Overview
- Head coach Sean Payton confirmed Nix sustained a broken ankle that requires surgery and will miss the remainder of the playoffs.
- Payton publicly backed Stidham as the starter for the AFC Championship, noting his belief in the backup despite Stidham not attempting a regular-season pass since 2023.
- Teams are allowed to add free agents during the playoffs, yet the current market—featuring options such as Nate Sudfeld, Taylor Heinicke, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Clayton Tune and Cam Newton—offers no clear upgrade.
- High-profile possibilities face barriers, with Tom Brady’s stake in the Raiders complicating any return and Russell Wilson unavailable until free agency opens in March.
- Late emergency additions are uncommon and difficult to assimilate, with Philip Rivers’ successful Colts cameo cited as a rare case tied to prior familiarity with the offense.