January 5, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Travis Etienne Jr. struggled to find much success on the ground during the regular-season finale. He rushed 14 times for 32 yards in the blowout win over the Tennessee Titans. It was an ugly performance, but it has been a strong season for Etienne so far. He rushed for 1,107 yards on 260 attempts with seven touchdowns in 17 games. The 26-year-old now heads into a plus matchup against the Buffalo Bills' defense for the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. He'll go against a Bills defense that is near the bottom of the league in terms of rushing yards allowed this season. The Bills' defensive unit has allowed an average of 5.1 yards per carry to running backs this season. Etienne is looking like a strong bounce-back candidate for this weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
January 5, 2026
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that there are no plans to open the practice window for any players on Injured Reserve this week, which includes defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps, knee), according to The Buffalo News' Jay Skurski. It means that Oliver won't be eligible to be activated to play in the Wild-Card playoff contest versus the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The 28-year-old defensive lineman was placed on IR back in late October with a torn biceps that he suffered in Week 8. Additionally, Oliver had surgery to fix the meniscus in his knee in late December. Even if the Bills make it past this weekend and go on a long run in the postseason, Oliver won't be guaranteed to be ready to return. Oliver only played in three regular-season games in 2025, recording 12 tackles (10 solo), three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and five QB hits.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Buffalo News - Jay Skurski
January 5, 2026
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that there are no plans to open the practice window for any of the players on Injured Reserve this week, including wide receiver
Curtis Samuel (elbow), per Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News. Samuel was put on IR in late November, and he won't be eligible to be activated to play in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this Sunday against the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars. Samuel has battled through injuries for most of the year and has appeared in only six games for Buffalo, catching seven passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. He also returned nine kickoffs for 223 yards on special teams. If the Bills advance and Samuel is activated from IR, he will be off the radar in fantasy playoff leagues as WR depth for the Bills.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Buffalo News - Jay Skurski
January 5, 2026
The San Francisco 49ers will open the 21-day practice window for wide receiver
Jacob Cowing (hamstring) this week, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Cowing will practice with the team on Wednesday, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. The 24-year-old is getting closer to returning from Injured Reserve, but he could still be unlikely to be activated to play in the Wild-Card playoff game this Sunday against the hosting Philadelphia Eagles. If Cowing does end up playing against the Eagles, he will most likely only have a role on special teams after missing the entire 2025 regular season. The former fourth-round selection in 2024 out of Arizona caught four of his six targets for 80 yards in 15 games last year in his first season in the NFL. Cowing will be a long shot to surface as an option in playoff fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
January 5, 2026
The Tennessee Titans will interview former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris for their vacant head-coaching job later this week, sources told Peter Schrager of ESPN. Morris, 49, was the head coach for the Falcons the last two seasons, going 8-9 each year. He also has head-coaching experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11, when he went 17-31. The Titans are expected to cast a wide net as they search for their next head coach. General manager Mike Borgonzi will lead the search for a new head coach. Tennessee's top priority will be to bring someone in who they think will take quarterback
Cameron Ward's development to the next level after he struggled mightily in his rookie season. The Titans have reportedly already reached out to the Kansas City Chiefs as they request to interview offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Peter Schrager
January 5, 2026
Former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is expected to speak with the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans about their head-coaching vacancies this offseason, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Before the Browns officially fired Stefanski on Black Monday, there were rumors floating around that the Giants had interest in Stefanski as their next head coach. New York fired Brian Daboll early in the season, with offensive coordinator Mike Kafka serving as the interim coach for the rest of the season. Even with all of the failures that Stefanski endured in his time in Cleveland, he figures to be one of the most coveted head-coaching candidates around the league this year because of his offensive mind. Stefanski would be an intriguing fit for young quarterback
Jaxson Dart and young running back
Cam Skattebo with the Giants.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 5, 2026
Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) said on Monday that he is scheduled to have surgery to fix the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot on Jan. 13, according to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News. It's the same bone that Bland hurt before the 2024 season, and that cost him the first 10 games of that season. The 26-year-old played through his foot injury but managed to appear in only 12 games before landing on Injured Reserve in December. Bland emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL in 2023, with nine interceptions and five pick-sixes. However, injuries over the last two years have made it hard for him to stay on the field. Bland finished 2025 with a career-high 73 tackles (45 solo), one interception, and six pass breakups. Hopefully, he will be able to put his foot injury behind him in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Calvin Watkins
January 5, 2026
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune (groin) is out for the rest of the season with a groin tear that might require surgery, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. With Fred Warner (ankle) still on Injured Reserve, the 49ers will turn to Eric Kendricks, their fourth different middle linebacker used this year. In addition to Bethune, Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) were also injured in Saturday's Week 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and they will be iffy to play in the Wild-Card round on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. If Winters is unavailable this weekend, Curtis Robinson or Garret Wallow would step in at the weakside linebacker spot. It all adds up to the Niners being extremely short-handed on defense to start the playoffs against the reigning Super Bowl champions.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
January 5, 2026
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that it's possible that linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), who had surgery on his ankle in October, returns from Injured Reserve in January, but the 49ers would have to win a couple of playoff games for that to happen, per The Athletic's Matt Barrows. "I think it's too far off right now," Shanahan said on Monday. "It is a possibility as we get closer to a possible third game here, a championship game. But it's not something we're thinking about right now." Tatum Bethune (groin) is now out for the rest of the year with a torn groin, so the 49ers will now have to turn to their fourth middle linebacker of the year in Eric Kendricks. The 29-year-old Warner has not played since injuring his ankle in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Getting the All-Pro linebacker back would be huge for this banged-up Niners defense, but it's not a guarantee, even if San Fran makes it all the way to the Super Bowl.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
January 5, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater, who will be a free agent in March, said he wants to continue playing but hasn't talked to the team about a potential return, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Bridgewater only appeared in four games (zero starts) in his first year with Tampa in 2025, going 8-for-15 passing for 62 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The 33-year-old veteran would be backing up
Baker Mayfield again if he re-signs with the team for the 2026 season. Bridgewater isn't a terrible backup option for teams looking for QB depth this offseason, but he probably isn't going to get any realistic looks to compete for a starting gig. The 11-year pro will be a long shot for any fantasy value if he comes back next season. Bridgewater hasn't started a game in the NFL since 2022 with the Miami Dolphins.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
January 5, 2026
The Miami Dolphins are expecting some competition for the starting quarterback position next season, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. When asked about the team's QB situation going into the offseason, head coach Mike McDaniel said, "In 2026, I think there will be competition for our starting quarterback. Who that is and what that looks like remains to be seen." McDaniel also added that the Dolphins will be "diligent" in finding their next QB. The Dolphins haven't had discussions yet with
Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched in the final two weeks of the season for rookie
Quinn Ewers. Tagovailoa said on Monday that he'd be open to a "fresh start," but it's unclear if Miami will actually move on from the former first-rounder this offseason. In his sixth NFL season, Tagovailoa produced only 2,660 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in 14 starts. He managed to stay healthy and avoid concussions, but it was a disappointing year for the entire Dolphins offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
January 5, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams "erred on the side of caution" with rookie tight end
Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, but he is expected to play against the hosting Carolina Panthers in the Wild-Card playoff game this Saturday, according to head coach Sean McVay. Ferguson saw more involvement in the offense in Weeks 16 and 17 with
Tyler Higbee still on Injured Reserve, catching five of eight targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns. However, his momentum was stopped after tweaking his hamstring in practice last Friday and being held out of the regular-season finale against the Cardinals. Now that Higbee is back from IR, Ferguson will find it more difficult to contribute while also battling for targets with
Colby Parkinson. In his first 11 NFL games in 2025, Ferguson caught 11 of 25 targets for 231 yards and three touchdowns.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Times - Gary Klein
January 5, 2026
Buffalo Bills running back
Ty Johnson (ankle) is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury coming out of the team's Week 18 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, according to Matthew Bove. Johnson and
Ray Davis saw much more work in the season finale against the Jets, with the Bills resting
James Cook after he got the first two touches of the game. Johnson played 33% of the offensive snaps, carrying the ball a season-high 13 times for 36 yards and a touchdown. He added two catches on his two targets for 20 yards and another touchdown through the air. Davis touched the ball a team-high 23 times for 174 scrimmage yards and a touchdown as Buffalo's primary back. The 28-year-old Johnson finished the 2025 regular season with 50 carries for 200 yards and three TDs, adding 263 receiving yards and two more scores. It's unclear if he'll be ready for the Wild-Card round of the playoffs on Sunday against the Jags, but if he is, Johnson will be the RB3 behind Cook and Davis.
--Keith HernandezSource: WKBW - Matthew Bove
January 5, 2026
Buffalo Bills kicker
Matt Prater (quadriceps) suffered "a little bit of an injury" in the Week 18 blowout win over the New York Jets on Sunday and is day-to-day, according to Matthew Bove. The Bills will bring in kickers on Tuesday for workouts if Prater cannot play on Wild-Card weekend of the playoffs this Sunday versus the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars. The 41-year-old veteran did not return to Sunday's regular-season finale after missing the previous two games with a similar injury. Prater has been solid for the Bills this year while filling in for
Tyler Bass, who has missed the entire year due to a hip injury. Prater has gone 18-for-20 on his field-goal attempts (1-for-2 from 50-plus yards out) and 46-for-49 on his extra-point tries in 15 games in his first year in Buffalo. Because of his injury heading into the postseason, fantasy managers competing in playoff leagues should consider him pretty risky.
--Keith HernandezSource: WKBW - Matthew Bove
January 5, 2026
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward (head) is considering retirement due to debilitating migraine headaches, according to Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. Ward suffered a concussion in the Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and ended up missing the final four games of the season as a result. It was the 29-year-old's third concussion of the year, prompting him to consider his future going into the offseason. In total, Ward missed 10 games in 2025 due to his concussions. "If I walk away, I won't regret it," Ward said. He finished with only 25 tackles (17 solo), seven pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in his eight starts in his first year in Indy. Over eight NFL seasons, Ward has a total of 460 tackles (338 solo), one sack, 10 interceptions, 77 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 109 regular-season games (96 starts).
--Keith HernandezSource: Indianapolis Star - Nathan Brown
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