The New England Patriots are heading into the AFC Championship Game without one of their defensive anchors.
Linebacker Harold Landry III has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s showdown against the Denver Broncos, as announced by head coach Mike Vrabel. Landry’s absence comes after he missed three straight practices this week while continuing to deal with a knee injury that’s lingered since late in the regular season.
This is a significant blow for a Patriots defense that’s leaned heavily on Landry’s production all year. The veteran pass rusher led the team with 8.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits over 15 games, and his 10 tackles for loss tied for the team lead.
Even in the Divisional Round, Landry was clearly limited - logging just 11 of 75 defensive snaps after being listed as questionable. Now, New England will need to find ways to pressure Denver’s offense without one of its most disruptive players on the edge.
But Landry isn’t the only concern. The Patriots also have three key contributors listed as questionable: wide receiver Mack Hollins, linebacker Marte Mapu, and cornerback Carlton Davis III.
Let’s start with Davis, who made a splash early in last weekend’s win by picking off the first two passes thrown his way before exiting with a head injury. He’s been in concussion protocol since then but returned to practice in a limited capacity this week.
On Friday, he shed the red non-contact jersey - a promising sign that he’s trending in the right direction. If cleared, Davis could be a difference-maker in the secondary against a Denver offense that’s shown it can stretch the field.
Mapu, meanwhile, has been dealing with a hip issue but returned to action during the team’s in-stadium practice. While he hasn’t played a major role on defense during the postseason, he’s been a key piece on special teams, logging 32 snaps in the kicking game. His availability would help stabilize that unit, especially with the altitude factor at Mile High.
Then there’s Hollins. The Patriots opened his 21-day activation window from injured reserve earlier this week, giving him a shot to return just in time for the biggest game of the season.
Hollins had been sidelined since December with an abdominal injury, missing four games. Before that, he was leading all Patriots receivers in offensive snaps and had built up a solid stat line: 46 catches for 550 yards and two touchdowns.
If he’s healthy enough to go, his return could give a much-needed boost to a Patriots passing attack that’s still searching for consistency.
New England currently has a full 53-man roster, but that could change quickly. In addition to Hollins, running back Terrell Jennings and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer are also candidates for activation from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s 3 p.m. ET kickoff at Empower Field.
As for the Broncos, their final injury report is still to come. But for the Patriots, the picture is already clear: they’ll be without one of their top defensive playmakers, and they’re holding their breath on three more.
With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, every snap - and every body - matters.