NFL Player News

Coach Matt LaFleur said Friday that Watson (hamstring) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's wild-card game at Dallas, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.

After managing a limited walkthrough Wednesday and a capped practice Thursday, Watson will enter the weekend with a chance to return to action. He hasn't suited up since suffering a right hamstring strain Week 13 against the Chiefs, and if he's unable to attain active status Sunday, the Packers otherwise will have the rest of their regular wide receivers available to the offense, with Romeo Doubs (chest) avoiding a game-day designation.

Brown (knee) was absent from Friday's practice, Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia reports.

Brown thus hasn't logged any on-field work since injuring his knee during the Eagles' Week 18 loss at the Giants, giving him one more chance to do so before the team potentially makes a ruling on his availability for Monday's wild-card game in Tampa Bay. He likely will do everything in his power to suit up in Philadelphia's postseason opener, but if Brown is limited or out, Julio Jones, Quez Watkins and Olamide Zaccheaus would be the candidates to get WR reps alongside DeVonta Smith.

Shakir's teammate Gabe Davis has been ruled out of Sunday's playoff opener against the Steelers due to a knee injury.

Shakir is coming off a fantastic game with six catches for 105 yards and will reprise the role of No. 2 wideout under top dog Stefon Diggs. There's a good chance Shakir will receive a healthy number of targets Sunday, though that comes with two caveats -- one is that the Bills always spread the ball around even when key players are hurt, the other being the weather forecast is calling for ugly, windy weather all afternoon.

Kirk (groin) finished the 2023 season with 57 catches on 85 targets for 787 yards and three touchdowns in 12 appearances. He also rushed once for six yards.

Kirk took a step back after setting career highs in catches (84), receiving yards (1,108) and touchdowns (eight) in his first season with the Jaguars, though he had similar per-game numbers besides the decline in the notoriously fickle touchdown category. He missed the final five games of the season as the Jaguars collapsed down the stretch and missed the playoffs at 9-8, but Kirk is expected to be healthy by the start of the 2024 campaign and is thus in line to reprise a starting role on the outside opposite Calvin Ridley.

Head coach Sean McDermott has ruled Davis (knee) out for Sunday's playoff opener against the Steelers.

Davis was listed as a non-participant in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, and now that he's been deemed unavailable for Sunday's contest, the wideout will target a potential return to action in the divisional round, should Buffalo advance. In Davis' looming absence, look for Khalil Shakir and Trent Sherfield to see added opportunities behind top wideout Stefon Diggs this weekend while contending with inclement weather conditions at Highmark Stadium, per Patrick Warren of the team's official site.

Chosen secured four of six targets for 126 yards and one touchdown across nine appearances with the Dolphins in 2023.

Chosen's season highlight came in his first appearance, when he hauled in a 68-yard touchdown on his lone target during Miami's trouncing of the Broncos in Week 3. The veteran was quiet after that point, as he spent the rest of the campaign bouncing between the Dolphins' practice squad and active roster. Given that Chosen is playing on a one-year deal and set to become an unrestricted free agent, his best chance of earning another contract in Miami will likely be to make another splash play or two in the playoffs, starting with Saturday's wild-card matchup at Kansas City.

Strachan finished the regular season with one catch on three targets for 45 yards in four games.

Strachan featured for a career-low amount of games since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2021. Although he's under contract with the Panthers for next season, Strachan will have to earn a roster spot under a new front office.

Smith-Marsette finished the regular season with eight catches on 10 targets for 51 yards and eight rushes for 74 yards and a touchdown in 17 games. He also returned 37 punts for 322 yards and another score.

Smith-Marsette handled punt-return duties throughout the season and saw his offensive role expand after Laviska Shenault (ankle) was injured in November. Although he produced some good moments on gadget plays, it remains to be seen whether Carolina's new front office will look to retain Smith-Marsette as a restricted free agent this offseason.

Shenault finished the regular season with 10 catches on 10 targets for 60 yards and 12 carries for 55 yards in eight games. He also returned six kickoffs for 167 yards.

Shenault landed on injured reserve in late November due to an ankle injury. When healthy, he remained in a gadget role that attempted to highlight his tackle-breaking potential. After seeing his production drop off in consecutive seasons upon joining the Panthers, the former second-round pick will now become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Powell appeared in all 17 games during the 2023 season, catching 29 of 44 targets for 324 yards and one touchdown while adding five carries for 17 scoreless yards.

Powell also served as Minnesota's top punt returner, returning a league-high 37 punts for 289 yards and no touchdowns. It was Powell's first year with the Vikings after spending the previous two seasons with the Rams, where he crossed paths with Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell. Powell's 407 offensive snaps in 2023 were a new career high for the 28-year-old, as he saw extensive action in three-wide sets while Justin Jefferson missed two-plus months on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Powell is scheduled to be a free agent in March but may have showed enough to get a longer look in Minnesota with a familiar coaching staff.