NFL Player News

Williams ended the 2025 season with 48 tackles (30 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and seven passes defensed over 17 games.

Williams was a consistent special-teams contributor who earned a shot at being a full-time defensive starter toward the end of the campaign. The cornerback ended the season strong with 23 of his 48 total tackles coming in the last five games, along with his sole sack and four of his passes defensed. The third-round rookie has the potential to be a consistent starting cornerback for the Chiefs, as Jaylen Watson (groin) and Mike Edwards are on expiring deals.

Hamilton recorded 38 tackles (15 solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 17 regular-season games with the Jaguars in 2025.

Hamilton was coming off a productive 2024 campaign in which he logged 62 total tackles over 17 regular-season games. He saw his tackling numbers dip significantly in 2025, which was in part due to a noticeable decrease in defensive snaps. Hamilton enters 2026 in the final year of his three-year, $34.5 million contract extension that he signed with Jacksonville in April of 2023.

Walker posted 38 tackles (19 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and two pass defenses across 14 regular-season games in 2025 with the Jaguars.

The Jaguars exercised Walker's fifth-year option in April after he logged double-digit sacks in both 2023 and 2024. However, the fourth-year pro came nowhere close to that level of production in 2025, though that decreased production can be partially attributed to him dealing with wrist and knee injuries throughout the season. The 2026 season is the last year of Walker's contract, and it's possible that Jacksonville lets the 2022 first-rounder play out his rookie deal rather than offer an extension.

Gardeck logged 48 tackles (28 solo), including 2.5 sacks, two pass defenses and one forced fumble across 17 regular-season games for the Jaguars in 2025.

Gardeck ended the 2024 regular season on the Cardinals' injured reserve after tearing his ACL in October. He caught on with the Jaguars on a one-year deal in 2025 and progressed enough in his recovery to be available for Week 1. He worked in a rotational role on defense, and while his sack total was his lowest over his last three years, he finished with a career high in tackles while appearing in every single game for the Jaguars, including in the AFC wild-card round against the Bills. Gardeck is an unrestricted free agent but could remain in Jacksonville.

The Seahawks elevated Jones from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

Jones was elevated for the NFC Championship Game against the Rams, but he ended up inactive on game day, as the Seahawks chose Cam Akers to be the No. 3 running back behind Kenneth Walker and George Holani. A similar fate is likely in store for Jones this Sunday as the Seahawks take on the Patriots in Super Bowl LX.

The Seahawks elevated Akers from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

Akers will be elevated for a second consecutive playoff game. The running back saw just one offensive snap in the NFC Championship Game victory over the Rams, being elevated as a depth piece due to the absence of Zach Charbonnet (ACL). The 26-year-old will likely see similarly minimal usage in Super Bowl LX against the Patriots this Sunday, as George Holani will be the relief back behind Kenneth Walker.

The Falcons are expected to cut Cousins before the new league year starts in March, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Falcons worked with Cousins on Tuesday to restructure the veteran quarterback's contract by modifying the final two years of the deal to give Atlanta more cap flexibility and incentivize a release sooner rather than later, as Cousins would be slated to get $67.9 million guaranteed were he to be on the roster at the start of the league year. That leaves the Falcons with questions over who they will add to their quarterback room with Michael Penix (knee), while Cousins contemplates joining a team in 2026, including a reunion with the Vikings, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Cousins appeared in 10 regular-season games (eight starts) with Atlanta in 2025, when he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Jones played in 17 regular-season games for the Jaguars in 2025 and finished with 49 tackles (35 solo), eight pass defenses (three interceptions) and one fumble recovery.

Jones mostly served on special teams from Weeks 3-7, but he was more heavily involved in the secondary following the Week 8 bye, which coincided with No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter being placed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL. Although Jones started in just two of the last 10 games of the regular season, he still played in at least 50 percent of the Jaguars' defensive snaps in nine of those contests and ended that season with the third-most interceptions on the team behind Devin Lloyd and Antonio Johnson (five each). Jones' role on the Jaguars' defense in 2026 will largely depend on Hunter's snap count on both sides of the ball.

Brown recorded 51 tackles (43 solo) and 12 pass defenses (two interceptions) across 15 regular-season games for the Jaguars in 2025.

Brown led the Jaguars with 12 pass defenses and played a key role in the secondary as a slot corner, but he saw his tackling numbers decline from 2024, when he registered 75 stops (55 solo) across 17 regular-season contests. The 2022 seventh-rounder will be entering the fourth year of his rookie contract and is eligible for an extension.

The Patriots elevated Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Johnson has been active through the Patriots' entire playoff run, as Terrell Jennings (hamstring) remains on injured reserve. Johnson will act as a depth piece behind running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. The 29-year-old had just two snaps on special teams (both kick returns) during the Patriots' 10-7 win over the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game and could see a similar role for the Super Bowl on Sunday.