NFL Rumors: Latest Reports Heading into 2016 Divisional Round

With the next round of the NFL's postseason just days away, some of the game's most polarizing figures are not guaranteed to be playing in this weekend's divisional round. 

It could spell disaster for the teams affected, as star players' absences could cost them a trip to the conference championship round. 

Here are the latest reports heading into the divisional round. 

Bleak Outlook For Williams, Brown

The Pittsburgh Steelers were already up against the wall having to travel to Denver to take on the NFL's best defense in the Broncos. 

But after a taxing wild-card win against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers are a banged-up bunch, and their offense could be extremely short-handed heading into Sunday. 

Running back DeAngelo Williams is still nursing an ankle injury that he suffered during Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns, as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport checked in on the veteran:

While the prognosis doesn't look good, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is still leaving the door "ajar" for Williams, according to Bryan DeArdo of 247Sports. 

Much to the horror of Steelers fans, there is a possibility that Williams will be joined by wide receiver Antonio Brown on the injury list after he suffered a brutal hit from Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict on Saturday. 

NFL Stats provides a look at the hit:

Like Williams, sources told ESPN.com's Bob Holtzman that it "is not looking good" for Brown's chances to play against Denver. 

Brown is in the league's concussion protocol after suffering the hit, but there has been no official word on if he does, in fact, have one. 

Regardless of the size of the game, though, Tomlin told NFL.com's Aditi Kinkhabwala that they will "do the right thing." If that means sitting Brown to preserve his health, then that will be the course of action. 

With a hobbled quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers offense is going to have a difficult time against the Broncos come Sunday. Being without their leading receiver and rusher will make the task even more insurmountable. 

Maclin Avoids Major Injury

When Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was forced to leave Saturday's Wild Card Game against the Houston Texans, it looked like he had suffered something far worse—something along the lines of an ACL tear. 

Luckily for him and the Chiefs, it turned out to be a high ankle sprain, which was a relief for Kansas City head coach Andy Reid, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star:

"

I’ve got to tell you, it looked the part — he felt like it was, he’s been through a couple of those [ACL injuries] before. He thought that’s what it was, it looked that way on the test, but it all worked out. As we made our way back, he didn’t have any swelling or anything, and the docs and Jeremy were like, ‘Whoa, maybe it’s something different.’ His pain started going more down towards the ankle. It’s a positive thing.

"

While his status is still up in the air for this Saturday's game against the New England Patriots, Reid talked about Maclin's availability. 

"Yeah...he might not have to do that [play on Sunday without practicing this week]," Reid said. "But he could do that."

In his first year with the Chiefs, Maclin led the team with 87 receptions for 1,088 yards. The team's next leading wide receiver was Albert Wilson, who caught just 35 passes for 451 yards. 

If they want to keep up with Tom Brady and the Patriots, even if he is dealing with an injured receiving group as well, the Chiefs will need Maclin to be quarterback Alex Smith's go-to guy in the divisional round. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.