A spot in the Super Bowl is on the line in Denver, and both teams arrive with significant names on their final injury reports. The Broncos will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix, who broke his ankle in the Divisional Round win over the Bills, and three more offensive contributors carry injury designations.
The Patriots are missing their star defensive player, Harold Landry, and have a handful of key depth and rotational pieces out or questionable. Both clubs released their final reports on Friday, confirming seven players ruled. Jarrett Stidham is in line to start for Denver, while Drake Maye continues to lead New England’s offense, which has Mack Hollins back available from injury.
Kickoff is set in Denver, with rosters and inactives shaping how each staff will game-plan in all three phases
Inactive List for Patriots vs. Broncos
Even if the Broncos win, Nix will not be able to play in the Super Bowl. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, the Broncos’ offense ranks 15th in the league, and it will be interesting to see how Stidham leads the unit.
Here are the confirmed inactives for today’s game:
New England Patriots
- QB Tommy DeVito
- OLB Harold Landry
- CB Kobee Minor
- WR Efton Chism
- TE CJ Dippre
- OL Caedan Wallace
- OT Marcus Bryant
Denver Broncos
- WR Troy Franklin
- C Alex Forsyth
- S JL Skinner
- WR Michael Bandy
- DL Jordan Jackson
- DE Sai’Vion Jones
- RB J.K. Dobbins
- QB Bo Nix
- LB Karene Reid
Starters for Patriots vs. Broncos
New England Patriots
- QB Drake Maye
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson
- WR1 Kayshon Boutte
- WR2 Steffon Diggs
- FB Jack Westover
- TE Hunter Henry
- LT Will Campbell
- LG Jared Wilson
- C Garrett Bradbury
- RG Mike Onwenu
- RT Morgan Moses
Defense:
- NT Khyiris Tonga
- DT Christian Barmore
- DE Milton Williams
- ROLB K’Lavon Chaisson
- LOLB Elijah Ponder
- LILB Robert Spillane
- RILB Christian Elliss
- LCB Carlton Davis III
- RCB Christian Gonzalez
- FS Jaylinn Hawkins
- SS Craig Woodson
Special teams:
- LS Julian Ashby
- H Bryce Baringer
- K-FG Andy Borregales
- K-KO Andy Borregales
- P Bryce Baringer
- KR Kyle Williams
- PR Marcus Jones
MORE: 2026 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
Denver Broncos
- QB Jarrett Stidham
- RB RJ Harvey
- WR1 Courtland Sutton
- WR2 Pat Bryant
- FB Adam Prentice
- TE Adam Trautman
- LT Garett Bolles
- LG Ben Powers
- C Alex Forsyth
- RG Quinn Meinerz
- RT Mike McGlinchey
Defense:
- NT Malcolm Roach
- LDE Zach Allen
- RDE John Franklin-Myers
- LOLB Jonathon Cooper
- ROLB Nik Bonitto
- LILB Dre Greenlaw
- RILB Alex Singleton
- LCB Riley Moss
- RCB Pat Surtain II
- FS P.J. Locke
- SS Talanoa Hufanga
Special Teams:
- LS Mitchell Fraboni
- H Jeremy Crawshaw
- K-FG Wil Lutz
- K-KO Wil Lutz
- P Jeremy Crawshaw
- KR Marvin Mims Jr.
- PR Marvin Mims Jr.
The AFC Championship Game sets up as a contrast between the Patriots’ defense, which must compensate for the loss of Landry off the edge, and a Denver offense adjusting without Nix and Dobbins.
Maye’s connection with Diggs and Stevenson’s workload will be central to New England’s plan, while the Broncos lean on Sutton, Harvey, and a reshuffled interior line as Forsyth and Wattenberg’s status are monitored pregame.
Special teams could also loom large, with both sides carrying injuries at depth spots that affect coverage and protection units. Inactives released 90 minutes before kickoff will lock in the final look of both rosters as they battle for the AFC title.
