NFL Player News

Coleman is expected to have an expanded offensive role while Joshua Palmer (ankle) is sidelined during Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Jaguars, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

The 22-year-old wideout was a healthy scratch in four of the Bills' final eight regular-season games this year, but he's expected to take on an expanded offensive role Sunday due to Palmer being ruled out. Coleman, a 2024 second-round pick from Florida State, has caught 38 of 59 targets for 404 yards and four touchdowns across 13 appearances in 2025. Even so, Coleman is expected to play behind Khalil Shakir, Brandin Cooks and Tyrell Shavers during the wild-card round.

Palmer (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's AFC wild-card game against the Jaguars.

Palmer was held out of practice all week due to an ankle injury, which is severe enough for the veteran wideout to be sidelined for the Bills' playoff opener. With Palmer sidelined, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports that Keon Coleman -- who was a healthy inactive in four of the Bills' final eight games of the regular season -- is expected to be active against Jacksonville. Brandin Cooks and Tyrell Shavers are also in line for more snaps on offense in Palmer's absence.

Valdes-Scantling secured 14 of 29 targets for 120 yards and a touchdown over 10 regular-season appearances between the 49ers and Steelers in 2025.

Valdes-Scantling began the 2025 campaign in San Francisco, where he saw limited work despite the team dealing with several absences at wide receiver, as he hauled in just four of eight targets for 40 yards. After being let go by the 49ers, he linked up with the Steelers -- and former teammate Aaron Rodgers -- to close out the year. Valdes-Scantling was slightly more productive in Pittsburgh, but most of his output (eight catches on 16 targets for 55 yards) came in the final two weeks of the regular season when DK Metcalf was suspended. Metcalf is slated to return for the playoffs, so Valdes-Scantling's workload in the postseason will likely be limited. While Valdes-Scantling's role in 2026 will depend on where he ends up, his fantasy upside has been limited over the past few seasons.

Cowing (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's wild-card game against the Eagles, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports, but the wide receiver remains on injured reserve.

Cowing would need to be activated from IR prior to Sunday's game to have a chance to suit up. The 2024 fourth-round pick missed the entire 2025 regular season due to a hamstring injury, so he's unlikely to have a substantial role even if he plays.

Pearsall (knee/ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Philadelphia despite not practicing at all this week, Noah Furtado of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Despite Pearsall -- who last saw game action in Week 17 -- having missed three straight practices, the 49ers will at least leave the door open for a miraculous recovery at the last minute. Fellow wideouts Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne will take on more playing time if Pearsall is declared inactive before the team's 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday.

Lockett closed out his 2025 campaign with 32 catches for 291 yards and a touchdown on 55 targets over 17 games, 10 of which he played with the Raiders after a midseason departure from Tennessee.

Lockett was released by the Titans in October, less than a month after his 33rd birthday, before ultimately landing in Las Vegas, where he linked up with former Seahawks comrades in head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith. As a Raider, Lockett provided a veteran presence among the receiving corps while the team worked out a trade that sent Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville. Across 10 games in the silver and black, Lockett caught 22 passes on 34 targets for 221 yards and a score. He's now set to become an unrestricted free agent, though retirement could be a possibility as well.

Thornton finished his rookie campaign with 10 total receptions for 135 yards on 30 targets over 15 games.

Thornton was expected to be more of a developmental project when the Raiders selected him 108th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, but a 10-135-0 receiving line for the 6-foot-5, 205-pound burner was still a major disappointment considering the underwhelming target competition in Las Vegas. That being said, Thornton could compete for a starting WR role on the outside across from Tre Tucker in 2026 if the new regime doesn't address the position in the offseason, though tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is set to remain a focal point in the passing game as well. Nonetheless, fellow rookie receiver Jack Bech was a slightly more productive option than Thornton down the stretch.

Wicks (concussion) has been ruled out for Saturday's wild-card game at Chicago.

The Packer listed Wicks as questionable on their final injury report Thursday. They're now downgrading him to 'out', which could leave a few more snaps/routes for any combination of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden.

Lambert-Smith (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Patriots.

Lambert-Smith opened the Chargers' week of practice with consecutive DNPs after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Week 18 loss to the Broncos, so it's no surprise that he won't play Sunday. The rookie wideout from Auburn logged just 53 offensive snaps over 10 regular-season contests this season, catching five of 12 targets for 51 yards and a touchdown. Kimani Vidal will likely step in and operate as one of the Chargers' top kick returners while Lambert-Smith is sidelined for the wild-card round.

McCaffrey (collarbone) caught 11 of 15 targets for 203 yards and three touchdowns across nine regular-season games in 2025. Additionally, he recorded 769 kick return yards.

The second-year pro from Rice had a terrific start to the 2025 season, catching eight of 10 targets for 179 yards and three touchdowns across the Commanders' first six games. McCaffrey also proved to be one of the best return specialists in the NFL, averaging a whopping 29.6 yards per kick return. He's expected to return from a broken collarbone by the start of the 2026 season and will likely play another depth role in Washington's receiving corps.