The 2025 regular season is in the books, meaning it’s time for some to switch gears to the offseason and others to shift focus to the NFL playoffs.
Every bit of news is all the more consequential entering the postseason, as the march to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara officially kicks off.
Who’s hurt? Who’s practicing? Who’s starting? And who’s on the hot seat?
Here’s the latest on what’s happening around the league entering wild-card weekend:
Bills down multiple defenders
Head coach Sean McDermott said on Jan. 15 that defensive backs Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and Maxwell Hairston (ankle) will be inactive for the team’s AFC divisional-round matchup against the Denver Broncos on Saturday. McDermott also said that running back Ty Johnson is questionable to play with an ankle injury.
Thielen announced his retirement after 12 seasons on Jan. 14. A two-time Pro Bowler, Thielen spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings (2014-22), followed by a two-year stint with the Carolina Panthers (2023-24) and splitting the 2025 season with the Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. He totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in three seasons (2017, 2018 and 2023) and double-digit receiving touchdowns in two seasons (2020-21).
Despite an injury-shortened rookie campaign, the Jacksonville Jaguars intend on having the wide receiver/cornerback play both ways again in 2026, per ESPN. Hunter’s 2025 season ended after seven games due to a knee injury. Hunter, whom the Jags traded up to select with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, totaled 28 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. Hunter logged three passes defended and 15 combined tackles as a defensive back. Jacksonville went 13-4 and won the AFC South this season before losing to the Bills in the AFC wild-card round.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur extension on the horizon?
The Packers will discuss a new contract with their head coach after the season, according to NFL Media. LaFleur has one year remaining on his current deal. This season, Green Bay enters the playoffs 9-7-1 and plays the NFC North-rival Chicago Bears on the road in the wild-card round on Saturday; the two teams split the regular-season series. Under LaFleur, the Packers are a combined 76-40-1 in the regular season and 3-5 in the postseason since 2019.
Bears lose starting left tackle for remainder of playoffs
On the heels of a historic wild-card round win, head coach Ben Johnson announced starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered a patellar injury and will miss the remainder of the season. Chicago will now have to account for the loss of Caleb Williams’ blindside protection heading into its first divisional-round game since 2010.
‘I’m super excited’: RB Omarion Hampton set for playoffs
The Los Angeles Chargers officially listed rookie running back Omarion Hampton as questionable for Sunday, but the first-rounder said he is ready to go for Sunday’s AFC wild-card game against the New England Patriots. Hampton suffered an ankle injury in a Week 18 loss to the Broncos, which has been a recurring issue for Hampton this season. He missed eight regular-season games with an ankle injury but has been productive when he has seen the field. He was the Chargers second-leading rusher (545 yards) and has scored five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving).
Crosby went through successful surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday. He will have six months to recover before NFL training camp starts. Crosby missed the Raiders’ final two games of the 2025 season after posting 10.0 sacks and 73 tackles in 15 games.
The Falcons have agreed to modify the final two years of Cousins’ contract, per ESPN and The Athletic. According to reports, the move will likely lead to the Falcons releasing Cousins by the third day of the 2026 NFL league year on March 13, as it is unlikely any team would look to trade for him given his contract. As part of the restructure, Atlanta converted Cousins’ 2026 salary from $35 million to $2.1 million and moved the remaining $32.9 million to his 2027 base salary to increase the figure to $67.9 million. His 2027 salary would become guaranteed if he’s still with the team by March 13, while releasing him with a post-June 1 designation would cost the Falcons a dead cap hit of $35 million that can be split into payments of $22.5 million in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027.
Cousins, who started eight of his 10 games played this season, will play in his 15th season in 2026. The veteran signal-caller led the Falcons to a 5-2 record in place of the injured Michael Penix Jr. (torn ACL) to end the year, completing 61.8% of his passes for 1,471 yards, 10 touchdown passes and five interceptions in that span.
The Commanders had the NFL’s oldest roster this season, but one of their key veterans has expressed an interest in returning in 2026. Miller announced that he’d like to continue playing at least one more season and would prefer to stay in Washington. Miller, who signed a one-year deal last offseason, will turn 37 in March, the same month he will also be a free agent. The 2025 campaign was Miller’s first full season since 2018. He started three of his 17 games played and accumulated 9.0 sacks, 26 tackles and six tackles for loss.
“I think I proved to myself I can play another year,” Miller said, per NBC. “I want to be here, but I’m not in a position to start making demands and saying where I want to play and where I want to be at. Whoever wants me, that’s where I’ll be. … I would love to be a Commander. … [Head coach Dan Quinn] does an amazing job of preserving me wholesome and able to go so far as vet days and relaxation, and I’d love to have the ability to run that again.”
Dolphins making ready for QB competitors?
After one other season of failed expectations through which the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive yr, they enter one other offseason of uncertainty, beginning with who’ll be their subsequent basic supervisor and beginning quarterback in 2026.
Head coach Mike McDaniel, who’s 35-32 in his 4 seasons, indicated that he can be a part of the decision-making in each processes. Although he didn’t particularly say he has been informed by Miami’s possession that he is returning subsequent season — nor has the workforce made an official announcement — McDaniel stated he has spoken with proprietor Stephen Ross.
The Dolphins additionally want to determine what they’ll do at quarterback after Tua Tagovailoa was benched for the ultimate three video games of the season due to poor play. Tagovailoa is assured $54 million for 2026, and the Dolphins would incur vital hits to the wage cap by releasing him. Releasing him subsequent yr would end in a $99 million useless cap cost. If the transfer is designated as a post-June 1 launch, these costs are break up over two years, with $67.4 million allotted to the 2026 cap and $31.8 million in 2027.
Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles assured in 2026 return
Bowles isn’t fearful about his job safety after an epic collapse by the Bucs. The whole lot unraveled after a 6-2 begin, and the Buccaneers (8-9) didn’t win their fifth consecutive NFC South title. Bowles had led Tampa Bay to the playoffs in every of his first three seasons after changing Bruce Arians in 2022. He has three years remaining on his contract, and he’s working as if he’ll return for a fifth season.
“I’ve earned the possibility,” Bowles stated about coming again. “I’ve gained three straight division titles, so that claims quite a bit so far as I’m involved. I don’t actually have a message for followers aside from true followers are true followers, and we’re going to attempt to do our greatest to go on the market and win for them. They’re going to really feel how they really feel, however that’s not a coach’s downside. The coach’s downside is to make the workforce higher and that’s all I’m trying ahead to.
“I really feel like we had sufficient expertise to win. The errors we made weren’t talent-driven; they had been extra mistake-driven.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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