NFL Player News

Thornton finished the 2023 season with 13 catches (on 23 targets) for 91 yards and three carries for 51 yards in nine games for the Patriots.

The Patriots traded up in the 2022 NFL Draft to draft Thornton 50th overall, but the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has struggled to stay on the field during his first two years as a pro. With that in mind, an ankle issue sidelined Thornton for the team's season finale, but he'll presumably be healthy ahead of the 2024 campaign. The Baylor product -- who is under contract with New England through the 2025 season -- does have the speed to potentially make an impact as a deep threat, but his role next season remains to be seen, with plenty of roster churn expected following New England's 4-13 campaign.

Shepard hauled in three of five targets for 18 yards and carried once for six yards in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Eagles. Shepard ended the regular season with 10 catches on 22 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown over 15 games. He added a six-yard rush and a 10-yard punt return.

After playing in just 10 contests over the previous two campaigns due to an Achilles tear and a torn ACL, Shepard was able to stay healthy in 2023. However, he was relegated to a role near the back of New York's receiver depth chart and played fewer than one-third of the team's offensive snaps in all but one of his 15 appearances. In a testament to his limited role on offense, his modest numbers in Week 18 represented one of his better stat lines of the season, as Shepard finished the campaign with just 10 catches for 57 yards and one touchdown on 22 targets. The Giants seemed to acknowledge that Shepard's 2023 season would be his swan song with the franchise, as he was the final player out of the tunnel for pregame introductions in Week 18. Shepard will turn 31 years old in February and is expected to attract limited interest in free agency this offseason.

Hodgins recorded three catches for 36 yards on three targets in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Eagles.

Hodgins ascended to a spot near the top of the depth chart by the end of the 2022 campaign, but he saw his role diminish in 2023. By Week 4, Hodgins had been surpassed in the receiving pecking order by other options, and he logged less than half of the team's offensive snaps in six of his final seven contests. He maxed out at four catches and 40 yards -- both in Week 2 against Arizona -- over his 17 appearances on the season, ultimately finishing with a 21-230-3 receiving line on 33 targets. The Giants' paltry passing game played a part in Hodgins' decreased output, but it was also evident that the wideout isn't likely to be a difference-maker in an NFL offense. Hodgins is set to be a restricted free agent this spring, and it's far from a certainty that he'll be tendered.

The Chiefs signed Copeland to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Copeland signed with Tennessee as an undrafted free agent last May and also got looks from Minnesota and Pittsburgh during the campaign. The wideout has yet to make his NFL debut, but he'll have the opportunity to compete for a spot on Kansas City's roster during training camp this summer.

Wilson secured one of three targets for 24 yards during Sunday's 21-14 loss to Buffalo.

Wilson failed to make much of his expanded opportunity with Jaylen Waddle (ankle) sidelined versus Buffalo, though he did play a season-high 96 percent of the Dolphins' offensive snaps. Pending Waddle's status for Saturday's wild-card matchup at Kansas City, Wilson could again be called upon to step up as the Dolphins' No. 2 wideout behind Tyreek Hill. Across 15 regular-season appearances in 2023, Wilson turned his 38 targets into 22 catches for 296 yards and three touchdowns.

Marshall finished the regular season with 19 catches on 33 targets for 139 yards and no touchdowns in nine games.

Marshall hasn't worked out after joining the Panthers as a second-round pick in 2021. The wideout was granted permission to find a trade during the season and was a healthy scratch for a large chunk after failing to secure an exit route. With Carolina set for a new front office and coaching staff this offseason, it remains to be seen whether Marshall will be around for the 2024 campaign, which marks the final year of his rookie contract.

Goodwin (knee) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

With just one day of practice left before Saturday's game at Houston, Goodwin's availability for the wild-card round is still in doubt. Unless he's able to practice in full Thursday, he will probably carry an injury designation into Friday and potentially gameday.

Waddle (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's walkthrough, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Waddle was also listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report, so unless he upgrades to full participation Thursday, he'll likely approach Saturday's wild-card game in Kansas City with an injury designation. The wideout has missed two straight games with a high-ankle sprain, but earlier this week, head coach Mike McDaniel expressed optimism about Waddle's chances of returning to action for the postseason opener, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.

Hill (ankle/quadricep) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's walk-through practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Hill was also listed as limited on Tuesday's practice estimate, but at this stage, his status for Saturday's playoff opener against the Chiefs doesn't appear to be in question. With that in mind, head coach Mike McDaniel told Furones earlier Wednesday that he's not concerned about either injury that Hill is tending to leading up to the wild-card contest. The Dolphins will post their final Week 18 injury report Thursday, when it will be known whether the wideout carries an injury designation into the weekend.

Doubs (chest) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.

Doubs mostly avoided the injury bug this season, unlike most of the rest of the Packers receiving corps, but he made an early exit this past Sunday against the Bears due to a chest issue. On Monday, head coach Matt LaFleur called Doubs "day-to-day," per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, and the receiver's ability to mix into drills at Wednesday's walkthrough seems to back up LaFleur's sentiments. Doubs thus has two more chances this week to get back to full activity before Green Bay potentially gives him a designation ahead of Sunday's wild-card game at Dallas.