Broncos Receive Gigantic Boost Prior To AFC Championship

The Denver Broncos received quite the boost prior to their matchup with the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship.

Denver announced that it activated starting center Luke Wattenberg from injured reserve, placed quarterback Bo Nix on injured reserve, and elevated wide receivers Michael Bandy and Elijah Moore from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday.

New England also announced a flurry of roster moves, which can be found here.

Wattenberg, 28, played every offensive snap of the season until suffering a shoulder injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16 — which ultimately caused him to miss each of the last four weeks. The Broncos’ offensive line, which was ranked as the best unit in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, will now be at full strength heading into Sunday.

Bandy, 28, has appeared in four games this season for Denver, catching four passes across those appearances, including one touchdown.

Moore, 25, has yet to appear in a game since signing with the Broncos’ practice squad on Dec. 2 — though he has experience against his upcoming opponent after facing them in previous stints with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills.

Nix, 25, injured his ankle during an overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, and had surgery to repair a broken ankle this week that will force him to miss the remainder of the postseason.

The Patriots and Broncos will battle for a spot in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.