Football in January is basically a war of attrition. You spend four months beating each other up just to reach the Divisional Round, and by the time today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, rolled around, the training rooms in Denver and Seattle looked more like MASH units. Honestly, the list of NFL inactives for today tells a much bigger story than just who's "out." It’s about how these teams are going to survive with massive holes in their schemes.
If you were looking for George Kittle to save the 49ers tonight, I’ve got bad news. He’s not just inactive; he’s done. That Achilles tear from the Wild Card round is a season-ender. It’s a brutal blow for a San Francisco team that already feels like it's held together by duct tape and Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling genius.
The brutal reality of the 49ers vs. Seahawks inactive list
San Francisco is heading into Lumen Field today without their heartbeat. Fred Warner is officially out. While there was some hope earlier in the week when they opened his 21-day practice window—following that nasty broken ankle from Week 6—he just isn't ready. Kyle Shanahan confirmed he won't be activated.
Here is what the NFL inactives for today look like for the San Francisco 49ers:
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- Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (Hamstring)
- Defensive Lineman Kevin Givens
- Defensive Tackle Sebastian Valdez
- Running Back Isaac Guerendo
- Offensive Lineman Brandon Parker
- Wide Receiver Jordan Watkins
- Defensive Lineman Robert Beal Jr.
On the flip side, Seattle is breathing a huge sigh of relief. Sam Darnold had everyone in the Pacific Northwest sweating after he popped up on the injury report Thursday with an oblique issue. But he’s active. He’s starting. He told reporters there was a "zero-percent chance" he’d miss this, and he stuck to his word.
Seattle’s inactive list is much shorter on star power, which is exactly where you want to be this late in the year. Offensive lineman Josh Jones is the big one sitting out with a knee injury, but the Seahawks get Charles Cross back at the perfect time to protect Darnold’s blindside.
Buffalo and Denver: The high cost of a Divisional thriller
The early game today between the Bills and Broncos was an absolute slugfest. Denver walked away with a 33-30 overtime win, but they paid a price that might have just ended their Super Bowl hopes. Bo Nix broke his ankle on the second-to-last play of the game. He's out for the season.
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Before the game even kicked off, the NFL inactives for today set a weird tone for Buffalo. They were missing cornerback Maxwell Hairston and the veteran presence of Jordan Poyer. You could see those absences hurting them in the first half when Denver’s receivers were finding pockets of space that shouldn't have been there.
Buffalo's official inactives included:
- CB Maxwell Hairston (Ankle)
- S Jordan Poyer (Hamstring)
- LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- OL Tylan Grable
- DE Kingsley Jonathan
Denver played it relatively safe. They sat linebacker Drew Sanders and tight end Lucas Krull, but the big news was who wasn't on the list. Dre Greenlaw made his return today, and he looked like he hadn't missed a beat until the final whistle.
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Why these inactives change your betting or fantasy strategy
Look, when a guy like Ji’Ayir Brown is out for the Niners, it’s not just a "next man up" situation. It’s a "Seattle is going to hunt the backup safety" situation. George Kittle being out means the 49ers lose their best blocker and their best security blanket. You'll see more of Eric Saubert and maybe some heavier usage for Christian McCaffrey in the passing game just to compensate.
The "Questionable" tag is the bane of every fan's existence. Ricky Pearsall was the big mystery for San Francisco all week, but he is officially active. That’s a massive boost for a receiving corps that needs someone to step up with Kittle sidelined.
What to watch for tomorrow
The NFL inactives for today are settled, but we’re already looking at some massive names for Sunday. The Houston Texans are likely going to be without Nico Collins (concussion), which makes C.J. Stroud’s life a lot harder against a New England defense that specializes in taking away your top option.
If you’re tracking these moves, remember that teams have to submit their final lists 90 minutes before kickoff.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the official team Twitter (X) accounts exactly 90 minutes before the Sunday kickoffs for the final word on Nico Collins and Rome Odunze.
- Monitor the waiver wire in "Playoff Challenge" fantasy leagues; guys like Jarrett Stidham are suddenly the most important players in the AFC now that Nix is down.
- Keep an eye on the weather in Chicago for the Rams/Bears game, as late-scratch "illness" or "soreness" tags often pop up in sub-zero temps.