NFL Player News

Pacheco (toe/ankle) won't practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Per the report, coach Andy Reid relayed that Pacheco participated in the team's morning walk-through, but the running back is slated to go down as a non-participant in practice for the second straight day Thursday. Pacheco thus has one more chance to get in some on-field work ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game at Baltimore, but unless he practices fully Friday, he figures to head into the weekend with an injury designation.

The Lions placed Jefferson on the practice squad injured list Wednesday due to an unspecified issue.

Jefferson will be ineligible to take part in practices with the Lions for the remainder of the postseason while he recovers from the injury. The 23-year-old running back logged 15 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns over seven appearances as a rookie with the Lions in 2021 but hasn't seen any game action since while spending both of the past two seasons on Detroit's practice squad.

The Lions signed Funk to their practice squad Wednesday.

Funk was most recently a member of Baltimore's practice squad before he was cut loose earlier this month when the Ravens added Dalvin Cook. The Maryland product originally joined the NFL as a seventh-round selection of the Rams in 2021 and has also seen regular-season action with the Colts. Funk will join Detroit's practice unit as a replacement for fellow running back Jermar Jefferson (undisclosed), who was placed on the practice squad injured list.

The toe injury that kept Pacheco out of practice Wednesday isn't viewed as a major concern, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

Though Pacheco was a spectator for the Chiefs' first practice of the week, the toe injury isn't anything that will prevent him from handling his usual lead role this Sunday in Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game. He's taken 39 carries for 186 yards (4.8 YPC) and two touchdowns in two playoff games while handling 70 and 72 percent offensive snap shares in those contests, and he's gotten 15 or more touches in eight straight appearances dating back to early November. The only back with comparable usage for the Chiefs in the Patrick Mahomes era was Damien Williams, who handled similarly hefty workloads during the team's playoff run in the 2019 season.

Moss said Tuesday that he would be interested in re-signing with the Colts this offseason, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.

The 2020 third-round draft pick enjoyed a mini-breakout in the final year of his rookie contract, making eight starts for an Indianapolis offense that didn't have Jonathan Taylor in Weeks 1 through 4 and 13 through 15. Taylor's absences allowed Moss to set career highs for snaps, carries, targets, rushing yards and touchdowns, though the 26-year-old finished out his season with only six touches on 11 snaps in a 23-19 loss to the Texans in Week 18 while Taylor took on 32 touches for 196 yards across 51 snaps. It's hard to say if free agency will offer Moss a chance to compete for a starting job elsewhere, but he would have to settle for a clear reserve role if he returns to Indianapolis and if Taylor is healthy to begin the 2024 season.

Pacheco isn't practicing Wednesday due to a toe injury, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Pacheco has operated as a pillar of Kansas City's offense for both of the team's playoff victories so far, totaling 39 carries for 186 yards (4.8 YPC) and two touchdowns between the two contests. Given his heavy usage of late the Chiefs may simply be giving Pacheco an opportunity to rest up and get fully ready for Sunday's AFC Championship Game in Baltimore. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and La'Mical Perine will stand to handle increased practice reps Wednesday in Pacheco's stead.

Johnson carried once for minus-one yard versus the Titans in Week 18. He played in all 17 games and had 41 rushes for 108 yards and 10 catches for 140 yards this season.

The 27-year-old opened and closed the campaign as Jacksonville's No. 3 tailback, though he did have a few weeks in the middle of the season where he worked in the No. 2 role ahead of rookie Tank Bigsby. Johnson will become a free agent during the offseason and will likely look for a new home as a backup tailback in 2024.

The Bills signed Evans to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Evans has spent time with three different teams over the last four seasons, recording 366 yards and two touchdowns on 74 total touches. The 2020 third-round pick is expected to compete for a depth role in the Bills' backfield this offseason.

Laird signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on Tuesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Laird was elevated from Tampa Bay's practice squad for each of their two playoff games this season, but he was ultimately left inactive. The 28-year-old hasn't seen NFL action since 2021 when he was with the Dolphins, appearing in six contests but getting only one carry for four yards.

Harris (head/neck) should be healthy before free agency begins this offseason, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

The 2019 third-round pick signed a one-year contract with the Bills in March 2023 after spending his first four seasons with the division-rival Patriots. Harris then had a small role off the bench for the first six weeks of the season before a scary injury sent him to injured reserve for the remainder of the year. He'll turn 27 in February, a month before he's scheduled to hit free agency again.