NFL Player News

The Lions signed Meeks to a reserve/future contract Monday.

Meeks spent the entirety of the 2025 season with Detroit's practice squad, earning a pair of elevations to the active roster. The wide receiver didn't record any stats while playing five snaps on offense and 23 snaps with the special-teams unit in those contests. Meeks will now have an opportunity to train with the Lions in the offseason, and he'll attempt to crack their initial 53-man roster ahead of the 2026 season.

Samuel (elbow) will not have his 21-day practice window opened ahead of the Bills' AFC wild-card game against the Jaguars on Sunday, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

Samuel landed on injured reserve in late November due to an elbow injury, and he hasn't progressed enough in his recovery to return for the opening round of the AFC playoffs. Samuel was a healthy inactive for the first three weeks of the regular season, but when he did play, he was often listed on the injury report for a variety of reasons. He appeared in just six regular-season games for Buffalo and logged seven catches (on nine targets) for 81 yards and a touchdown while returning nine kickoffs for 223 yards.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Monday that Johnson is considered day-to-day due to an ankle injury, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

Johnson presumably sustained the injury at some point in Sunday's 35-8 win over the Jets, but the ankle issue didn't get in the way of the veteran running back turning in his best fantasy performance of the season. With the Bills resting several key players Week 18 -- including lead back James Cook, who played just two snaps -- Johnson and fellow backup Ray Davis took full advantage of the extra opportunities afforded to them. Johnson carried 13 times for 36 yards -- both season highs -- and a touchdown and chipped in two catches for 20 yards and another score on two targets. Assuming he can move past the ankle injury in advance of Sunday's wild-card game in Jacksonville, Johnson should continue to fill an important change-of-pace role behind Cook, though Johnson likely won't come close to matching the touch volume he received in the regular-season finale.

The Lions signed Horton to a reserve/future contract Monday.

Horton reverted to the Lions' practice squad Monday after playing three snaps on offense and three snaps with the special-teams unit in Sunday's 19-16 win over the Bears. The tight end appeared in two games this season with Detroit, failing to log any stats in either contest. Horton will now be given a chance to prove himself with the team during their offseason training activities ahead of the 2026 campaign.

The Lions signed Cunningham to a reserve/future contract Monday.

Cunningham spent the majority of the 2025 campaign on the Lions' practice squad, playing one offensive snap in his only appearance Week 14 against the Cowboys, logging one carry for one yard. The 27-year-old has transitioned to wide receiver after entering the NFL as a quarterback in 2023, but he has yet to be given much of an opportunity to prove himself at the new position.

Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday that there are no plans for Oliver (biceps/knee) to be designated to return from injured reserve this week, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

Oliver landed on injured reserve in late October due to a torn biceps that he sustained against the Panthers in Week 8. There was some optimism that the seventh-year defensive tackle could return for the playoffs. However, that was before Oliver underwent surgery in late December to repair the meniscus in his knee, and he appears to be a long shot to return for the Bills' postseason run, even if the team were to make it to the Super Bowl in February. The Bills will continue to rely on Deone Walker, Greg Rousseau, DaQuan Jones (calf) and Joey Bosa (hamstring) to man the defensive front heading into Sunday's AFC wild-card game against the Jaguars.

Moore was signed to a reserve/future contract by the Bengals on Monday.

Moore will stick around Cincinnati after spending the 2025 campaign as a member of the team's practice squad. The wide receiver did not appear in any contests this season, and he's yet to make his NFL debut. Moore will look to impress during the team's offseason training activities in an attempt to potentially garner an active roster spot in 2026.

The Chargers waived Maye on Monday.

Maye was signed to the Chargers' active roster from the practice squad Saturday and served in a rotational role on defense during Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos, when he logged five tackles (one solo) while playing 24 snaps (21 on defense, three on special teams). Maye could opt to remain with the Chargers as a member of the team's practice squad during the postseason.

Spears rushed the ball three times for 18 yards in Sunday's 41-7 loss to the Jaguars. He added seven receptions (on seven targets) for nine yards.

Tony Pollard dominated rushing attempts for Tennessee, tallying 14 compared to Spears' three. Spears did serve as a favorite checkdown option for fill-in QB Brandon Allen, but that resulted in little production. Injuries and a poor offensive environment derailed Spears' third year as a pro, as his 291 rushing yards across 13 regular-season games were the fewest of his career. He'll presumably enter the final year of his rookie contract in a backup role to Pollard in 2026.

The Bengals signed Johnson to a reserve/future contract Monday.

Johnson was waived with an injury settlement by the Texans in late August after breaking his hand during training camp, but he managed to catch on with the Bengals in mid-December as a member of the team's practice squad. The Ohio State product has yet to appear in a regular-season game, but he'll be on the Bengals' 90-man roster following the Super Bowl and will participate in offseason training activities in Cincinnati.