NFL Player News

Vele failed to secure either of his two targets in Sunday's 31-7 wild-card loss to the Bills.

Vele failed to record a single catch for just the second time this season while playing just 22 of the Broncos 42 offensive snaps against this Bills, his lowest snap total of the campaign. Despite the rough ending, the wideout turned in a solid rookie season. Vele finished the year with 41 receptions on 55 targets for 475 yards and three touchdowns across 13 games. The 27-year-old should continue to develop in head coach Sean Payton's system while potentially earning an even larger role in the Broncos' passing attack in 2025.

Nacua secured five of nine targets for 44 yards in the Rams' 27-9 wild-card win over the Vikings on Monday night.

Nacua finished tied with Tyler Higbee (chest) for the team lead in catches while also setting the pace in targets, but following a 27-yard catch on the first play from scrimmage, the talented wideout had a very quiet night. The Vikings clearly prioritized limiting his ability to get downfield, but it remains to be seen if the Eagles will be as successful in Sunday afternoon's divisional-round road showdown after Nacua got to them for a 9-117-0 line on 13 targets during Philadelphia's Week 12 win over Los Angeles.

Jefferson secured five of eight targets for 58 yards in the Vikings' 27-9 wild-card loss to the Rams on Monday.

Jefferson's ordinary stat line Monday underscores how effective the Rams defense was versus Minnesota's air attack while getting to Sam Darnold for a remarkable nine sacks. The constant pressure combined with the extra attention paid to Jefferson made it difficult for the supremely talented receiver to get loose downfield for his trademark long gains, and although he finished tied for the team lead in both targets and receptions, his yardage total left plenty to be desired. Jefferson displayed plenty of chemistry with Darnold while posting the third-highest reception and receiving yardage totals of his career during the regular season, finishing with 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns over 17 games. The standout receiver, who will be entering the first season of his four-year, $140 million extension in 2025, may be operating with a new quarterback. Darnold is set to become a free agent, and the Vikings invested a 2024 first-round pick in J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury but remains a promising prospect.

Shepard, who was active for Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders but did not log any touches over 27 snaps, finished the 2024 regular season with 32 receptions for 334 yards and a touchdown on 51 targets along with eight rushes for 69 yards across 14 games.

The veteran wideout was signed partly due to his college connection with Baker Mayfield, and Shepard ended up proving he still had something left in the tank after three injury-hampered and mostly ineffective seasons to cap off his long tenure with the Giants. Shepard ended up playing a bigger role than first envisioned due to Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury, recording at least four catches in four games and exceeding 40 receiving yards on four occasions as well. Shepard's season-long reception and receiving yardage totals outpaced the combined 23 catches and 211 yards he'd mustered in his final two Giants campaigns in 2022 and 2023, while his eight rush attempts represented a new career high. Shepard once again will be an unrestricted free agent come the new league year in March, and it's possible the Buccaneers opt to move on considering Godwin's expected return and Jalen McMillan's emergence over the course of his rookie year.

Johnson signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on Monday.

Johnson signed with the Chargers in late April as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia. He was signed to the Bolts' practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp, and he made his NFL regular-season debut in Week 8 against the Saints, during which he played four snaps (one offense, three special teams) but did not show up in the box score otherwise. The 24-year-old wide receiver will have an opportunity to develop his skill set under the Chargers' coaching staff during the offseason and will look to earn a spot on the 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign.

Fitzpatrick signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on Monday.

Fitzpatrick spent most of the 2024 regular season on the Chargers' practice squad after being cut by the Steelers after training camp at the end of August. He was elevated for Week 18 against the Raiders due to Joshua Palmer (foot) being injured, but Fitzpatrick did not draw a target over 10 offensive snaps. Fitzpatrick will remain with the Chargers during the offseason and will look to impress the coaching staff ahead of the start of training camp in July.

Green Bay signed Johnson to a reserve/future contract Monday.

Johnson was selected by the Chargers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 253rd overall. Despite his Michigan connection with Chargers' head coach Jim Harbaugh, Johnson was unable to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp and was cut from the practice squad Sept. 2. Johnson was able to catch on with the Packers' practice squad Sept. 18, though he wasn't elevated to the active roster during the 2024 season. Johnson will stick around in Green Bay during the offseason, where he will have the opportunity to show off his potential to the coaching staff during OTAs, minicamp and training camp ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Hicks signed a reserve/future contract with Green Bay on Monday.

Hicks signed with the Packers in early May as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Albany. He spent the entire 2024 season on Green Bay's practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp. Hicks will have the opportunity to develop his skill set over the offseason and attempt to earn a spot on the active roster for the 2025 campaign.

Moore reverted to the Commanders' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Moore signed with the Commanders' practice squad in late December after being cut from the Cardinals' practice squad Nov. 5. He was elevated to Washington's active roster for Sunday's NFC wild-card game against Tampa Bay and ended up playing 12 snaps on offense, which was more than veteran Jamison Crowder (11). Moore is a candidate to be elevated to the Commanders' active roster for Saturday's NFC divisional-round game against the Lions.

Knue reverted to the Buccaneers' practice squad Saturday.

Despite being elevated to the Bucs' 53-man roster Saturday, Knue was inactive for Sunday's wild-card game against the Commanders. The 25-year-old wide receiver signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent in late April and is a candidate to be signed by the Buccaneers to a reserve/future contract.