Minshew (knee) will not require any procedures to address the season-ending knee injury he suffered in Week 16 and is already back to full strength, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Minshew missed the final two games of the regular season due to a left knee injury initially reported as a torn ACL and was then diagnosed as a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture, though Schefter now reports that the veteran quarterback merely suffered a bone bruise. After having played out the 2025 season on a one-year, $1.17 million contract with the Chiefs, Minshew will now be fully healthy in time to hit free agency this offseason. If he doesn't reunite with Kansas City, Minshew should have little difficulty securing a backup role elsewhere in the league.

New Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday the team would "definitely" want Rodgers back if he decides to play in the 2026 season, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

After Mike Tomlin stepped down as the Steelers' head coach in mid-January, it was reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Rodgers was unlikely to re-up with the team after playing out 2025 on a one-year contract. A reunion with McCarthy might make the 42-year-old quarterback reconsider, however, as the two won Super Bowl XLV together with Green Bay back in 2011 -- coincidentally, a 31-25 victory over Pittsburgh. If he doesn't return to the Steelers, Rodgers will most likely retire.

Darnold completed 25 of 36 pass attempts for 346 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for nine yards on three attempts in Sunday's 31-27 NFC Championship Game win over the Rams.

Darnold was dealing with oblique discomfort during the practice week, but he did not carry a designation into Sunday's playoff tilt. Often criticized for his shortcomings in high-stakes games, Darnold overcame that narrative by producing one his finest performances from the pocket (127.8 QBR) in order to send the Seahawks to Santa Clara, CA for Super Bowl LX. The 346 passing yards were the most the 28-year-old has slung through 19 starts with Seattle. It was also the first time the veteran signal-caller has thrown three touchdown passes with no turnovers in a game this season. Darnold and the Seahawks will have two weeks to prepare for a stiff Patriots defense before the two teams meet in the Super Bowl on Feb. 8.

Stafford completed 22 of 35 pass attempts for 374 yards and three touchdowns while adding two carries for 16 yards in Sunday's 31-27 loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.

The veteran gunslinger walked into a harsh road environment against the league's stingiest defense in 2025 (17.2 points allowed/game) and twirled a statistical gem despite failing one game short of a Super Bowl appearance. The loss brings Stafford's MVP-caliber campaign to a close, and he finished three postseason contests averaging 312.0 passing yards with six total passing touchdowns to one interception. Stafford was one of the top producers in fantasy this year, as he amassed 4,707 passing yards and a career-high 46 touchdowns in 17 starts during the regular season. The 38-year-old blew past his draft value after a preseason back injury quelled expectations to start his 16th season in the pros. Stafford will likely run it back with the Rams in 2026 for the final year of his current deal with both of his superstar wide receivers (Puka Nacua and Davante Adams) in tow, so he should be a popular pick in fantasy drafts next year.

Maye completed 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. He added 65 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

Maye managed to complete deep shots of 31 and 20 yards but was ineffective as a passer for most of the game. However, he took advantage of a turnover by Jarrett Stidham late in the second and punched in New England's only touchdown of the game with a six-yard scramble two plays later. Maye hasn't moved the offense very effectively in the Patriots' last two matchups, though he protected the ball against the Broncos and used his legs well, finishing second on New England in rushing yards (65) behind Rhamondre Stevenson (71) on a day when blizzard conditions made the sledding difficult -- especially for both teams' passing games -- in the second half.

Stidham completed 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards with one touchdown and one interception while adding four rushes for 23 yards in the Broncos' 10-7 loss to the Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. He also lost a fumble.

Getting the starting nod in place of Bo Nix (IR, ankle), Stidham set an encouraging tone early by leading a five-play, 59-yard drive on Denver's second possession that included a 52-yard completion to Marvin Mims and was capped off by a six-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton. However, that would be the extent of Denver's points on the afternoon, with increasingly deteriorating weather in the second half playing a significant role. Stidham's two turnovers were also costly, as his fumble came at his own 14-yard line early in the third quarter and led to New England's only touchdown, while his interception on a deep throw to Mims shortly before the two-minute warning snuffed out the Broncos' final hope to tie the game. Considering he had to open the game already down a key receiver in Troy Franklin (hamstring) and then also lost Pat Bryant to a hamstring issue in the second quarter, Stidham did a solid job in his first taste of game action in anything other than a preseason setting since the 2023 regular season; however, the combination of the elements, the Patriots defense and perhaps some of his own rust helped lead to a narrow loss.

Nix is expected to require 12 weeks to heal after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair his broken right ankle, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

According to Schefter, Nix will be barred from putting weight on his right ankle for the next four weeks following surgery, and he'll then need around eight weeks to complete the rehab process before he's ready to resume on-field work. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds that Nix received good news upon undergoing surgery, as his injured ankle had "limited ligament damage and no joint surface damage." Given the estimated recovery timeline, Nix doesn't look like he'll be available for the start of Denver's offseason program, though he could be fully cleared for OTAs and minicamp in the late spring. With Nix sidelined for the duration of the Broncos' playoff run, Jarrett Stidham will step in as the team's starting quarterback in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Patriots.

The Broncos placed Nix (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

Nix was already ruled out for the rest of the playoffs after breaking a bone in his ankle during the Broncos' 33-30 overtime win over the Bills during the AFC divisional round. His move to injured reserve is a procedural one, given that it opens a space on the Broncos' roster for center Luke Wattenberg (shoulder), who was activated from IR in a corresponding move. Jarrett Stidham will start at quarterback for the Broncos against the Patriots during Sunday's AFC Championship Game while Sam Ehlinger serves as the backup.

Darnold (oblique) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Rams, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Darnold was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday as he continues to manage an oblique injury that occurred in practice last Thursday, but he'll be available to face the Rams on Sunday. In this past Saturday's 41-6 divisional-round win over the 49ers, Darnold was efficient with modest volume, completing 12 of his 17 passing attempts for 124 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers en route to compiling a 110.9 passer rating.

Darnold (oblique) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

Darnold played through an oblique injury during this past Saturday's divisional-round win against the 49ers, completing 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while taking two sacks. He's so far logged back-to-back capped sessions this week, but it's unclear if he's thrown any passes, as coach Mike Macdonald told Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune prior to Thursday's practice that he'd like Darnold to do so before Sunday's NFC Championship Game versus the Rams. Darnold will have one more chance to prove his health Friday before the Seahawks potentially give him a designation ahead of the weekend.