NFL Player News

Evans secured eight of 12 targets for 147 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 31-23 divisional-round loss to the Lions on Sunday.

After a relatively quiet performance in the wild-card win over the Eagles, Evans reassumed his usual role as the clear-cut top target for Baker Mayfield, finishing with team-high figures across the board for the Buccaneers' pass catchers on the day. The highly decorated veteran delivered a clutch 16-yard touchdown grab with 4:37 remaining to bring Tampa Bay within one possession, and he was also the intended target on the subsequent two-point conversion attempt that fell short on a play on which there was contact between Evans and the defensive back. A disappointing conclusion to the season doesn't take away from the fact Evans looked as effective as ever in 2023, finishing with a 79-1,255-13 line across 17 regular-season games. With his reception and yardage totals his highest since 2018, Evans, a pending free agent, figures to command a lucrative new contract from either the Bucs or on the open market this offseason.

Ross (hamstring) is active for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against Buffalo.

Ross was unable to play in the Chiefs' wild-card win over the Dolphins due to the injury, but he was able to log limited practices leading up to the divisional-round matchup with the Bills. The Clemson product will be one of the many options at receiver suiting up for Kansas City on Sunday.

Young didn't record a target over six games during the 2023 season.

Young battled an abdomen injury for most of the season, but he was active when he was healthy. Still, Young logged just six offensive snaps compared to 99 special-teams snaps. The 2022 seventh-round pick will be on the roster bubble in 2024.

Samuel will undergo additional testing on his shoulder after exiting Saturday's 24-21 win over the Packers in the divisional round, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports.

The 49ers are hoping to rule out a hairline fracture in his shoulder, which is the injury he suffered in Week 6 against the Browns that forced him to miss two games. Samuel reportedly told members of the 49ers that he was "OK," but head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested that Samuel not finishing the playoff game is a sign of a potentially serious injury. We won't know for sure until Samuel undergoes the additional tests. Jauan Jennings was the main beneficiary of Samuel's absence, recording five catches for 61 yards.

Jennings brought in five of six targets for 61 yards in the 49ers' 24-21 divisional-round win over the Packers on Saturday night.

Jennings, who'd missed the last three regular-season games due to a concussion, ended up as the surprise leader in receptions on the night for the 49ers. Naturally, Deebo Samuel's exit from the game in the first half due to a shoulder injury played a significant role in Jennings' unexpected production, and the fourth-year pro could certainly continue to see expanded opportunity in an NFC Championship Game matchup against either the Buccaneers or Lions on Sunday, Jan. 28 if Samuel remains sidelined.

Aiyuk secured three of six targets for 32 yards in the 49ers' 24-21 divisional-round win over the Packers on Saturday night.

Aiyuk had an underwhelming night by any measure, but especially within the context of Deebo Samuel exiting the game for good in the first half due to a shoulder injury. Aiyuk recorded a career-best 1,342 yards on the strength of a career-high 28 receptions of 20+ yards across 16 regular-season games; therefore, despite Saturday's downturn, Aiyuk, who tallied three 100-yard efforts in his last four full games of the regular-season campaign, should have a strong chance to bounce back against the vulnerable secondary of either the Buccaneers or Lions in an NFC Championship Game matchup on Sunday, Jan. 28.

Reed recorded four receptions on four targets for 35 yards in Saturday's 24-21 loss to the 49ers. He added one rush for nine yards.

The Packers had all of their top pass-catching options available, so targets were spread widely. That limited Reed's volume, and he was also primarily limited to opportunity in the short areas of the field, with the exception being a 29-yard catch deep down the right sideline early in the second quarter. After ending the regular season as the team's most productive pass catcher, Reed was overshadowed by Romeo Doubs in the postseason and was shut out from the stat sheet in the wild-card round. Nevertheless, it was a promising rookie season for Reed overall -- he found the end zone 10 times in 16 regular-season games -- but target volume will remain an issue in 2024 due to the number of young receivers on the roster.

Doubs recorded four receptions on six targets for 83 yards in Saturday's 24-21 loss to the 49ers.

As has been the case all season, targets were spread evenly between multiple Packers pass catchers. Doubs finished tied for the team lead with six opportunities, and he was by far the most efficient with his chances thanks to long gains of 38, 22 and 15 yards. After it previously appeared that he slipped behind Jayden Reed as the top pass catcher on the team, Doubs combined to record 234 yards across two playoff contests. His ability to consistently command targets will remain an issue in 2024, as Christian Watson, Reed and Dontayvion Wicks will all almost certainly remain on the roster.

Bateman recorded three receptions on three targets for 39 yards in Saturday's 34-10 win over the Texans.

Baltimore dominated the Texans on the ground, limiting its need to take to the air. That led to diminished volume for all of the team's pass catchers, while Bateman to finish tied for third on the team in targets. His first catch was his most impactful, as it pushed the Ravens into field-goal range on their first offensive possession. Bateman also tacked on a 21-yard gain in the third quarter, the team's second-longest gain from scrimmage. He's had a disappointing season overall, though Bateman now has multiple catches in four of his last six contests.

Samuel (shoulder) has been ruled out from returning to Saturday's divisional-round game against the Packers, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Samuel was originally diagnosed with a head injury after exiting the game in the first quarter, and he was briefly able to return to the contest. However, he left the field soon thereafter and headed to San Francisco's locker room, where he was diagnosed with a left shoulder injury. Samuel had imaging on the shoulder and wasn't in uniform upon the start of the second half, and he's since been ruled out for the remainder of the game. Brandon Aiyuk is likely to take on an even more prominent role in the passing game due to Samuel being out of the matchup, while Jauan Jennings is likely to slide in as the 49ers' No. 2 wideout. Ray-Ray McCloud and Chris Conley could also see more work.