Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Jarrett Stidham, Broncos Dealt Bad News on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Jan 25, 2026 2:18 PM ET

Jarrett Stidham watched as the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos defeated Josh Allen and the No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs. Now, the Broncos will look to advance to the Super Bowl, remaining in Denver to host Drake Maye and the No. 2 seed New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Bo Nix led the Broncos to their best season in 10 years, finishing with an NFL-best 14-3 regular-season record. However, on one of the final plays against the Bills in the divisional round, Nix suffered a fractured ankle, ending his season and leaving Stidham as the starting quarterback moving forward. But against the Patriots, Stidham will be without a key piece.

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) warms up before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Troy Franklin, after three seasons of college football with the Oregon Ducks, was selected by Denver with the No. 102 pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The wide receiver earned a small role with the Broncos during his rookie season, tallying 28 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns.

But in 2025, Franklin's second season, he saw his role increase, recording 65 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns, numbers that rank second on the team behind fellow wideout Courtland Sutton. But in the second quarter during the divisional round win over the Bills, Franklin went down with a hamstring injury, unable to return.

Franklin was limited in practice the entire week leading up to the AFC Championship Game and was initially ruled as questionable. But on Sunday, the Broncos announced that Franklin would be inactive against the Patriots, leaving Stidham without one of his top pass-catchers.

"Wide receiver Troy Franklin (hamstring), center Alex Forsyth (ankle) and safety JL Skinner (quad) are all inactive after being listed as questionable for Sunday's game," the Broncos wrote.

our inactives for #NEvsDEN.

» https://t.co/CkxlpoDvKE pic.twitter.com/w9cOFeP17P
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 25, 2026

Stidham and the Broncos will look to advance to the Super Bowl with a win over the Patriots, where they would face the winner of the NFC Championship Game between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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