NFL Player News

Grandy (chest) and the Bengals agreed on a one-year contract extension Monday.

Grandy appeared in five contests during the regular season, catching both of his targets for seven yards while playing 28 snaps on offense. With Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample both under contract for 2026, Grandy will compete to operate as the team's No. 3 option at tight end next season.

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

Clifford spent most of the 2025 season on the Bengals' practice squad after failing to make the Packers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He did not appear in a regular-season game for Cincinnati but was briefly on the active roster to serve as the team's emergency quarterback for Weeks 9 and 11. The 2023 fifth-rounder has not appeared in a regular-season game in each of the last two years, but he'll remain with the Bengals organization and participate in offseason activities with an eye toward making the active roster for 2026.

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

Brightwell spent the entire 2025 regular season on the Bengals' practice squad after failing to make the team's 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He was elevated to the active roster for Weeks 12 and 13 against the Patriots and Ravens, respectively, and over those two games he returned four kickoffs for 83 yards. Brightwell will participate in offseason activities with the Bengals and look to compete for a spot on the active roster for the 2026 campaign.

Tinsley and the Bengals agreed on a one-year contract extension Monday.

Tinsley caught eight of 24 targets for 116 yards and two touchdowns over 17 contests during the regular season, and he'll now stick around Cincinnati for another year. The wide receiver will compete for a top reserve spot behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in 2026.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Cowing (IR, hamstring) will have his practice window opened Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cowing spent the entire 2025 season recovering from a hamstring injury that he suffered during training camp. The 24-year-old is available to return for the wild-card round against the Eagles and will likely see a mix of reps on offense and special teams should he play.

Head coach Sean McDermott said Monday that Prater (quadriceps) is "more day-to-day" as the Bills begin preparing for Sunday's wild-card game in Jacksonville, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Prater's nagging right quad injury kept him from kicking in Weeks 16 and 17 and resulted in him being unable to finish this past Sunday's 35-8 win over the Jets, but the aggravation he experienced in the regular-season finale doesn't appear to be viewed as significant. Even so, McDermott acknowledged that while Prater still has a chance at playing in the postseason opener, the Bills plan to bring in other kickers for workouts Tuesday in order to have a replacement option ready to go in case the 41-year-old isn't ready to kick against Jacksonville. Over his 15 appearances during the regular season, Prater knocked down 46 of 49 extra-point tries and 18 of 20 field-goal attempts, with a long conversion of 52 yards.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Gifford (quadriceps) will be evaluated throughout the week to determine his status for the wild-card round, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Gifford suffered a quad injury in the 49ers' Week 18 game against the Seahawks, and it's unclear if he'll be available to open the postseason. If Gifford and Dee Winters (ankle) are unable to play Sunday against the Eagles, Curtis Robinson and Garret Wallow would likely slot in alongside Eric Kendricks.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Warner (IR, ankle) can return in the playoffs, but only if the team makes a deep playoff run, Matt Barrows reports.

Warner has not played since suffering an ankle injury in Week 6 against Tampa Bay and isn't ready to return for the start of the playoffs. When asked about the star linebacker, Shanahan said the team would have to win a few playoff games before thinking about a possible comeback for the 29-year-old. With Warner and Tatum Bethune (groin) both out, and Dee Winters (ankle) listed as questionable, Eric Kendricks is in line to start at linebacker for San Francisco in Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Eagles.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Kendricks has moved into the starting role at linebacker with Tatum Bethune (groin) out through the postseason, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Kendricks was elevated to the active roster in late December and made his first appearance with the 49ers in Week 16, recording six tackles (three solo) in three games. Bethune is just the latest domino to fall in terms of injury on San Francisco's defense, which will head into the postseason without Mykel Williams (IR, knee), Nick Bosa (IR, knee) and Fred Warner (IR, ankle), and with Dee Winters (ankle) questionable for Sunday's wild-card round matchup against the Eagles. The team hopes Kendricks can act as a bridge for a potential deep playoff run until Warner is healthy, per David Lombardi of SFStandard.com.

Sam Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Bethune (groin) won't be available for the 49ers' entire postseason run, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.

Bethune's status for San Francisco's wild-card round matchup was already up in the air after he exited in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 13-3 loss to the Seahawks. Upon further examination, the 24-year-old has been diagnosed with a groin tear that may require surgery. With Dee Winters (ankle) also uncertain to play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Eagles and with Shanahan ruling out Fred Warner (ankle) for the first two rounds of the playoffs, Eric Kendricks is expected to take on a full-time role at linebacker. Garret Wallow and Curtis Robinson -- who was inactive in Week 18 -- could also be called upon to handle more prominent roles.