If the Broncos and Patriots both win this weekend, they’ll meet in the AFC Championship Game despite the absences of Broncos linebacker Von Miller and tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Those two players will be able to commiserate about missing the postseason in Florida this week if they want. Gronkowski will be heading to Dr. James Andrews’ office to have his torn ACL and MCL repaired on Thursday, one day after Miller has surgery on his torn ACL in the same office.
Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports that Miller’s swelling has subsided enough for surgeons to go ahead with the operation that marks the first step toward a return to the field in 2014. The injury will almost certainly keep Miller, who was hurt in Week 16, out of Denver’s offseason program and will likely limit him, at the very least, into training camp this summer.
The Broncos were 7-0 without Miller, who missed the first six games of the year while serving a suspension, in the lineup this season.