NFL Player News

Kirkwood caught five of nine targets for 37 yards and one touchdown across 13 games during the 2023 regular season.

Kirkwood played in a career-high 13 games, and his 225 offensive snaps tied his previous career high from his 2018 rookie campaign. The 30-year-old also caught a touchdown for the first time since 2018; but, he still failed to log more than five receptions for the fifth year in a row, totaling just 11 catches in 23 games during this span. Kirkwood signed a one-year, $1.01 million contract with the Saints in February of 2023, and he was released before re-signing with the team shortly thereafter in mid-November. He should be set to hit free agency this coming offseason.

Jones (concussion) won't return to Monday's wild-card game versus the Eagles, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.

Jones' night will end with three receptions for 22 yards. In Jones' absence, Olamide Zaccheaus and Quez Watkins will presumably see increased roles alongside DeVonta Smith at wide receiver.

Shakir brought in all three of his targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in Monday's 31-17 wild-card win over the Steelers.

Shakir got the start as the Bills' No. 2 wideout due to Gabe Davis (knee) being unable to suit up for Monday's playoff victory. The 2022 fifth-round selection didn't receive a huge bump in targets as anticipated, but he managed to score the last of Buffalo's four touchdowns with a Herculean individual effort in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Josh Allen hit Shakir on a drag route across the middle for what looked to be a one- or two-yard gain, but the Bills' slippery wideout ducked out of a tackle before evading multiple Pittsburgh defenders for a 17-yard score that put the game away for good. Shakir proved that he can step up to start opposite Stefon Diggs when Davis can't go. The latter's status for Sunday's AFC divisional-round game against the Chiefs is still unknown, but Shakir will have a role on offense as either Buffalo's No. 2 or 3 wideout this weekend.

Johnson secured four of seven targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers' 31-17 wild-card loss to the Bills on Monday afternoon.

Johnson put the Steelers' first points of the afternoon on the board in the second quarter with a 10-yard scoring grab, and he finished second in receptions and third in receiving yards and targets for the team in the contest. The fifth-year pro enjoyed a reasonably productive regular season despite the Steelers' unstable quarterback situation, posting a 51-717-5 line across 13 games. Johnson impressively took 10 of those 51 grabs for 20-plus yards as well, but with a cap hit of $15.8 million for next season -- the final year of his current contract -- it remains to be seen if the 2019 third-round pick will return for a sixth season with the team.

Jones exited Monday's matchup with the Buccaneers to be evaluated for a concussion, Olivia Reiner of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Jones was looked at by the team's medical staff following a big hit before he subsequently jogged off the field. The veteran pass catcher tallied three receptions for 22 yards prior to sustaining the injury. If he is unable to return, Olamide Zaccheaus and Quez Watkins would be candidates to see increased snaps at wide receiver.

Pickens secured five of 11 targets for 50 yards and rushed once for 15 yards in the Steelers' 31-17 wild-card loss to the Bills on Monday afternoon. He also lost a fumble.

Pickens had serviceable numbers overall and co-led the Steelers in receptions while setting the pace in targets. However, it was largely a frustrating afternoon, beginning with a fumble on the Steelers' 29-yard in the latter portion of the first quarter that was eventually confirmed via replay, and that led to a touchdown on Buffalo's first play after gaining possession. Pickens also was the intended receiver on Mason Rudolph's fourth-down pass with 4:53 remaining that ended in an incompletion but also included what appeared to be a missed pass interference call that would have given the Steelers new life via a first down. Pickens finished the regular season with an impressive 63-1,140-5 line across 17 games despite subpar quarterback play, so he could be in for an even bigger season in 2024 if there is more stability under center.

Diggs finished with seven receptions and 52 yards off of nine targets in Monday's 31-17 playoff win over the Steelers.

Diggs led all Buffalo receivers in both targets and receptions, but he was outproduced from a fantasy standpoint by rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid's 3-59-1 receiving line. The nine-year pro went ice-cold at the end of the regular season, so Monday's vanilla output didn't inspire confidence that the star wideout has regained his own confidence heading into the divisional round of the playoffs. If there was ever a time for Diggs to drop one of his signature monster receiving games, it would be for Sunday's tilt against the Chiefs, against whom Diggs and several other Bills suffered a crushing loss to in the playoffs roughly two calendar years ago.

McMath signed a reserve/future contract with the Cowboys on Monday.

McMath joined the Cowboys' practice unit Jan. 3 and will now stick around for the offseason. The wide receiver did not appear in a game in 2023 and he'll look to crack the initial 53-man roster with Dallas in 2024.

Moreno-Cropper signed a reserve/future contract with the Cowboys on Monday.

Moreno-Cropped spent the entirety of the 2023 season on the team's practice squad and will now stick around for the offseason. The wide receiver will look to compete for an active roster spot with Dallas in 2024.

Darden signed a reserve/future contract with the Browns on Monday.

The wide receiver was on the Browns' practice squad at the end of the season. Darden appeared in one game and during which he logged nine special-teams snaps in 2023.