NFL Player News

The Bengals signed Lassiter to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Lassiter signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent in May and joined the team's practice squad after being cut ahead of the initial 53-man roster deadline. He was elevated for just one contest (Week 12) and didn't record any counting stats across eight offensive snaps. With his new contract, the rookie tight end out of Kansas will get to stick around the Bengals' organization and compete for a roster spot next season.

Shakir finished the regular season with 10 catches for 161 yards and a TD catch over 14 games.

Shakir was pretty far down the pecking order in a potent offense, but he did well as a fifth-round rookie just to be part of a veteran team's rotation. He even appeared in both playoff games and had 40-plus receiving yards in each. While the Bills will have some changes this offseason, most of the receiving room should remain intact and there could be added competition if veterans Cole Beasley and Jamison Crowder return. Still, Shakir may have more athletic talent than anyone in the team's passing game outside of Stefon Diggs, so his career arc merits watching.

Smith-Marsette reverted to Kansas City's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Smith-Marsette was elevated ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game, marking his third promotion since joining Kansas City's practice squad Oct. 21. However, unlike his previous two appearances, the 6-foot-1 wideout was ruled inactive pregame along with active-roster pass catcher Justin Watson (illness). Regular wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Kadarius Toney (ankle) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) all exited at different points during this win versus Cincinnati. Therefore, if Smith-Marsette is elevated again for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 12, he could have a better chance to be deemed active in the Chiefs' banged-up receiving corps.

Kemp reverted to the Chiefs' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Kemp was elevated for the fifth time this season and the second consecutive game ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game. He primarily was relegated to a role on special teams over his three appearances in the regular season, and he was ruled a healthy scratch for the divisional-round win over Jacksonville. However, with Justin Watson (illness) inactive, the 27-year-old Kemp had to fill in after Chiefs wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Kadarius Toney (ankle) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) all exited with injuries versus Cincinnati. As a result, Kemp played a season-high 22 offensive snaps, and he also hauled in his first target of the season for a 13-yard gain late in the fourth quarter. With the bulk of Kansas City's wide receiver corps now dealing with injuries, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher could be asked to step up on the biggest stage again during the Super Bowl versus Philadelphia on Sunday, Feb. 12.

The Patriots signed Bowden to a reserve/future contract Monday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Bowden, a 2020 third-round pick by the Raiders, spent the entire 2022 campaign on the Patriots' practice squad. He saw just one elevation (Week 9) but failed to garner a target across 14 offensive snaps. With his new contract, he'll be able to stick around New England's organization and compete for a roster spot during the offseason.

Chase caught six of eight targets for 75 yards in Sunday's 23-20 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.

Chase finished three targets and eight receiving yards shy of Tee Higgins' team-leading totals, and the former also was held out of the end zone for the first time this postseason while Higgins scored his first touchdown of the playoffs. The fifth overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft again was brilliant in his second NFL campaign, needing only 12 games to rack up 1,046 yards and nine TDs in the regular season before adding 220 yards and two more scores in three playoff games.

Higgins caught six of 11 targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-20 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.

Higgins played second fiddle to Ja'Marr Chase in Cincinnati's previous two playoff games, but the former led the team in both targets and receiving yards in this hotly contested AFC title matchup. His biggest play was a 27-yard touchdown, which tied the score at 13 apiece in the third quarter. Higgins recorded his second consecutive 1,000-yard regular season before adding 148 yards and one touchdown across three postseason contests. The 24-year-old wide receiver has established himself as a key piece of Cincinnati's passing attack, which is projected to return the core of Chase, Higgins and quarterback Joe Burrow in 2023.

Valdes-Scantling brought in six of eight targets for 116 yards and a touchdown during the Chiefs' 23-20 win over the Bengals in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

The talented speedster put together his best yardage total yet as a Chief and produced his second touchdown in as many weeks via a 19-yard scoring grab with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter. His yardage tally also was a team-high figure, and thanks in part to in-game injuries to JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and Kadarius Toney (ankle), Valdes-Scantling's target mark also tied Travis Kelce's for tops on Kansas City. Valdes-Scantling could be headed for another busy day in Super Bowl LVII versus the Eagles in two weeks' time, not only because of his field-stretching capability, but due to the potential absence or limitations of some of his fellow wideouts as well.

Smith caught two of three targets for a team-high 36 yards in Sunday's 31-7 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

Brock Purdy (elbow) got hurt early for San Francisco, and Philly simply didn't need to throw the ball much after that. Smith's 29-yard catch on the Eagles' opening drive was the longest play of the game for either team, however, and set up a six-yard score for Miles Sanders. It still resulted in Smith's lowest yardage total since Week 9, but he and the rest of the Eagles passing game should be a lot busier two weeks from now in the Super Bowl.

Brown caught four of eight targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 31-7 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

The Eagles' passing game never had to ramp it up, as Brock Purdy (elbow) got hurt early for the Niners, and their offense struggled with journeyman Josh Johnson (concussion) under center. As a result, Brown had a second straight quiet playoff performance after reaching at least 70 yards in six straight games to close out the regular season. The hip issue that's slowed the fourth-year wideout in practice lately may have also been a factor, but Brown will have two weeks to heal up before the Super Bowl.