NFL Player News

Johnston recently said he has a "world of confidence" in himself and expects a "breakout" in 2024 under new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, ESPN.com's Kris Rhim reports.

Johnston had a disappointing rookie season by the standards of a No. 21 overall pick, catching 38 of 67 targets (56.7 percent) for 431 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games. He had just one outing with more than six targets and none with more than seven, despite making 10 starts and playing 64.6 percent of the Chargers' offensive snaps. Johnston didn't have the best circumstances, to be fair, especially after QB Justin Herbert suffered a season-ending finger injury Week 14. The new coaching staff led by Harbaugh can't possibly be worse than what Brandon Staley and co. offered, though the change does bring about the possibility of more emphasis on the running game after four straight seasons in which Herbert averaged more than 35 pass attempts per appearance. Fellow WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (ACL) also are under contract for 2024, albeit with the possibility for the Chargers to free up $20 million or more in cap space if either is traded or released.

Mims ended the 2023 regular season with 22 receptions on 33 targets for 377 yards and one touchdown in 16 games. He added nine rushes for 30 yards and scored one kick return touchdown.

Mims entered the 2023 campaign with expectations of being a contributor in Denver's offense, yet his rookie season was mostly underwhelming. Behind both Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy on the depth chart, the 21-year-old wideout often found himself competing for playing time with Brandon Johnson and Lil'Jordan Humphrey for the third receiver spot. When teammate Tim Patrick (Achilles) landed on injured reserve in training camp, many assumed that Mims could establish himself early on, but Denver's coaching staff was committed to easing him into the offense. The Oklahoma product flashed his speed and playmaking ability in his limited opportunities, so its possible that he could be a larger part of the Broncos' offensive plans in 2024. What remains to be seen is who will be throwing him the ball, as the team is expected to part ways with Russell Wilson in the offseason.

Moore (knee) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.

Moore last played Week 15 and was designated for return from injured reserve Jan. 17. The Chiefs will need to activate him from IR by Feb. 7 in order for him to be eligible to play in the Super Bowl matchup with the 49ers on Feb. 11. Even if that happens, Moore might not have much of a role. He played just 35 and 25 percent of snaps in his final two games before landing on IR, and he hasn't seen more than three targets in a game since Week 6.

The Lions signed Fountain to a reserve/future contract Wednesday.

Fountain will stay in Detroit after spending the entirety of the 2023 campaign on their practice squad. The 28-year-old hasn't appeared in a regular-season contest since 2021 and still looks to be a long shot to be included on the Lions' 53-man roster in Week 1 of the 2024 season.

Toney (personal) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.

The Chiefs didn't actually practice Tuesday, but Toney apparently would have been a full participant if the team took the field. Toney hasn't played at all in the playoffs, with his absence from the first two games attributed to hip and ankle injuries and his absence from the AFC Championship Game attributed to both his hip and a personal issue (reportedly the birth of his first child). Prior to last Sunday's win over the Ravens, Toney went on Instagram Live and suggested that he wasn't hurt and implied that the Chiefs weren't being truthful about his injury status, but head coach Andy Reid said Monday that the receiver's inclusion on injury reports was "not made up by any means," per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. Though Toney's listing as a full participant on the injury report implies that both the receiver and the team are now in agreement that he's healthy, it's uncertain that he'll be active for the Super Bowl. He hasn't played since Week 15 and hadn't performed up to expectations when healthy this season, notably dropping five of his 38 targets over his 13 appearances while also having a costly offside penalty late in a Week 14 loss to the Bills that wiped out a potential game-winning touchdown.

Jennings (head) caught one of two targets for eight yards in Sunday's 34-31 NFC Championship Game win over the Lions.

Jennings had to leave the contest briefly to be examined for a concussion, but he was eventually cleared to return and finished with 22 snaps on offense. The physical wideout even got into an altercation with a Detroit defensive back at one point, but he appears to have escaped the game no worse for wear. Jennings left most of the playmaking to his superstar teammates Sunday, resulting in a forgettable fantasy day when compared to the 5-61-0 fantasy line he netted in the divisional-round win over the Packers while helping to replace the injured Deebo Samuel. With the 49ers' core at full strength heading into Super Bowl Sunday, Jennings should find himself with another light target count in the final game of the 2023 season.

Kennedy signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on Tuesday, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

Kennedy was injured during training camp with Detroit, but after being waived with an injury settlement, he found his way back to the organization in November as a member of the practice squad. The 27-year-old has played in 20 career games -- all with the Lions -- and has recorded 14 catches for 195 yards on 25 targets.

Alexander signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on Tuesday, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

Alexander spent all of 2023 on the team's practice squad after appearing in four games during the 2022 campaign with Detroit. The wideout will look to impress in Detroit's offseason program with the hope of earning his way back on to the 53-man roster in 2024.

Brooks caught all six of his targets for 64 yards over seven regular-season games in 2023.

The seventh-round pick out of South Carolina was never active for more than three games in a row during his rookie season, and most of his production came in Week 10, when he saw extra run in garbage time against the Giants. The Cowboys figure to return most of their key offensive personnel in 2024, but if Michael Gallup or Brandin Cooks becomes cap casualties in the offseason, Brooks could move into a bigger role.

Snead reverted to the 49ers' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Snead was elevated prior to Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Lions, but the veteran wideout ended up being inactive. He'll wait to see if he gets called up again in two weeks for the Super Bowl.