NFL Player News

Wyatt (ankle) expects to be ready for training camp as he recovers from a broken fibula and torn ligament in his ankle, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Wyatt was placed on injured reserve Dec. 5 due to an ankle injury, and the details of his injury have been revealed following the Packers' elimination from the postseason at the hands of the Bears in the wild-card round. The 2022 first-round pick is expected to reprise his role as a key player along the interior of Green Bay's defensive line in 2026 while playing on the fifth-year option in his rookie contract.

Sample caught 15 of 20 targets for 106 yards and one touchdown and added a three-yard run during the 2025 regular season.

Sample played in all 17 regular-season games for a third consecutive campaign, all of which he finished with between 106 and 163 receiving yards. His three-year, $10.5 million contract with the Bengals runs through Sample's age-30 season in 2026.

Hawes wasn't targeted during Sunday's 27-24 wild-card game win over the Jaguars.

Hawes played 35 percent of offensive snaps compared to 48 percent for Dawson Knox and 44 percent for Dalton Kincaid. Despite the similar playing time, Hawes was far less involved in the passing game, as each of Buffalo's other two tight ends notched three catches. Hawes will continue to fill a role as a highly effective blocker in the AFC divisional round against the Broncos.

Tom (knee) is expected to have surgery on a partially torn patellar tendon and will face a six-month recovery after the procedure, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Tom didn't suit up for Green Bay's loss to the Bears in the wild-card game. He started all 12 regular-season games for which he suited up at right tackle and is under contract through the 2029 season on a four-year, $88 million extension.

Taylor was waived by the Texans on Monday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Taylor is being cut less than a week after being activated from injured reserve. This move paves the way for the Texans to activate safety Jaylen Reed (forearm) from injured reserve ahead of Monday's wild-card game at Pittsburgh.

Head coach Sean McVay said Monday that he's "optimistic" regarding Dotson's potential availability for Sunday's NFC divisional-round game against the Bears, Adam Grosbard of the LA Daily News reports.

Dotson hasn't played since injuring his ankle in Week 16 against the Seahawks, but McVay believes the starting right guard has a good chance to rejoin the action in the NFC divisional round. It remains to be seen if Dotson's practice participation level leading up to Sunday's game in Chicago supports McVay's optimism. If Dotson returns, Justin Dedich would likely be bumped back down to a reserve role.

Gonzalez is in the NFL's concussion protocol, head coach Mike Vrabel relayed Monday, Mark Daniels of MassLive reports.

Gonzalez exited in the second half of Sunday's 16-3 wild-card game win over the Chargers to be evaluated for a head injury. That evaluation evidently revealed a concussion, which means Gonzalez will need to return to full practice participation and be cleared by an independent neurologist to participate in the AFC divisional-round game against the Texans or Steelers on Sunday, Jan. 18. Charles Woods would likely draw the start at outside cornerback if Gonzalez doesn't exit the concussion protocol in time.

Witherspoon (shoulder) will be placed on injured reserve, head coach Sean McVay relayed Monday, Greg Beacham of The Associated Press reports.

Witherspoon aggravated his scapula injury during the Rams' 34-31 win over the Panthers in the wild-card round. The cornerback will miss the remainder of the Rams' postseason run due to the injury and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason ahead of his age-31 campaign. Witherspoon had eight tackles (six solo) and one interception among his two passes defensed in six regular-season games and added one solo tackle prior to his departure from Saturday's playoff win.

Mafah appeared in one game for the Cowboys in 2025, carrying the ball five times for 18 yards and a touchdown while catching both his targets for 11 yards.

The 2025 seventh-round pick spent most of his rookie season on IR due to a shoulder injury, but Dallas activated him ahead of a Week 18 clash with the Giants and Mafah scored from the one-yard line in his NFL debut. With Javonte Williams headed for free agency, the Cowboys' backfield is unsettled to begin the offseason, and Mafah could find himself in a short-yardage-specialist role to begin 2026 if the team isn't able to find a bell cow to head the backfield.

Shavers caught one of two targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 27-24 wild-card win over the Jaguars.

Shavers returned to the game after having a knee injury checked out by trainers, but his only catch of the game came prior to his exit. The 26-year-old wide receiver has appeared in every game for the Bills since the start of the regular season. Barring a setback with his knee, Shavers will be available to fill his usual depth role on offense in the AFC divisional round Saturday at Denver, and he may be counted on even more than usual if teammate Gabe Davis can't recover from the knee injury he suffered Sunday.