NFL Player News

Starks tallied 84 total tackles (49 solo) and four passes defensed, including two interceptions, over 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Starks, a 2025 first-round pick from Georgia, started 15 of the 17 games he appeared in this season, logging a whopping 1,060 defensive snaps. He finished his rookie campaign with the third-most interceptions and the fourth-most total tackles on the Ravens' defense. Even after Baltimore added safety Alohi Gilman via trade in early October, Starks was a regular in team's secondary. He's expected to continue emerging as one of the NFL's top young safeties in 2026.

Odunze (foot) doesn't have a designation for Saturday's wild-card game against the Packers.

Odunze previously was deemed active for a Week 15 matchup with the Browns, but a late setback with his lingering foot injury spurred the Bears to rule him out not long before kickoff. To cap the regular season, he ended up missing five consecutive contests due to what has been termed a stress fracture in his foot. With a full practice under his belt Thursday, Odunze is in the clear to suit up Saturday, but how many snaps he'll be able to handle remains to be seen.

Wiggins recorded 76 total tackles (57 solo) and 14 passes defensed, including three interceptions, over 17 regular-season games in 2025.

The 2024 first-round pick from Clemson proved why he's considered one of the NFL's top emerging corners in 2025, leading Baltimore in passes defensed and tying for the 12th-most league-wide. Wiggins played a career-high 1,024 defensive snaps this season, resulting in personal bests in total tackles, passes defensed and interceptions. The 22-year-old remains under contract next season and is expected to continue blossoming as one of the league's premier boundary cornerbacks in 2026.

Lassiter (ankle) isn't practicing Thursday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Lassiter has two opportunities left to take the practice field before Monday's wild-card round matchup with the Steelers, and Alexander expects Lassiter to be available Monday. The starting cornerback's practice participation will be worth monitoring over the coming days after Lassiter sat out the Week 18 win over the Colts.

Dotson (ankle) won't play in Saturday's wild-card round game against the Panthers, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.

Head coach Sean McVay ruled Dotson out Thursday, though McVay added that Dotson is making good progress in the starting right guard's recovery from an ankle injury sustained in Week 16 against the Seahawks. Justin Dedich is poised to continue filling in during the wild-card round, but Dotson has a chance to return in the NFC divisional round should the Rams advance.

Gilman posted 90 total tackles (50 solo), nine passes defensed and one forced fumble over 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Gilman began the season with the Chargers and appeared in five games prior to being dealt to the Ravens in early October. The 28-year-old from Notre Dame was a huge addition to Baltimore's defense, as the team allowed 35.4 points per game prior to his arrival and just 17.0 after. Gilman tallied a career-high 90 stops while recording the second-most passes defensed of his career (nine) as well. Set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, he's likely to draw significant interest from teams in need of secondary help.

Smith tallied 130 total tackles (76 solo) and three passes defensed across 15 regular-season games in 2025.

Despite missing two contests during Baltimore's 2025 campaign, the 28-year-old led the team in total tackles for the third consecutive season. That said, Smith posted fewer total tackles (154 to 130), sacks (1.5 to zero), passes defensed (four to three), interceptions (one to zero) and forced fumbles (one to zero) than he did in 2024, all while playing 15 more defensive snaps this year. The All-Pro linebacker remains under contract through the 2027 season, so he's expected to operate as the Ravens' defensive signal-caller again in 2026.

Reed (forearm) was designated for return from injured reserve Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Reed can resume practicing, though Houston would need to follow up with a roster move adding him to the active roster for the safety to be eligible to play in Monday's wild-card round road game against the Steelers. The rookie sixth-round pick dressed for seven games in the regular season but has been on injured reserve since Dec. 6.

Summers (foot) was placed on the Bears' practice-squad injured list Thursday, Brad Biggs of The Athletic reports.

Chicago is expected to re-sign linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin to the practice squad in a corresponding move. Summers will be unavailable for the entirety of the Bears' postseason run due to the foot injury he sustained on the opening kickoff of the regular-season finale against the Lions.

Pearce tallied 26 total tackles (17 solo), including 10.5 sacks, five passes defensed and one forced fumble over 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Pearce, a 2025 first-round pick from Tennessee, was one of the NFL's premier pass rushers during his rookie campaign, leading all rookies with 10.5 sacks and tying for the 12th most in the league. The 22-year-old made a significant impact on Atlanta's defense, helping the Falcons finish with the second-most sacks in the NFL (57.0) after ranking 24th in the same category last season. Pearce is expected to line up opposite fellow 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker in 2026, forming one of league's most promising pass-rush duos.