Antonio Brown has been ruled out of the NFC Championship game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers because of a knee injury.

Brown had been expected to be a game-time decision at Lambeau Field but head coach Bruce Arians confirmed on Friday that he would play no part.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers star had just one catch for 10 yards on three targets in the Bucs' 30-20 win over the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round.

Even without Brown, quarterback Tom Brady will still have a host of weapons available for his duel with the Packers and MVP favourite Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will likely be his top targets, while tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate should see plenty of passes thrown in their direction.

The Bucs are hoping to make it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since they prevailed in Super Bowl XXXVII at the end of the 2002 season.

Should they emerge triumphant, it will seal Brady's place in a 10th Super Bowl, having won a record six in nine appearances in a storied two decades with the New England Patriots.