The Denver Broncos’ win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round Saturday came at a major cost. Following the win, it was announced quarterback Bo Nix fractured a bone in his ankle on one of the final plays of overtime.
As a result, Nix was ruled out for the rest of the postseason, paving the way for Jarrett Stidham to get the start in the AFC Championship.
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Despite his injury status, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was able to play Saturday. He performed well, though wasn’t asked to do much as the Seahawks dismantled the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 41-6.
With Sunday’s games on the horizon, New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is set to return from a concussion, as he was off the injury report on Friday. But Texans wide receiver Nico Collins remains in concussion protocol and is out for Sunday’s matchup with the Patriots.
There aren’t as many notable players dealing with injuries ahead of the Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams game. Bears wideout Rome Odunze comes into the contest listed as questionable with a foot injury. He was able to play through the issue against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.
SUNDAYTexans at Patriots, 3 p.m. ET
Texans: WR Nico Collins (concussion): OUT; WR Justin Watson (concussion): OUT; T Trent Brown (ankle): questionable
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Patriots: LB Harold Landry (knee): questionable; RB Terrell Jennings (concussion protocol): questionable
Rams at Bears, 6:30 p.m. ET
Rams: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (back): questionable; DE Desjuan Johnson (illness): questionable
Bears: DB Nick McCloud (groin): OUT; LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (back): questionable; WR Rome Odunze (foot): questionable
What else is in store this postseason? Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news and injury updates ahead of the divisional round.
Live45 updates
Sun, January 18, 2026 at 8:38 AM PST
Criss Partee
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 for a violation of the NFL uniform and equipment rules for wearing eye black that contained a personal message during last week’s Wild Card game.
Al-Shaair, a practicing Muslim, wrote “stop the genocide” across his eye black strip in last week’s wild card win over Pittsburgh.
Sun, January 18, 2026 at 7:18 AM PST
Chris Cwik
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will miss the rest of the postseason after fracturing a bone in his ankle.
The 25-year-old sustained the injury on one of the final plays in overtime, head coach Sean Payton told reporters.
With Nix sidelined, Jarrett Stidham will start in the AFC Championship. It marks just the fifth start in Stidham’s career.
Sat, January 17, 2026 at 12:05 PM PST
Sean Leahy
Sat, January 17, 2026 at 7:52 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that they’re “really optimistic” quarterback Sam Darnold is going to play in Saturday’s divisional-round playoff game versus the San Francisco 49ers, despite an oblique injury that came about in practice Thursday.
Darnold is still listed as “questionable” for the highly anticipated rematch between NFC West rivals. Backup Drew Lock has taken the reps this week to prepare should he be needed against the 49ers.
Sat, January 17, 2026 at 6:07 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Sat, January 17, 2026 at 6:06 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 3:43 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Rams guard Kevin Dotson did not have an injury designation after being a full participant in practice on Friday and head coach Sean McVay told reporters that the six-year veteran will start on Sunday night versus the Bears.
Dotson, 29, did not play in the Rams’ final two regular-season games and last weekend’s wild-card playoff matchup with the Panthers due to an ankle injury.
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 1:13 PM PST
While Darnold is still questionable with an oblique injury, head coach Mike Macdonald said the QB felt better on Friday and is still confident he’ll play this weekend.
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 1:07 PM PST
The Bills activated Ed Oliver and Curtis Samuel from IR on Friday.
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 12:45 PM PST
Gonzalez appears good to go against the Texans, while LB Harold Landry is questionable. RB Terrell Jennings is also questionable as he’s in concussion protocol.
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 12:36 PM PST
The Texans will be without their top wide receiver in Nico Collins this weekend as he continues to recover from a concussion he sustained during Houston’s wild-card win.
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 12:19 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is listed as “questionable” with a foot injury for Sunday’s divisional-round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Odunze caught two passes for 44 yards in a comeback, wild-card win over the Green Bay Packers last week.
In 12 regular-season games, he reeled in 44 passes for 661 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Notably, the Bears didn’t list injury designations for fellow WR DJ Moore, DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson and LT Braxton Jones.
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 5:12 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 5:11 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Thu, January 15, 2026 at 1:30 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has been added to the injury report with an oblique issue that makes him “questionable” for Saturday’s divisional-round playoff game versus the San Francisco 49ers, but he told reporters Thursday that he still expects to play.
He was asked what percent of him thinks he might not play against the 49ers this weekend at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
“Very low percentage,” he said. “Probably closer to zero.”
Thu, January 15, 2026 at 12:43 PM PST
Sean Leahy
Warner has been out since Week 6 after dislocating his ankle. The 49ers opened his 21-day practice window this week with an eye on a return for the NFC Championship Game should San Francisco win this week against the Seahawks.
Thu, January 15, 2026 at 11:43 AM PST
Criss Partee
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was listed as a full participant in practice on Thursday despite dealing with multiple injuries this week. The Bills will be looking to advance to their second consecutive AFC title game with a win in Denver on Saturday.
Thu, January 15, 2026 at 11:42 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Gonzalez entered concussion protocol on Sunday night as the Patriots defeated the Chargers during wild-card weekend. He was a limited participant in Wednesday night’s practice and now the team gets a positive update with the corner shedding a red non-contact jersey as a full participant on Thursday.
Thu, January 15, 2026 at 11:22 AM PST
Criss Partee
New England Patriots defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga is optimistic he’ll be able to play in the team’s divisional round matchup with the Houston Texans. Tonga has been out dealing with a foot injury.
Thu, January 15, 2026 at 10:24 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins remains in concussion protocol and missed Thursday’s media session, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Alexander.
Collins is unlikely to play in Sunday’s divisional round game against the New England Patriots because of the steps needed to clear concussion protocol.
Collins suffered the concussion in Monday’s wild-card 30-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Collins had 3 catches for 21 yards in the game before going down.
If Collins cannot go, expect Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, and Dalton Schultz to see an increase in targets. Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson and Cade Stover could also see an increased role.