NFL Player News

The Falcons signed Dortch to a reserve/future contract Monday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.

Dortch had a spot on Atlanta's practice squad all year but didn't play a game. The 5-foot-7, 173-pound wideout contributed as a returner for the Panthers in two games during the 2019 season. The 22-year-old could aim for a similar role with the Falcons in 2021.

The Cowboys signed Lacy to the team's reserves/future list, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Lacy will presumably get a chance to make his case for a depth wideout spot in upcoming OTAs minicamps and training camp over the next few months.

The Bengals signed Irwin to a reserve/future contract Monday.

Irwin entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019. The Stanford wide receiver suited up in exactly one game in each of his first two seasons, notching one five-yard reception. The 25-year-old will look to secure a depth role with the Bengals in 2021.

Lamb caught five of seven targets for 43 yards in Sunday's loss to the Giants, adding three rushing yards on his only carry.

The 17th overall pick in the 2020 draft more than lived up to his prospect hype with a strong rookie season, as Lamb posted a 74-935-5 line on 111 targets despite losing his starting quarterback, Dak Prescott (ankle), in Week 5. Had Prescott stayed under center, Lamb might have been neck and neck with Minnesota's Justin Jefferson in a race to re-write the rookie WR record book -- he was on pace for 93 catches and 1,385 yards through his first five games. Assuming Prescott is back and healthy in 2021, that pace gives a glimpse of what Lamb might be capable of in his second NFL season, even if he continues having to share the workload with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup.

McCloud brought in both of his targets for minus-3 yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Browns.

McCloud was unable to carve out a role in the Steelers offense during his first season with the team, and he totaled negative yardage over the final five weeks of the year. The 24-year-old was targeted 22 times during the regular season, racking up 20 receptions for 77 yards while also rushing four times for 65 yards. The Steelers could bring him back as a kick returner next year, but he's unlikely to play a significant offensive role during the playoffs or in 2021.

Gallup caught four of eight targets for 49 yards in Sunday's loss to the Giants.

The third-year receiver saw generally increased target volume after the Cowboys' Week 10 bye as he showed some chemistry with Andy Dalton, but for the most part, Gallup's chances of matching or improving on his 2019 breakout evaporated when Dak Prescott went down with a season-ending ankle injury Week 5. Gallup's disappointing campaign was highlighted by a lackluster 8.0 YPT -- 1.8 yards less than the season before. Assuming Prescott is back and healthy in 2021, Gallup will be a strong candidate for a rebound, even as part of a crowded WR group alongside Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb.

Washington failed to haul in either of his two targets in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Browns.

Washington had an inconsistent end to his regular season, as he was held without a catch in two of the three final games of the year. The 24-year-old averaged 9.2 yards per target in 2019, but his production dropped off in 2020, partially due to the emergence of Chase Claypool in the Steelers' passing game. Washington brought in 30 of his 56 targets for 392 yards and a career-high five touchdowns during the regular season. While he should see a minor role during the playoffs this year, he could be more involved during the final year of his contract in 2021 if JuJu Smith-Schuster departs via free agency.

Cephus caught two of three targets for 51 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 37-35 loss to Minnesota.

Without anything to play for in a second straight game, Detroit finally chose to give Cephus (32 snaps) more run than veterans Mohamed Sanu (27) and Danny Amendola (24) after failing to do so Week 16. While Cephus wasn't needed to do much with Marvin Jones going off for 180 yards and two touchdowns, the rookie made his mark with a 20-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, showcasing the downfield ability that helped Cephus to a team-high 17.5 yards per reception in 2020. However, Cephus also will finish the year with a 57 percent catch rate, which undoubtedly will need to improve for him to take the next step. Fortunately, there should be ample opportunity for the Wisconsin product to do so, as he's the only member of the Lions' current receiving corps that remains under contract beyond the end of the league year.

Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that he's hopeful Snead (ankle) will be available for Sunday's wild-card game against the Titans, Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Snead missed the Week 17 win over the Bengals after being unable to practice all week. His next step will be to practice in some capacity when the Ravens take the field either Wednesday or Thursday. If Snead ends up missing a second straight game, Dez Bryant and rookie Devin Duvernay will pick up the slack at wide receiver.

Johnson brought in three of his four targets for 96 yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Browns.

Johnson missed a day of practice during the week due to an illness, but he was fully healthy for the team's Week 17 matchup against Cleveland. The second-year wideout finished his season with impressive output, accruing his most receiving yards since Week 11. Johnson had some issues with drops along the way, but he still led the team with 144 targets during the regular season. He tallied 88 receptions for 923 yards and seven touchdowns to go with three rushes for 15 yards. He demonstrated his potential in 2020 and could serve as the Steelers' clear top receiver next season if JuJu Smith-Schuster signs elsewhere during the offseason. Regardless of his status for next year, Johnson should continue to play a significant role for Pittsburgh during the playoffs.