NFL Player News

Conley recorded four receptions on five targets for 46 yards across seven games during the 2022 season.

Conley began the season with the Texans and also spent time with the Chiefs. However, the Titans signed him Oct. 25, and he bounced between the team's practice squad and active roster for the rest of the campaign. Conley will hit free agency this offseason and will likely battle for a roster spot as a depth receiver to begin 2023.

Kirkwood accrued zero targets during Sunday's 10-7 defeat versus Carolina. He finished the 2022 season with two receptions (on four targets) for 18 yards.

Kirkwood did not record a catch for the third straight game to end the regular season. The 28-year-old spent the first two seasons of his career with New Orleans before heading to Carolina for back-to-back campaigns. Kirkwood then rejoined the Saints in early September and bounced back and forth between the active roster and practice squad this season. While he played at least 30 percent of offensive snaps in all five of his appearances, Kirkwood never carved out a consistent role in the Saints' injury-riddled receiving corps. Instead, his opportunities on offense shrunk almost to zero over the second half of the season, as rookie wideouts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed as well as tight end Juwan Johnson buoyed the team's limited passing game. Kirkwood ended the season as a core special-teamer and blocker on offense, and he's now set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.

Smith caught 22 of 41 targets for 296 yards and two touchdowns while playing all 17 games in the 2022 season.

Smith also handled punt-return duties, gaining 143 yards on his 23 attempts. Although he temporarily found himself in the dog house after fumbling in a Week 11 loss, Smith profiled as the Panthers' third wideout for most of the campaign. While that marked a promotion from his rookie season -- when he caught just six passes -- the team struggled in the passing game. Going into his third year, Smith will hope to maintain his role, but with a potentially new coaching staff and quarterback combination in Carolina, it wouldn't be surprising if he needs to climb from a depth role all over again.

Shenault caught 27 of 32 targets for 272 yards and a touchdown in 13 games this season. He also rushed nine times for 65 yards and another score.

Shenault was traded from the Jaguars prior to Week 1. Although he was inactive for Carolina's first two games, Shenault scored a 67-yard touchdown on his team debut. While he had two more plays of 40-plus yards during the season, the strong-running Shenault didn't produce much overall as a reserve receiver in an underwhelming offense, enduring a dip after starting his career with consecutive campaigns of more than 650 scrimmage yards. With 2023 being the final year of his rookie contract, the former second-round pick will strive to expand his role, as the Panthers potentially introduce a new coaching staff and starting quarterback this offseason.

Denver cut Davis from its practice squad Wednesday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

After a brief stint with the organization to start November, Davis re-signed with Denver's practice squad at the beginning of December and has remained there since. However, he never saw any elevations and has been let go following the regular season. The undrafted wideout out of Northwest Missouri State has yet to make his NFL debut.

The Steelers signed Fitzpatrick to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Fitzpatrick spent the majority of the campaign on the Steelers' practice squad, but he saw one elevation in Week 5, through he failed to garner a target across five offensive snaps. With his new contract, the 2021 fourth-round pick will have a chance to compete for a roster spot throughout the offseason.

McCloud went without a target across 12 snaps on offense in Sunday's win over the Cardinals.

McCloud had played north of 40 percent of the snaps on offense in each of the 49ers' previous four games, but with Deebo Samuel (ankle/knee) returning to action for the regular-season finale, McCloud saw his role get downsized. The 26-year-old is slated to serve as a depth piece within the 49ers' receiving corps heading into the postseason, with McCloud most likely to provide his biggest impact in the return game for the duration of San Francisco's postseason run. He appeared in all 17 games during the regular season, logging 243 receiving yards, 78 rushing yards, two total touchdowns and 955 combined return yards.

Wilson (hip/groin) was limited during Wednesday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Wilson returned to practice Wednesday, albeit in a limited fashion, for the first time since he suffered the hip injury in Week 17. He'll have two more chances to practice before Miami needs to make a decision on his status for Sunday's wild-card matchup against Buffalo, though it appears he's trending in the right direction to begin prep.

Waddle (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Per Adam H. Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com, head coach Mike McDaniel said earlier this week that he would be "very surprised" if Waddle is unable to play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Bills. That said, the wideout will likely need to return to a full practice by Friday in order to avoid approaching the contest with an injury designation.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Higgins didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Higgins now has two more chances to practice as Sunday's wild-card round matchup against the Ravens approaches, but the wideout's absence from Wednesday's session makes his status work tracking. He's coming off a quiet effort in the Bengals' 27-16 win over Baltimore this past Sunday, when he caught just one of his seven targets for seven yards.