NFL Player News
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Rome Odunze WR | CHI
Bears' Rome Odunze: Limited on practice estimate
Odunze (foot) was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough.
In his return from a five-game absence in this past Saturday's wild-card win against the Packers, Odunze started and played the second-most offensive snaps (54 of 78) among Bears wide receivers behind DJ Moore (knee), but the former managed just two catches (on six targets) for 44 yards. Both wide receivers were estimated as limited to begin preparation for Sunday's divisional-round game versus the Rams, with Odunze dealing with his lingering foot injury and Moore his nagging knee issue, so their statuses bear watching as the weekend approaches.
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John Rhys Plumlee WR | PIT
Steelers' John Rhys Plumlee: Staying with Pittsburgh
The Steelers signed Plumlee to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Plumlee has been on and off the Steelers' practice squad since late October, providing depth at wide receiver and quarterback for the team throughout the 2025 campaign. The 25-year-old was not elevated to the active roster during his tenure, but the Steelers seem to think he can contribute to the 2026 season. Plumlee will now have a shot to fight for a roster spot on next year's team.
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Cole Burgess WR | CIN
Steelers' Cole Burgess: Signed future deal with Pittsburgh
The Steelers signed Burgess to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Burgess spent the entire regular season as a free agent after being waived from the Bengals' practice squad in late August. The wide receiver will now have a chance to suit up for the Steelers and compete for a roster spot ahead of the 2026 season.
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Tyrell Shavers WR | BUF
Bills' Tyrell Shavers: Officially placed on IR
The Bills placed Shavers (ACL) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Shavers will miss the remainder of Buffalo's postseason run due to a torn ACL suffered during the team's wild-card round win over the Jaguars on Sunday. His injury leaves Khalil Shakir, Brandin Cooks and Keon Coleman as the only healthy options at wideout on the team's active roster, as Gabe Davis (knee) also suffered an ACL tear versus Jacksonville and was subsequentially placed on IR. Curtis Samuel (elbow) had his 21-day practice window opened Tuesday and was listed as a full participant in the team's walkthrough practice, so he could be an option to come off IR and provide added depth for Saturday's divisional-round matchup against Denver.
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Nico Collins WR | HOU
Texans' Nico Collins: No practice Wednesday
Collins (concussion) isn't practicing Wednesday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
While attempting to corral a C.J. Stroud pass in the third quarter of Monday's wild-card win at Pittsburgh, Collins wasn't able to brace himself as his helmet went directly into the turf. He remained on the field for a spell and then was carted from the sideline to the locker room, after which he was diagnosed with a concussion. With a short week to prepare for Sunday's divisional-round game in New England, Collins may be hard-pressed to gain clearance from the protocol for head injuries to be able to play this weekend, but he at least has chances Thursday and Friday for on-field work before then.
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Javon Baker WR | SF
Javon Baker: Cut from practice squad
The 49ers cut Baker from the practice squad Wednesday.
Baker was signed to the practice squad Dec. 9 and has been cut without being elevated to the active roster for any games. The 23-year-old wide receiver is a potential acquisition for several teams in need of wide receiver depth as the postseason continues.
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Ihmir Smith-Marsette WR | NYG
Cardinals' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Signs with Arizona
The Cardinals signed Smith-Marsette to a reserve/future deal Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Smith-Marsette spent the 2025 season as a member of the Giants' practice squad and was not elevated for any games. The return specialist played in 15 games for the Giants during the 2024 campaign, logging 381 kick return yards and 228 punt return yards over 135 special-teams snaps.
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Adam Thielen WR | PIT
Adam Thielen: Ends playing career
Thielen announced on social media Wednesday that he is retiring from the NFL, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
In his last NFL campaign, Thielen played in 16 regular-season games (11 with the Vikings and five with the Steelers), combining for 19 catches (on 35 targets) for 186 yards in that span. The 35-year-old wideout, who originally entered the league with the Vikings after going undrafted out of Minnesota State in 2013, thus finishes up his NFL career -- which included two Pro Bowl selections -- with a 704/8,497/64 receiving line in 178 regular-season outings.
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Travis Hunter WR | JAC
Jaguars' Travis Hunter: Likely to play more defense in 2026
Jaguars GM James Gladstone confirmed Wednesday that Hunter (knee) will remain a two-way player in 2026 but implied that the wide receiver/cornerback is likely to see more playing time on defense during the upcoming season, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Gladstone noted that Hunter's rehab program is progressing "as expected," after the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft required season-ending surgery Nov. 11 to address a torn LCL in his right knee. Hunter looks on track to be ready for the start of the Jaguars' offseason program, which will be a pivotal one as he prepares to see increased time on the defensive side of the ball in 2026. In his seven appearances as a rookie, Hunter was on the field for 67 percent of the team's offensive snaps compared to only 36 percent of the defensive snaps, but Gladstone cited the Jaguars' positional needs (based on looming expiring contracts) as a primary factor in wanting the 22-year-old to get more exposure to cornerback. Shortly before Hunter got hurt, the Jaguars acquired Jakobi Meyers from the Raiders at the trade deadline and then signed him to an extension, and Parker Washington also emerged as a trusted slot man late in the season to complement Meyers and 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas on the outside. A healthy Hunter is still likely to factor into the equation at receiver in some capacity next season, but because the wideout room already looks like an area of relative strength for Jacksonville, he could be headed for a steep reduction in reps on offense in what would obviously represent a negative development for his fantasy prospects.
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Derius Davis WR | LAC
Chargers' Derius Davis: Mostly serves as returner in 2025
Davis caught two passes (on three targets) for 10 yards, logged 484 yards on 18 kick returns and 77 yards on 11 punt returns over 11 regular-season games for the Chargers in 2025.
Davis finished the 2025 campaign by turning four kickoff returns into 100 yards during the Chargers' AFC wild-card round loss to the Patriots on Sunday. The third-year pro was limited to a return role in 2025 while buried on the wide receiver depth chart behind the likes of Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston and rookie second-rounder Tre' Harris. Davis is under contract with the Chargers in 2026 and will likely serve as the team's returner unless an expanded role on offense emerges over the offseason.