NFL Player News

Higgins caught six of 11 targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-20 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.

Higgins played second fiddle to Ja'Marr Chase in Cincinnati's previous two playoff games, but the former led the team in both targets and receiving yards in this hotly contested AFC title matchup. His biggest play was a 27-yard touchdown, which tied the score at 13 apiece in the third quarter. Higgins recorded his second consecutive 1,000-yard regular season before adding 148 yards and one touchdown across three postseason contests. The 24-year-old wide receiver has established himself as a key piece of Cincinnati's passing attack, which is projected to return the core of Chase, Higgins and quarterback Joe Burrow in 2023.

Valdes-Scantling brought in six of eight targets for 116 yards and a touchdown during the Chiefs' 23-20 win over the Bengals in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

The talented speedster put together his best yardage total yet as a Chief and produced his second touchdown in as many weeks via a 19-yard scoring grab with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter. His yardage tally also was a team-high figure, and thanks in part to in-game injuries to JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and Kadarius Toney (ankle), Valdes-Scantling's target mark also tied Travis Kelce's for tops on Kansas City. Valdes-Scantling could be headed for another busy day in Super Bowl LVII versus the Eagles in two weeks' time, not only because of his field-stretching capability, but due to the potential absence or limitations of some of his fellow wideouts as well.

Smith caught two of three targets for a team-high 36 yards in Sunday's 31-7 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

Brock Purdy (elbow) got hurt early for San Francisco, and Philly simply didn't need to throw the ball much after that. Smith's 29-yard catch on the Eagles' opening drive was the longest play of the game for either team, however, and set up a six-yard score for Miles Sanders. It still resulted in Smith's lowest yardage total since Week 9, but he and the rest of the Eagles passing game should be a lot busier two weeks from now in the Super Bowl.

Brown caught four of eight targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 31-7 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

The Eagles' passing game never had to ramp it up, as Brock Purdy (elbow) got hurt early for the Niners, and their offense struggled with journeyman Josh Johnson (concussion) under center. As a result, Brown had a second straight quiet playoff performance after reaching at least 70 yards in six straight games to close out the regular season. The hip issue that's slowed the fourth-year wideout in practice lately may have also been a factor, but Brown will have two weeks to heal up before the Super Bowl.

McKenzie finished the regular season with 42 catches for 423 yards and four TD receptions to go with nine carries for 55 yards and a rushing TD over 15 games.

McKenzie served as the No. 3 receiver for most of the season, but his week-to-week production was spotty between inconsistent usage and some minor injuries. He never posted more than three catches or 40 yards after Week 13, including the playoffs. Still, overall it was a decent season for the 2017 fifth-rounder, as McKenzie had previously never reached this level of production. His role as the No. 3 receiver is far from secure, as the Bills have a number of young receivers they are looking to develop, plus Cole Beasley might give it another go for one more season while veteran Jamison Crowder will likely be healthy again soon.

Toney (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals. He finished the game with a nine-yard catch on his only target and one punt return for 12 yards.

Toney suffered a non-contact injury in the first half. The Chiefs are thin at wide receiver with JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) both questionable to return.

Aiyuk caught his lone target for 10 yards in Sunday's 31-7 NFC Championship Game loss to the Eagles.

The 49ers suffered injuries to both of its active quarterbacks in this crushing playoff loss, resulting in down receiving games for Aiyuk and the rest of the receiving unit. It was a salty finish to a positive season for the 24-year-old, who set new career highs in receptions (78), receiving yards (1,015) and touchdowns (eight). Aiyuk will enter the final year of his rookie contract looking to build off of the strides he made in 2022.

Smith-Schuster (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.

Smith-Schuster caught his only target for seven yards prior to the injury popping up in the second half. With Kadarius Toney (ankle) ruled out and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) also deemed questionable to return, Kansas City is dealing with a lack of wide receiver depth at a critical time.

Hardman (pelvis) is questionable to return to Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.

Hardman stayed down after making an 11-yard catch in the third quarter. That play brought Hardman up to two catches for 10 yards on three targets plus seven yards on two rushing attempts. He was playing for the first time since Week 9 due to an injured pelvis, and the wide receiver appears to have aggravated that injury.

Boyd (thigh) is questionable to return to Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs.

Boyd was injured in the first half after accruing 40 yards on two catches. He didn't join the rest of Cincinnati's offense to begin the second half.