The New England Patriots are one win away from the Super Bowl, but the road to Las Vegas now runs through Denver - and it won’t be an easy ride. As they prepare for Sunday’s AFC Championship showdown with the Broncos, the Patriots are dealing with more than just game-planning for one of the league’s most physical defenses. They’re also juggling some key injury concerns that could impact how this one plays out.
Patriots Thursday injury report: https://t.co/LxGOt4YYMK pic.twitter.com/rST56cUE3f
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 22, 2026
Let’s start with the big picture: New England has already exceeded expectations this season. A 14-3 regular-season record, an AFC East title, and the No. 2 seed in the conference - not bad for a team that came into the year with more questions than answers. They’ve followed that up with playoff wins over the Chargers and Texans, and now they’re 60 minutes away from their first Super Bowl appearance since the Tom Brady era.
But the injury report heading into the weekend is worth watching closely. Center Garrett Bradbury was a notable non-participant in Thursday’s practice, which raises some eyebrows considering the importance of interior protection against Denver’s aggressive front. If Bradbury can’t go or isn’t at full strength, that’s a major concern for rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who’s already facing the biggest test of his young career.
And Bradbury’s not alone. Linebackers Harold Landry and Christian Elliss, offensive tackle Morgan Moses, and cornerback Carlton Davis III also appeared on the report. These aren’t just depth pieces - these are players who have played meaningful snaps during New England’s playoff run, and their availability could swing matchups in Denver’s favor if they’re limited or sidelined.
For Maye, this game is about more than just managing pressure - it’s about stepping into the spotlight and proving he can lead this team on the biggest stage. He’s shown poise and playmaking ability throughout the postseason, but this Broncos defense is a different animal.
They bring heat from all angles, disguise coverages well, and thrive on forcing young quarterbacks into mistakes. Having a healthy offensive line in front of him is critical, especially without the comfort of home-field advantage this time around.
This is uncharted territory for the Patriots in the post-Brady era. Their last Super Bowl win came in the 2018-19 season, and while they’ve remained competitive in the years since, they haven’t been back to the big game. Now, under new leadership and with a new quarterback at the helm, they’ve got a shot to re-establish themselves as a force in the AFC.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. A win punches their ticket to Super Bowl 60.
A loss sends them home, just short of the mountaintop. The Patriots will finish up their prep this week before heading to Denver for a 3 p.m.
ET kickoff on January 25. Injuries or not, this team has shown all year they’re built to fight - and now they’ll need every ounce of that resilience to take the next step.