The AFC Championship always brings tension, excitement, and last minute drama. But for New England Patriots fans, the drama has started even before kickoff. The team’s most reliable defensive weapon, sack leader Harold Landry, will not suit up against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. A knee injury has sent him straight to the sidelines, forcing a major rewrite of the Patriots’ defensive game plan.
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the news on Friday. With no sugarcoating, he made it clear that Landry was unable to practice all week. From Vrabel’s tone alone, it was obvious this was not a minor issue. The official update came through this statement
Coach Vrabel provides Patriots injury updates for the AFC Championship. pic.twitter.com/c9xXbfw5J9
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 23, 2026
Landry is not just a big name, he is a big number on the stat sheet. When your top sack producer is missing, chasing the opposing quarterback becomes a much tougher job. The Broncos’ offense is surely smiling a little wider after hearing the news. Vrabel was equally direct when addressing Landry’s status
OLB Harold Landry (knee) is out for Sunday’s game, according to Mike Vrabel.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 23, 2026
WR Mack Hollins (abdomen), CB Carlton Davis III (concussion protocol), and LB/ST Marte Mapu (hip) are questionable, per Vrabel. pic.twitter.com/7nXk2RlNdG
And the problems do not stop there. The Patriots’ injury report is starting to look like a shopping list. Wide receiver Mack Hollins, cornerback Carlton Davis III, and linebacker Marte Mapu are all listed as questionable. Hollins remains on injured reserve, meaning the Patriots must make a roster move by Saturday afternoon if they want him available for the game.
When kickoff arrives at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, the Patriots will take the field with a slightly different identity. The defense will need to be extra clever, new faces may appear in blitz packages, and bench players could suddenly find themselves playing hero. Surprises like this are nothing new in the AFC Championship. The real question is whether the Patriots can absorb this blow and write another chapter of history, or if the Broncos will seize the opportunity.
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