The New England Patriots will be down a defensive captain against the Denver Broncos.
Outside linebacker Harold Landry III has been ruled out for the AFC Championship Game after staying sidelined for three consecutive practices due to a lingering knee injury, head coach Mike Vrabel announced Friday.
But wide receiver Mack Hollins, inside linebacker Marte Mapu and cornerback Carlton Davis III will head from Foxborough to Mile High with questionable game statuses.
Here’s the early, final injury report
leading up to Sunday’s 3 p.m. ET kickoff at Empower Field.
OUT
Patriots
- LB Harold Landry III (knee)
Broncos
- TBA
In 15 games, Landry finished the regular season atop the Patriots with 8.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits. His 10 tackles for loss also tied for the team lead. But a knee injury has kept the veteran outside linebacker on the injury report since fall met winter. And in the divisional round, after being a non-participant last Friday, he played 11 out of 75 defensive snaps while carrying a questionable game designation.
QUESTIONABLE
Patriots
- WR Mack Hollins (abdomen — IR return)
- LB Marte Mapu (hip)
- CB Carlton Davis III (concussion protocol)
Broncos
- TBA
After staying sidelined for consecutive sessions with a hip issue, Mapu was back for New England’s in-stadium practice. The core linebacker has handled 32 snaps in the kicking game since the start of the postseason, while Davis intercepted the initial two passes of his stay last weekend before entering the NFL’s concussion protocol. The veteran cornerback shed the red non-contact jersey on Friday after being a limited participant for back-to-back practices.
As for the third questionable status, the Patriots opened Hollins’ activation window midway through Broncos prep. The starting receiver, who went on injured reserve due to an abdomen injury in December, missed four games before joining the limited participants. Leading the depth chart in offensive snaps at the time of his injury, he stood with 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns.
The conference’s No. 2 seed currently stands with a full 53-man roster. Along with Hollins, running back Terrell Jennings and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer also await potential activations from injured reserve.
Saturday at 4 p.m. ET marks the deadline for AFC Championship Game transactions.
