Key injuries that will impact divisional round
Injuries to watch in the divisional round
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Late in the third quarter on Saturday night, Big Ben had his right shoulder crunched into the turf on a sack by Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict. The team is optimistic Roethlisberger can play through the shoulder injury, but the QB said Sunday that he won't know the extent of his injury until later in the week. He'll get an extra day this week to heal up, as the Steelers play in Denver on Sunday.
Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Brown sustained a concussion on the Steelers' final drive of the game on Saturday from a controversial hit from Burfict. Brown -- who tied for the league lead with 136 catches -- is currently in the NFL's concussion protocol.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Kansas City Chiefs: Maclin was carted off the field in tears after getting his knee examined on Saturday. The assumption was that the WR tore his ACL, but he got an MRI on Sunday that revealed no ligament damage to his knee and a high ankle sprain, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Maclin's status for the Chiefs' Saturday game in Foxboro is unknown. He leads the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns.
DeMarcus Ware, DE, Denver Broncos: Ware, who has been battling a back injury late this season, left Denver's Week 17 game early after tweaking his left knee. ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold said Ware is the the team's biggest injury question mark leading into their matchup with Pittsburgh. CB Chris Harris Jr. (left shoulder) and LB Brandon Marshall (ankle) also missed practice time last week.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers: Stewart missed the final three games of the regular season with a sprained foot suffered in Week 14 against the Falcons. He did not practice this past week, but coach Ron Rivera is hopeful Stewart will be back on the field on Monday.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks: Lynch practiced all week before telling the team on Friday that he could not play against the Vikings on Sunday. Coach Pete Carroll said, "He just didn't feel like he had it." Lynch has not played since Nov. 15 due to an abdomen injury and had surgery on Nov. 25. A source told ESPN Seahawks reporter Sheil Kapadia that Lynch did not suffer a setback on Friday.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Williams was inactive for Pittsburgh's wild-card game after sustaining a foot injury in Week 17. With him sidelined, the Steelers' backup RBs Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman combined for 123 yards on 28 carries against the Bengals.
Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers: Adams suffered a right knee injury in the third quarter after his teammate (TE Richard Rodgers) ran into the WR and pinned in knee awkwardly. He did not return to the game. Two of Adams' high profile teammates -- LT David Bakhtiari (left ankle sprain; out since Week 16) and CB Sam Shields (concussion; out since Week 15) -- missed Sunday's game and would be big losses for Green Bay if they can't play vs. Arizona.
Other notable injuries to non-playoff teams
J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans: Watt had been battling a groin injury down the stretch, which he aggravated Saturday against the Chiefs. He told reporters after the Texans' 30-0 loss that he will have surgery on Tuesday.
Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals: Bernard sustained a concussion late in the third quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers LB Ryan Shazier. He fumbled on the play and appeared to be knocked unconscious. He did not return to the game.
Reggie Nelson, S, Cincinnati Bengals: Nelson -- who tied for the league lead with eight interceptions in the regular season -- sprained his left ankle in the second quarter and did not return to the game.