ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver's offensive backfield looked a whole lot different Wednesday when Jarrett Stidham stepped in at quarterback for injured starter Bo Nix and running back J.K. Dobbins returned to practice for the first time since foot surgery two months ago.

Stidham will get his first start in two years Sunday when the Denver Broncos (15-3) host the New England Patriots (16-3) in the AFC championship game.

“We all want to go out there and make him proud,” Stidham said of Nix, who's recovering back in Alabama from surgery on his right ankle Tuesday.

What's uncertain is whether Stidham will be handing off to Dobbins, but the veteran looked good in the portion of practice open to reporters as he ran with no limp or any apparent restrictions. He was listed as limited on the practice report.

“It would be a great boost if he’s healthy,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said.

Dobbins sustained a Lisfranc injury to his left foot against Las Vegas on Nov. 6 that required surgery. In 10 games, Dobbins rushed for 772 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 5 yards a carry.

In the games Dobbins played, the Broncos averaged 129 yards rushing per game. In the eight games since he got hurt, they've averaged a little more than 100 yards a game. Their average per carry has dipped from 4.8 yards to 3.8 yards.

Stidham steps in for Nix, who broke his right ankle on Denver's game-winning drive in overtime against Buffalo on Saturday. He underwent surgery Tuesday in Alabama.

“It was a bummer, I feel for him, just the work that he put in consistently and having the season end like this,” cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “You know, after the game emotions running high and then when I heard that news it felt like my energy was drained a little bit. I’m praying for a speedy recovery, but I’m looking forward to this week’s matchup and seeing what Stiddy got.”

Except for the preseason, Stidham hasn't thrown a single pass since Nix beat him out for the starting job in 2024, after which Stidham insisted he was a starting-caliber NFL QB.

Sunday will mark the fifth career start for the sixth-year pro.

“He's been waiting for this moment the entirety of his career,” McGlinchey said. "He's more prepared than anybody would be in this situation. And he can ball. He can flat-out play quarterback and we've seen it every single day at practice, we've seen it in training camp, we've seen it in the preseason.

"We’re lucky to have him and we’re lucky that our team and our coaching staff and our front office invest in every situation that could possibly come up on a football field because not everybody has a quarterback waiting in the wings as talented as Jarrett.”

The Patriots, in fact, tried to lure him back to New England last spring before he chose two sign a two-year, $12 million deal to stay in Denver.

A fourth-round draft pick by New England out of Auburn in 2019, Stidham won the backup job to Tom Brady that year. When offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left the Patriots to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, he took Stidham with him.

Stidham made two starts in 2022 for the Raiders after Derek Carr was benched. He held his own against the 49ers and Chiefs, who would meet up in the Super Bowl after that season, completing 45 of 70 passes for 584 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed 14 times for 84 yards.

Stidham also started the final two games of the 2023 season in Denver after Russell Wilson's benching, beating the Chargers and losing to the Raiders, completing 40 of 66 passes for 496 yards combined with two touchdowns and an interception.

Broncos coach Sean Payton repeated his belief Wednesday that Stidham was better than some starting quarterbacks around the league, and Surtain said he certainly carries himself like a starter.

“He's got a type of mojo with him, a type of confidence with him that you rarely see" in a backup, Surtain said. "I'm excited for him for this opportunity. He's got everything it takes to shine on this level.”

Sitdham said he always prepared as though he were the starter and that isn't changing now.

“My preparation hasn't changed one bit,” he said. "What I always go back to in any game, regular season, preseason, AFC championship, it's still the same game. So, obviously there's implications, winner advances, all that stuff.

"But at the end of the day it's still football.”

Broncos are an underdog to Patriots as Bo Nix's injury impacts odds

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Denver would be a slight favorite if quarterback Bo Nix was healthy and ready to play Sunday in the AFC championship game, but the Broncos instead are fairly substantial underdogs to New England.

It's a development that has caused some head shaking in the sports betting industry.

The Broncos would be about 1 1/2-point favorites in the AFC championship game, but as of Wednesday afternoon, the Patriots were favored by 5 points at BetMGM Sportsbook and 4 1/2 at Caesars Sportsbook.

“Typically, a quarterback is worth about four points to the line,” BetMGM sports trader Christian Cipollini said. “This line movement based off that opening line is pretty close to six or seven, which I find pretty interesting. I personally think as we get closer to kickoff, it'll come back closer to the Broncos. I think this will close maybe 3 1/2, 4, but we'll see what happens.”

Nix is out for the remainder of the postseason after breaking his right ankle late in Saturday's 33-30 victory over Buffalo in the divisional playoffs round. Jarrett Stidham, who last started a game in 2023, will take his place.

Joey Feazel, head of football at Caesars, said he was surprised to see such a significant line movement.

“I don't think Bo Nix is heavily regarded as an elite quarterback in the league or a true game-changer,” Feazel said. “Obviously, he made some really good throws this past weekend and has been consistent throughout the year."

CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall is a buyer on the Broncos. He likes Denver coach Sean Payton's history of getting quality play out of his backup quarterbacks going back to his days in New Orleans.

“I think they've inflated this line too much," Marshall said. “This is not like a Super Bowl where it's very artificial the way the crowd is and all the hoopla. This is still like a regular game and it's in Denver, where they are very tough to beat. I think Denver's going to win this game and we'll see what happens in the Super Bowl.”

Seahawks slight favorites over Rams

If the point spread — 2 1/2 points at BetMGM and Caesars in favor of Seattle — is to be believed, the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams should play another tense game when they meet in the NFC championship game.

They split the regular-season meetings, with the Rams winning 21-19 at home and the Seahawks 38-37 in Seattle. LA blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in the rematch before falling in overtime.

Cipollini said three times more betting action has come in on the Seahawks.

“If you do like the Seahawks, right now is the time to get on,” Cipollini said. “Any sharps (professional bettors) that are on the Seahawks are going to want to take them at 2 1/2. Just judging where this number is, if anything, it feels it can possibly get to 3.”

Feazel noted the Rams were favored just a month ago when they played at Seattle.

“Week in, week out, there's some recency bias that goes into the lines,” Feazel said. “What have you done for me lately and what did we see last week and expect the same thing. That's what makes the NFL so great.”

Rams with the road advantage?

Lumen Field has provided a notable home-field advantage for the Seahawks.

Even so, the Rams were in position to win the regular-season meeting there, and they won both their playoff games on the road so far this postseason.

The Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford will attempt to become the sixth team to win three road games in one postseason. The four most recent teams to accomplish that went to win the Super Bowl.

“I almost think the Rams are better off playing on the road,” Marshall said. “Even at home, a lot of times almost half the fans are for the other team. They're the only team I think can go into Seattle and have a chance against this defense.”

Another test for Darnold

Sam Darnold struggled earlier in his career until a breakout season with Minnesota in 2024, but he now is the only quarterback to lead two different teams to consecutive 14-win seasons.

The eight-year veteran finally earned his first playoff victory Saturday, a 41-6 win over banged-up San Francisco.

NFC title game winner a Super Bowl favorite

BetMGM and Caesars list the Seahawks and Rams as two leading favorites to win the Super Bowl.

Seattle or Los Angeles would be favored by a field goal or more over the Patriots in the big game and by at least 7 1/2 points over the Broncos.