Broncos Injury Report: Bo Nix Out, All Eyes on J.K. Dobbins and Luke Wattenberg Ahead of AFC Title Clash
The Denver Broncos are heading into the AFC Championship Game with a serious curveball thrown their way: rookie quarterback Bo Nix is officially out for the season after suffering an ankle injury in the divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills. It’s a brutal blow at the worst possible time, and now the focus shifts to who can suit up on Sunday-and who absolutely needs to.
Two names stand out as critical pieces: running back J.K. Dobbins and center Luke Wattenberg.
With Nix sidelined, Denver’s path to victory likely leans more heavily on the run game and a stabilized offensive line. That makes Dobbins’ and Wattenberg’s availability borderline essential.
Let’s start with the good news: Dobbins was back at practice today for the first time since injuring his foot in Week 10. At the time, the timeline looked like a long shot for even a Super Bowl return. But here we are in late January, and Dobbins is trending in the right direction-an encouraging sign for a Broncos offense that could use every ounce of explosiveness it can get.
Wattenberg also made progress. The team officially opened his 21-day practice window, and unlike the others, he was a full participant in today’s session. That’s a big step forward for a player whose presence in the middle of the line could help settle things down for whoever takes snaps under center this weekend.
Head coach Sean Payton, however, made it clear he’s not tipping his hand when it comes to return timelines. He declined to comment on any individual player’s expected availability, which means we might not know who’s in and who’s out until the final inactive list drops-90 minutes before kickoff.
There were more positive developments on the injury front, too. Wide receivers Troy Franklin (hamstring) and Pat Bryant (concussion) were both present at practice. Franklin was limited, while Bryant is still working his way through concussion protocols, but seeing both receivers back on the field is a welcome sight for a Broncos offense that may need to get creative.
Here’s how the Broncos’ injury report is shaping up heading into the week:
Denver Broncos Injury Report (Wednesday)
- Bo Nix (QB, ankle) - Did Not Participate
- J.K. Dobbins (RB, foot) - Limited
- Luke Wattenberg (C, shoulder) - Full
- Troy Franklin (WR, hamstring) - Limited
- Pat Bryant (WR, concussion) - Limited
- Alex Forsyth (C, ankle) - Limited
- Frank Crum (T, ankle) - Full
- Lucas Krull (TE, foot) - Full
- Drew Sanders (LB, ankle) - Full
- JL Skinner (S, quad) - Full
On the other side, the New England Patriots are also dealing with their share of bumps and bruises. Most of their key contributors practiced in some capacity, but a few names are worth watching as the week progresses.
New England Patriots Injury Report (Wednesday)
- Harold Landry (LB, knee) - Did Not Participate
- Marte Mapu (LB, hip) - Did Not Participate
- Carlton Davis III (CB, concussion protocol) - Limited
- Christian Elliss (LB, hip) - Limited
- Hunter Henry (TE, rest) - Limited
- Morgan Moses (OT, rest) - Limited
- **Thayer Munford Jr.
(OT, knee)** - Limited
- Joshua Farmer (DL, hamstring) - Full
- TreVeyon Henderson (RB, shoulder) - Full
- Terrell Jennings (RB, cleared concussion protocol) - Full
- Robert Spillane (LB, hand) - Full
With both teams dealing with key injuries, depth and adaptability will be the name of the game. For Denver, the loss of Nix is a significant hurdle-but if Dobbins and Wattenberg can go, it gives Sean Payton a fighting chance to reshape the offense and keep the Broncos' postseason run alive.
We’ll know more as the week unfolds, but one thing’s clear: the Broncos’ injury report just became the most important document in Denver.