NFL Player News
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Christian Kirk WR | SF
Texans' Christian Kirk: More volume on tap
Kirk is poised for a bigger role in the Texans' passing game Sunday at New England after No. 1 WR Nico Collins (concussion) was ruled out for the divisional-round contest.
Kirk was well on his way to a notable performance when Collins exited Monday's wild-card win in Pittsburgh due to a concussion in the third quarter. Having said that, Kirk was QB C.J. Stroud's favorite target for much of the game, with the wide receiver finishing with eight catches (on nine targets) for 144 yards and one touchdown on a 56 percent snap share. The playing time more or less was in line with his range from the regular season, but Kirk now will be vying with only Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel and potentially Braxton Berrios for the attention of Stroud this weekend.
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Elijah Moore WR | PHI
Broncos' Elijah Moore: Elevated from practice squad
The Broncos elevated Moore from the practice squad Friday.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, Moore was cut by the Bills in November and will now join Denver's gameday roster for Saturday's divisional-round matchup against Buffalo. The 25-year-old appeared in nine games for the Bills during the regular season, securing nine of 17 targets for 112 scoreless yards. Moore is unlikely to have a prominent offensive role with all of Denver's wideouts healthy.
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Curtis Samuel WR | BUF
Bills' Curtis Samuel: Activated from IR
Buffalo activated Samuel (elbow) from injured reserve Friday.
Samuel remains listed as questionable for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Broncos, but his activation would seem to indicate Samuel will be ready to play. With Joshua Palmer (ankle) placed on injured reserve last week and both Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee) lost to season-ending injuries last Sunday against the Jaguars, Samuel's return will be big news for the Bills. If cleared to play, Samuel will slide into the wideout mix alongside Khalil Shakir, Brandin Cooks and Keon Coleman.
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Justin Watson WR | HOU
Texans' Justin Watson: Won't play in divisional round
Watson (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Patriots.
The veteran wideout from Penn sustained a concussion in the Texans' wild-card win over the Steelers on Monday and wasn't able to clear protocol in time to play in the divisional round. Watson appeared in just three regular-season games for Houston in 2025, catching three of four targets for 30 yards. While he's sidelined Sunday, expect Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson to have expanded roles in the Texans' receiving corps.
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Nico Collins WR | HOU
Texans' Nico Collins: Won't play Sunday
Collins (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's divisional-round game at New England.
Collins wasn't able to practice in any capacity this week following the concussion that he suffered during Monday's wild-card win in Pittsburgh. With their No. 1 WR out this weekend, the Texans will be rolling with Jayden Higgins, Christian Kirk, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel as the primary options at the position. In order for Collins to have a chance to play again this season, Houston will need to advance to the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 25.
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DJ Moore WR | BUF
Bears' DJ Moore: Clear for divisional round
Moore (knee) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's divisional-round game versus the Rams.
Both Moore and fellow WR Rome Odunze (foot) followed an LP/LP/FP practice regimen this week, but only Odunze is entering the weekend as questionable to suit up. There's been no indication that Odunze is trending in the wrong direction to do so, and if he ends up being available, a similar breakdown of snaps between him (69 percent) and Moore (86 percent) from this past Saturday's wild-card win against the Packers is possible Sunday.
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Rome Odunze WR | CHI
Bears' Rome Odunze: Status in question for Sunday
Odunze (foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams.
Odunze followed up a limited walkthrough Wednesday with a capped practice Thursday due to a lingering foot issue, but despite returning to a full session Friday, the Bears will wait to make a final decision on his availability for Round 2 of the playoffs. Meanwhile, fellow WR DJ Moore, who followed the same practice regimen this week due to a knee injury, doesn't have a designation for Sunday's contest. Ultimately, Odunze's status will be clarified about 90 minutes before a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Nico Collins WR | HOU
Texans' Nico Collins: Not spotted at practice Friday
Collins (concussion) is not participating in the early portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Collins has yet to resume practicing in even a limited capacity since having sustained a concussion during Houston's wild-card win at Pittsburgh on Monday, which seemingly puts him on the wrong track for Sunday's divisional-round game at New England. Friday's official injury report will reveal whether the Texans leave the door open for Collins to play this weekend, but in order to retake the field he would need to gain full clearance from the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, including from an independent neurologist.
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Ricky Pearsall WR | SF
49ers' Ricky Pearsall: Questionable for Saturday
Pearsall (knee) will be listed as questionable for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Seahawks, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Pearsall, who continues to manage a PCL injury in his right knee, was inactive in Weeks 16 and 18 as well as the 49ers' wild-card win over the Eagles this past Sunday. For his part, the wideout has been able to practice in a limited fashion this week and is optimistic that he'll play this weekend, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, but given his official 'questionable' designation, Pearsall's status will still need to be monitored ahead of the 8:00 p.m ET kickoff.
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Rome Odunze WR | CHI
Bears' Rome Odunze: Limited practice listing Thursday
Odunze (foot) was limited at practice Thursday.
Both Odunze and DJ Moore (knee) have logged back-to-back limited practice listings, which gives the WR duo one more opportunity to upgrade to full participation before the Bears assign injury designations ahead of Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams. Odunze returned from a five-game absence in this past Saturday's wild-card win over the Packers en route to recording a 69 percent snap share, and with no reported setbacks, it's plausible that his listed limitations are maintenance-related.