NFL Player News
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Justin Watson WR | HOU
Texans' Justin Watson: Season derailed by calf issue
Watson recorded three receptions for 30 yards on four targets over three regular-season games.
Watson, who also suffered a postseason-ending concussion in the wild-card win over the Steelers, logged 40 percent or more of the offensive snaps in Week 1 and Week 2 before succumbing to a calf injury that landed him on injured reserve until the Week 18 matchup against the Colts. The wide receiver only logged 19 percent of the offensive snaps and wasn't targeted in his return. Rookie Jaylin Noel seems to have absorbed Watson's role in the offense, and it is unclear if the veteran will be able to reclaim his role heading into the 2026 season.
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Jaylin Noel WR | HOU
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Completes versatile rookie campaign
Noel finished the 2025 regular season with 26 catches (35 targets) for 292 yards and two touchdowns while adding six rush attempts for 12 yards across 17 regular-season games.
In addition to often serving as the Texans' No. 5 receiver, Noel also recorded 799 yards on kickoff returns and 335 yards on punt returns. The rookie third-rounder established himself as a consistent and versatile player, participating in all 17 regular-season games as both an offensive weapon and special-teams contributor.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR | SEA
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Named best offensive player
Smith-Njigba was named the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Smith-Njigba established himself as one of the best receivers in the league in 2025, as he led all pass catchers with 1,793 yards. He was named a First-Team All-Pro in January and now adds to his honors by narrowly beating Christian McCaffrey and Puka Nacua to be named Offensive Player of the Year. Smith-Njigba will very likely be the primary driver of the Seattle passing game in Sunday's Super Bowl LX matchup against the Patriots.
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Tetairoa McMillan WR | CAR
Panthers' Tetairoa McMillan: Named top rookie
McMillan was named the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Panthers selected McMillan with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 Draft, and he quickly emerged as Carolina's top pass catcher. Even with inconsistent quarterback play and low pass volume in the offense, McMillan topped 1,000 receiving yards in 17 regular-season games while reaching 100 yards in two separate contests. He could face similar obstacles in 2026, but McMillan will remain a key part of the offense and should earn plenty of targets.
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Tom Kennedy WR | DET
Lions' Tom Kennedy: Makes impact late in 2025
Kennedy recorded four receptions for 36 yards across six regular-season games with the Lions in 2025. He also recorded 447 yards on 16 kick returns and 50 yards on three punt returns.
Kennedy didn't make the Lions' roster out of training camp, but he did manage to secure a spot on the practice squad. He appeared in the team's final six games due to injuries to the rest of the team's receiving corps, with all of his offensive production coming Week 13. He also served as the primary kick returner for Detroit down the stretch, averaging 27.9 yards on his 16 returns. Kennedy is a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning he can easily be retained by the Lions if they choose to tender him.
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Savion Williams WR | GB
Packers' Savion Williams: Not much action in 2025
Williams (foot) finished the 2025 regular season with 10 catches (on 10 targets) for 78 yards and a touchdown and added 11 carries for 37 yards in 12 games.
The wide receiver did also record 717 yards as a kickoff returner. It should be noted that a foot injury forced Williams out for five of the Packers' last six regular-season games, as well as the team's playoff loss to the Bears. At the same time, the 2025 third-round pick's highest offensive snap count in a game prior to the injury was 19 in Week 9 against Carolina.
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Nico Collins WR | HOU
Texans' Nico Collins: Past concussion
Collins (concussion) hauled in a touchdown pass from Browns QB Shedeur Sanders during Tuesday's Pro Bowl flag football game.
After he suffered a concussion during the Texans' wild-card win at Pittsburgh, Collins wasn't able to practice before the team ruled him out ahead of a divisional-round loss in New England, but more than three weeks removed from the initial injury, his participation in the Pro Bowl Games indicates he's past the issue. He previously sat out Week 8 against the 49ers due to a head injury and was a healthy scratch Week 18 versus the Colts, finishing the 2025 regular season with his third straight 1,000-yard campaign. Collins is under contract with Houston through the 2027 season, so he'll remain the top target for QB C.J. Stroud for the foreseeable future.
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Dontayvion Wicks WR | GB
Packers' Dontayvion Wicks: Struggles to stand out
Wicks (concussion) finished the 2025 regular season with 30 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games.
A calf strain, an ankle sprain and a concussion did force Wicks to miss three contests and play fewer than 10 snaps in two others, but he was available for much of the year, and he still finished only third on the team with 46 targets during the regular season. Christian Watson saw more targets (55) than Wicks even though he sat for the first six games of the campaign. The 2023 fifth-round pick has yet to record 40 or more catches in a season across his three-year career.
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Mack Hollins WR | NE
Patriots' Mack Hollins: Not listed on injury report
Hollins (abdomen) wasn't listed on Wednesday's practice report.
Hollins spent four weeks on injured reserve with the abdominal issue, missing the final two weeks of the regular season and New England's first two playoff contests. He returned for the AFC Championship Game against Denver and caught two passes for 51 yards on 61 percent of the offensive snaps. Hollins appears ready to roll for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Seahawks.
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Jahdae Walker WR | CHI
Bears' Jahdae Walker: Productive at end of rookie season
Walker caught six of 10 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns across nine regular-season games during the 2025 season.
Walker made the team out of training camp as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M. He played a total of eight offensive snaps through Week 14, but Rome Odunze dealt with a foot injury at the end of the regular season, opening the door for Walker to get some run with Caleb Williams. He made the most of his chances and caught the game-tying touchdown with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter in Week 16 against the Packers. Walker caught another score in the Week 18 loss to Detroit. After a productive close to the season, Walker should have a leg up as a reserve wideout entering the 2026 offseason.