The New England Patriots are one win away from the Super Bowl, but their path to the AFC Championship didn’t come without a price. Sunday’s hard-fought victory over the Houston Texans secured their spot in next week’s showdown with the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High - a venue known for its altitude and unpredictable January weather. But the win may have cost them a key piece of their secondary: starting cornerback Carlton Davis III.
Davis left the game in the second half with a head injury, and the latest update confirms he’s now in the NFL’s concussion protocol. That puts his status for the AFC title game in serious doubt - and it’s a tough blow, especially considering how dominant he was before exiting.
Let’s be clear: this was Davis’ best performance since arriving in New England, and arguably one of the best games of his NFL career. He racked up four tackles and picked off Texans quarterback C.J.
Stroud twice - his first career interceptions in the postseason. And if that sounds familiar, it should.
Davis also had a two-pick day against Houston back in 2024 when he was with the Lions. Some players just have a knack for certain matchups, and Davis clearly has the Texans’ number.
Unfortunately, that standout performance now comes with a cloud of uncertainty. Head injuries are tricky, and while Christian Gonzalez managed to clear the protocol in less than a week just last round, not every case follows the same timeline.
Patriots fans have seen that firsthand with players like Kayshon Boutte and Jared Wilson, who needed more time to return. So while there’s hope Davis could be available, New England has to prepare as if he won’t be.
That puts Charles Woods in the spotlight.
Woods has quietly been stepping into bigger moments this postseason. When Gonzalez went down, Woods filled in.
When Davis got hurt, it was Woods again who got the call. He’s been the next man up in the Patriots’ secondary, and that role might take on even more significance in Denver.
During the regular season, Woods was primarily a special teams contributor. He played in 15 games, logging 171 snaps on special teams and 117 on defense.
But down the stretch, he started getting more defensive work - six tackles over the final four games - and now, in the playoffs, he’s flipped the script. Through two postseason games, he’s already played more on defense (36 snaps) than special teams (27).
That’s a clear sign of growing trust from the coaching staff.
And while Woods may not bring the same experience or pedigree as Davis, he’s shown he can hold his own when called upon. That’s going to matter in a game where every snap counts.
The Patriots did get some reinforcements this week, activating cornerback Alex Austin off injured reserve. Austin didn’t see any defensive snaps against Houston, but he did contribute on special teams.
He opened the 2025 season as a starter while Gonzalez was sidelined, but an injury in Week 12 against Cincinnati kept him out for the rest of the regular season. Now that he’s back in uniform, he adds depth - but for now, Woods appears to be the next man up on the outside.
And that leads us to the matchup ahead.
The Patriots are heading to Denver, where they’ll face a Broncos team that’s also dealing with a significant injury. Starting quarterback Bo Nix is out for the season after getting hurt in their win over Buffalo, which means Jarrett Stidham - a familiar face in New England - will get the start.
It’ll be Stidham’s playoff debut and his first start since 2023. While the Patriots won’t overlook their former QB, there’s no question the challenge looks different without Nix under center.
Still, this is the biggest game of the season - and for many on the Patriots roster, the biggest game of their careers. Whether Davis is cleared or not, New England needs every player locked in and ready. If Woods is the guy, he’ll be thrown into the fire against a Broncos team that’s been red-hot down the stretch.
The Patriots’ defense has been a strength all year, and it’ll need to rise to the occasion again in the thin air of Mile High. Whether it’s Davis returning from protocol or Woods stepping into the spotlight, the secondary will be a key storyline heading into Sunday.
One way or another, the road to the Super Bowl runs through Denver - and the Patriots will need all hands on deck to get there.