NFL Player News
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DJ Giddens RB | IND
Colts' DJ Giddens: Concludes quiet rookie season
Giddens rushed eight times for 30 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans. He finished the season with 26 rushes for 96 yards in nine appearances.
Giddens's eight carries Sunday were his most in a contest since Week 1. The rookie running back barely saw the field in his first season in the NFL, as he was buried on the depth chart behind Jonathan Taylor, Ameer Abdullah and Tyler Goodson. Taylor handled the vast majority of the work out of the backfield, leaving very few opportunities for the backups in Indianapolis. The 25-year-old Goodson should continue to improve and get acclimated to the Colts' offense heading into his second season, and it's possible he could take on a bigger role as a backup behind Taylor with Abdullah and Goodson entering free agency this offseason.
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Tyler Goodson RB | IND
Colts' Tyler Goodson: One carry in season finale
Goodson rushed once for three yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans. He finished the season with nine rushes for 24 yards, adding two receptions for eight yards on three targets in 11 appearances.
Goodson was a nonfactor this season, barely seeing the field on offense. The 25-year-old running back played well behind Jonathan Taylor and Ameer Abdullah in the Colts' backfield rotation throughout the 2025 campaign. With that said, Goodson will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent, giving Indianapolis the opportunity to match any offers he may receive from other teams in free agency. Based on his limited usage, it remains unclear if the Colts will try to keep him in their locker room or afford him the opportunity to catch on with another team ahead of next season.
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Ameer Abdullah RB | IND
Colts' Ameer Abdullah: Three touches to conclude season
Abdullah rushed once for one yard and caught both of his targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans. He finished the season with 14 rushes for 60 yards and one touchdown, adding 16 receptions for 99 yards on 17 targets in 13 appearances.
Abdullah finished the 2025 campaign having very little impact offensively, a theme for the veteran running back for most of the season. The 32-year-old operated as one of the Colts' top backup options out of the backfield, but he was unable to get much going each week with starter Jonathan Taylor handling a large majority of the work at running back. Abdullah will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, but his age and lack of impressive production may make it difficult to garner much interest from teams around the league.
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Emari Demercado RB | ARI
Cardinals' Emari Demercado: Closes season with quiet showing
Demercado rushed twice for 29 yards and caught his lone target for 28 yards in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Rams. He finished the season with 44 rushes for 312 yards, adding 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets across 13 games.
Demercado had an underwhelming 2025 campaign despite being given more opportunities than expected when both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) were lost early in the season. The third-year running back shared backfield duties with Michael Carter and Bam Knight for most of the season, limiting his fantasy production. Demercado will enter the 2026 offseason as a restricted free agent, giving the Cardinals the opportunity to match any potential offers from other teams in free agency. With Knight also set to become a restricted free agent and Carter becoming an unrestricted free agent, it remains to be seen how this backfield will shake out and if Demercado will be back with the team next season.
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Michael Carter RB | ARI
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Minimal production in season finale
Carter rushed seven times for 18 yards, adding three catches for 21 yards in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Rams. He finished the season with 92 rushes for 333 yards and one touchdown, adding 33 receptions for 267 yards on 45 targets.
Despite an uneven 2025 campaign, Carter finished the season as the team leader in carries, rushing yards, targets, receptions and receiving yards. The 26-year-old was forced into a bigger role in the backfield when teammates James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) were lost early in the season. Alongside Emari Demercado and Bam Knight, Carter handled backfield duties for a significant part of the season, allowing him to show off his abilities ahead of the 2026 offseason, in which he will become an unrestricted free agent. Though it is unclear if he'll be back with Arizona, the North Carolina product has likely done enough to garner interest from teams around the NFL as a versatile rotational player out of the backfield.
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Jamari Thrash WR | CLE
Browns' Jamari Thrash: Multiple DNPs in 2025
Thrash finished 2025 with 10 receptions on 15 targets for 107 yards over nine games.
Thrash was inactive for the final eight games, either due to injury or coach's decision. He had signed a four-year contract with the Browns after being selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but Thrash was eventually waived in December and brought back on a one-year deal. He had just 13 catches for 129 yards in his two seasons with Cleveland and enters the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent. One of the team's priorities during the offseason will be a makeover at wide receiver, which may not involve Thrash.
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Malik Willis QB | GB
Packers' Malik Willis: Limited Tuesday
Willis (right shoulder/hamstring) was a limited participant in Tuesday's walkthrough practice.
Willis was inactive for the Packers' Week 18 loss to the Vikings while he managed his pair of injuries, but head coach Matt LaFleur said prior to Tuesday's practice that he expects the fourth-year quarterback to be available for Saturday's wild-card game against the Bears, per Ryan Wood of USA Today. However, after starting in the Packers' Week 17 loss to the Ravens, Willis will return to a backup role after LaFleur confirmed that Jordan Love would return to the starting role as Green Bay opens its postseason. As such, Willis will have two more chances to upgrade his activity level at practice and avoid taking a designation into Saturday. Desmond Ridder is also available as a third option at quarterback for the Packers, while the team cut Clayton Tune after his Week 18 spot start.
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Gage Larvadain WR | CLE
Browns' Gage Larvadain: Used mostly on special teams
Larvadain finished 2025 with seven receptions on 14 targets for 71 yards over 13 games. He also averaged 7.0 yards on 24 punt returns.
Larvadain, an undrafted free agent in 2025, parlayed a strong preseason into a spot on the 53-man roster to open the season. The rookie wide receiver was eventually waived, brought back on the Browns' practice squad, and rejoined the active roster in Week 5 when injuries hit. Larvadain was used as a third, fourth or fifth receiver -- depending on the availability of others -- but never had a significant role in an offense that was limited by subpar quarterback play all season. He made a bigger impact on special teams, where he was used 45 times (including fair catches) as a returner of punts. Larvadain is under contract for 2026; however, the Browns have several offseason decisions that could determine his future with the team. Those decisions begin with choosing a new head coach and include reshaping the wide-receiver grouping.
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Quentin Johnston WR | LAC
Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Doesn't play in Week 18
Johnston did not play in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos.
Like several other key contributors in the Chargers' offense, the team afforded Johnston the day to rest in Week 18 as Los Angeles looks ahead to the AFC playoffs. The 24-year-old wideout did not see the field Sunday, ending the 2025 regular season with 51 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 targets, adding two rushes for seven yards. Johnston's eight trips to the end zone matched his career high while his receptions and yards nearly matched his totals from last season. The TCU product continues to develop chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert, and he'll look to be an impact player Sunday when the Chargers visit the Patriots in the first round of the playoffs.
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Ladd McConkey WR | LAC
Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Rests in Week 18 loss
McConkey did not play in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos.
With the Chargers looking ahead to the AFC playoffs, head coach Jim Harbaugh chose to rest McConkey and many other offensive players against the Broncos. The 24-year-old wideout finished the regular season with 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets, all down from his rookie campaign. Despite seeing a dip in his production in his second season, McConkey led the team in receiving yards. The Georgia product will look to have a key role in the Chargers' offensive plans Sunday when the team visits New England in the AFC wild-card round of the playoffs.