Nix’s broken ankle was devastating news for the Broncos as they came out of the Divisional Round. The silver lining is that he should be ready for the team’s offseason program and the injury is not expected to be a long-term issue. According to Schefter, “The recovery, not the surgery, is thought to be the most challenging part of this injury.” Nix will not be able to put weight on his ankle for a month, putting to bed any notion of a Super Bowl miracle. Jarrett Stidham will draw the start in the AFC Championship game versus the Patriots. He will also start in the Super Bowl if the Broncos win today.

Alrighty then. The former Titans OC and Falcons head coach had been riding the NFL interview circuit, meeting with clubs about both head-coaching and play-calling vacancies, but evidently wasn’t gaining the traction he hoped for. He now (reportedly) heads to what has become a coaching turnaround factory in Columbus, somewhat hilariously forming a coordinating tandem with Matt Patricia. 43-year-old Smith has extremely limited NCAA experience aside from low-level, one-year stints at UNC and Ole Miss. It’s not an amazing hire on paper, but talent trumps all at OSU. Smith will have enough of it to be positioned for success.

Hollins makes his return from injured reserve in time to face the Broncos in the AFC Championship game, likely returning to a semi-featured role due to his run-blocking abilities. It is likely we see undrafted free agent Efton Chism the odd man out due to Hollins’ return, with DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams joining Hollins, Stefon Diggs, and Kayshon Boutte as the active wide receivers come Sunday. Hollins’ red zone acumen and deep-threat abilities warrant consideration in DFS on the short slate.

Pelissero reported yesterday that he believed that veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be most likely to play for one coach in 2026, naming Mike McCarthy as that coach. Not 24 hours later and the Steelers are reportedly working to hire McCarthy as their next head coach following the departure of Mike Tomlin. The dominoes certainly appear to be falling into place to get the franchise what they want, which appears to be Aaron Rodgers for another season. McCarthy last served as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys between 2020 and 2024 but coached Rodgers for 13 years in Green Bay at the beginning of the aging veteran’s career. It also serves as a homecoming for the 62-year-old coach, who grew up in the Pittsburgh area.

Martindale was crowned the early favorite for the defensive coordinator role earlier this week by another Jets beat writer, ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Hughes also replied to a fan comment on Twitter about the Jets not letting Martindale leave Saturday with, “I doubt they do.” Martindale has previously held the DC title with the Giants, Ravens and Broncos in the NFL as well as at the University of Michigan on the college level.

While the Bills are just beginning their search for a new head coach after dismissing Sean McDermott earlier this week, McDaniel has already withdrawn his name from the Browns head coaching search and interviewed for multiple offensive coordinator positions before agreeing to sign on with the Chargers. Schultz says McDaniel and the Bills remain in contact for a potential interview, but there’s a “strong possibility” he moves forward with the Chargers. McDaniel’s presence in Los Angeles would be massive as fantasy managers could expect the 42-year-old coach to get the most out of Justin Herbert and the rest of the Chargers’ offense.

Dobbins is not yet ready to resume playing. He remained limited throughout all three practices this week after the Broncos opened his 21-day practice window on Monday. With Dobbins out, rookie RB RJ Harvey will again lead the backfield. He totaled 11 touches last week. Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin handled four and RB Tyler Badie had one.

The Seahawks cleared Darnold for action just as their Friday practice session was beginning, so we do not yet know his participation level. He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday after playing through the injury last weekend. Promisingly, no setbacks have been reported. He will also have LT Charles Cross (foot) active on Sunday.

The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion didn’t take long to announce his decision. Just days after downing Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Mendoza, who is widely believed to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, will leave college for the pros. Mendoza is a fourth-year prospect who got his start at Cal, before transferring to Indiana for the 2025 season. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Mendoza showed tremendous improvement, throwing for career-highs across the board while finishing with a line of 3,535-41-6 through the air and leading the nation in yards per attempt (9.3) and touchdown passes. He’s a prototypical pocket passer standing at 6-foot-5, and weighing in at 225 pounds, but Mendoza also showed off the wheels at times, rushing for 76-377-7, per PFF, who does not account for rushing yards lost due to sacks. The Raiders, who currently hold the No. 1 pick in the draft, seem destined to take Mendoza come April in hopes of fixing the quarterback woes that have plagued them since Derek Carr left after the 2022 season.

Minter, 42, served as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator under head coach Jim Harbaugh over the last two seasons. He also held the same role with Harbaugh’s Michigan squad from 2022-2023. He had a one-year stint at Vanderbilt, serving as defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He worked for former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh before that, signing on as a defensive assistant in Baltimore from 2017-2018. He was promoted to assistant defensive backs coach in 2019 and promoted again to defensive backs coach in 2020. Bills OC Joe Brady and former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury are reportedly “two names to keep an eye on” for the Ravens’ offensive coordinator role.