Denver Broncos Wild Card Weekend injury report: Latest on Damarri Mathis, Frank Crum, and more

Thanks to quarterback Bo Nix's outstanding rookie campaign, the Denver Broncos overcame their low preseason projections to secure a respectable 10-7 record and qualify for the playoffs. However, they will have to overcome even bigger obstacles when they take on the Buffalo Bills, who took the No. 2 seed in the AFC, at Orchard Park in the first round of the playoffs.

Even though the Broncos have a difficult challenge ahead of them on Sunday, anything can happen in a single-game knockout setting. Let's see how Sean Payton's team fares on the injury front ahead of Denver's first playoff game in nine years.

Broncos injury report for wild-card round game vs. Bills

Cornerback Damarri Mathis (back) and guard Ben Power (rest) were listed as limited on Wednesday on the Denver Broncos' injury report. However, while Powers was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday, Mathis was downgraded to DNP.

Although he did not wear his uniform, Mathis partook in Thursday's practice and even reportedly stretched with his teammates before the session began. However, he is listed as a nonparticipant on the team's injury report.

The third-year CB was activated from injured reserve after missing the season's first six weeks due to an ankle injury. Mathis participated in 80 defensive snaps in 11 games during the 2024 regular season, including 58 in the final four games.

Despite being listed on Denver's injury report this week, tight end Nate Adkins (abdomen) and running back Tyler Badie (back) have fully participated in practice. Badie was designated to return from injured reserve late in December but hasn't been activated to the team's active roster yet.

The only player who has been DNP twice this week for the Broncos is offensive lineman Frank Crum, who is battling an illness. He was also a nonparticipant in all the team's practices last week ahead of the regular season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Crum, a Wyoming product who joined the team last year as an undrafted free agent, has appeared in six games this season, recording 33 offensive and special teams snaps. For him to have a chance to play against the Bills on Sunday, he must return to practice in at least a limited capacity on Friday.

The Broncos will practice for the final time on Friday before announcing the official game statuses for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.