terrell Jennings (cleared concussion protocol), and linebacker Robert Spillane (hand) were full participants in practice on Wednesday.
Wed, January 21, 2026 at 2:14 PM PST
Criss Partee
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins was back on the practice field on Wednesday after having his practice window opened earlier this week. There is a chance Dobbins could play in Sunday’s AFC title game against the New England Patriots.
Dobbins has been sidelined since Week 10 when he suffered what was thought to be a season-ending foot injury against the Las Vegas Raiders.
If Dobbins can play on Sunday, it could take loads of pressure off quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who is filling in for the injured Bo Nix. Dobbins rushed for 772 yards in 10 games, averaging 5 yards per carry.
Wed, January 21, 2026 at 10:53 AM PST
Jason Owens
Starting Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis left Sunday’s divisional round win over the Texans in concussion protocol.
He remains in protocol, but head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters Wednesday that he’s going to practice on a limited basis, giving him a chance to clear protocol before Sunday’s AFC championship game against the Broncos.
Wed, January 21, 2026 at 10:50 AM PST
Jason Owens
Denver’s defense against New England’s passing game will be one of the key matchups in Sunday’s AFC championship game.
Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs, who projects to face matchups with reigning Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Patrick Surtain II, sang the praises of Denver’s defense on Wednesday.
“They’ve got a great defense,” he said, per NBC Sports Boston. “I want to give them all the praise because I respect them. … They do a lot of special things over there.”
Wed, January 21, 2026 at 10:13 AM PST
Andy Backstrom
The Seattle Seahawks have designated running back George Holani to return to practice, the team announced Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Holani went on injured reserve after hurting his hamstring in Week 12 and had been on IR since.
He began the season as the team’s RB3, though. If he’s good to go for Sunday’s NFC championship against the Los Angeles Rams, he’ll afford the Seahawks another option in the backfield behind Kenneth Walker III. The usual 1-2 punch of Walker and Zach Charbonnet is no longer at Seattle’s disposal, given that Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee injury — reportedly a torn ACL — in the divisional round.
In addition to Holani, the Seahawks could also turn to Cam Akers and/or Velus Jones Jr.
Tue, January 20, 2026 at 2:44 PM PST
Jason Owens
The Packers have released cornerback Trevon Diggs after the former Cowboys All-Pro played in just two games for Green Bay, including a single snap in its wild-card loss to the Chicago Bears.
The Packers announced the roster move on Tuesday. Diggs had three years left on a five-year, $97 million extension to his rookie contract that he signed with the Cowboys, but he didn’t have any guaranteed money remaining.
Diggs was due $15.5 million in salary and bonus money in 2026 had the Packers opted to keep him on his contract. The Packers also had the option of negotiating a restructured deal with Diggs. Instead, they opted to release him ahead of the offseason.
For more, read here.
Mon, January 19, 2026 at 2:57 PM PST
Criss Partee
The Denver Broncos have signed quarterback Ben DiNucci to the practice squad, with Bo Nix out for the season with a fractured ankle. Jarrett Stidham will start in place of Nix in the AFC title game on Sunday against the New England Patriots.
DiNucci was a seventh-round pick by the Cowboys in 2020 and has bounced around on multiple teams’ practice squads since then.