January 14, 2026
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that cornerback Christian Gonzalez (concussion) will be on the practice field on Wednesday, according to Andrew Callahan of The Boston Globe. "I do anticipate him being out there," Vrabel said. Gonzalez is in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Wild-Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. The 23-year-old still needs to be cleared later this week, but he's on the right track to being able to play this Sunday in the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans. There's a good chance that Gonzalez will be limited in Wednesday's practice. Having Gonzalez active for this weekend's game would be a big boost for New England's defense and bad news for Houston's top receiver,
Nico Collins. If Gonzalez cannot play, Charles Woods would likely start in his place.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
January 14, 2026
Wide receiver
Adam Thielen announced his retirement from professional football on social media on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Thielen played 13 years in the NFL and was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Minnesota Vikings. The 35-year-old originally went undrafted before latching on with the Vikings in 2014. He played 10 years in Minnesota before two years with the Carolina Panthers in 2023 and 2024. Thielen began the 2025 campaign with the Vikings before latching on with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had 19 receptions for 186 yards and no touchdowns during the regular season in 16 games with Minnesota and Pittsburgh. Thielen will wrap up his NFL career with 704 catches for 8,497 yards and 64 touchdowns in 178 regular-season games played. His two Pro Bowl seasons came in back-to-back years with the Vikings in 2017 and 2018.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 14, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. was a big disappointment to his fantasy managers in his second season in the NFL after he came out guns blazing in his rookie campaign with 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 133 targets in 17 games. This year, Thomas took a step back with 48 catches on 91 targets for 707 yards and two touchdowns in 14 regular-season games. "When you are part of a team that wins, the wealth will be shared. It will never truly be about one player. I will continue to pour into these guys... BT will 100% be a part of that," head coach Liam Coen said when asked about Thomas' future. The 23-year-old is going to remain involved in the Jags' passing attack, but the addition of
Jakobi Meyers in 2025 really hurt his upside. Although
Travis Hunter could play more defense in 2026, his presence will also be an obstacle to Thomas trying to rediscover his rookie form.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe
January 14, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are requesting to interview Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for their head-coaching job, a source told The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Smith is also interviewing for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching opening on Wednesday. The 43-year-old is a Memphis native and spent 10 years as a coach with the Titans before becoming the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons for three seasons, so his preference could be to return home. Smith has a connection to the Cardinals as well, serving alongside current Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort when he worked for the Titans. It's unlikely that Smith would stick around on Pittsburgh's staff after they bring in a new head coach to replace Mike Tomlin, who resigned on Tuesday. Smith served as the OC for the Steelers for the last two seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
January 14, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is interviewing for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching opening on Wednesday, a source told Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated. Smith is well-liked in the Titans' building and will be looking for a new job after Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin resigned on Tuesday. In addition to Smith, the Titans are interviewing former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for the head-coaching job on Wednesday. Smith spent 10 years as an assistant coach for the Titans before eventually being promoted to the OC role. He eventually left Tennessee to become the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons. The Arizona Cardinals have also requested to interview Smith for their head-coaching job. Smith's offensive philosophy would be an interesting fit in Tennessee with current tight ends
Chig Okonkwo and
Gunnar Helm.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Conor Orr
January 14, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals have requested to interview Houston Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke for their head-coaching job, a source told Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Burke is the play-caller for the No. 1 defense in the NFL, and he previously coached the Cardinals' defensive line in 2022. The Cardinals are looking to replace Jonathan Gannon, who was fired last week after the team went 3-14 in 2025. Burke has been the Texans' DC for three seasons under head coach DeMeco Ryans. In addition to Houston being first in points allowed this year, they ranked second in yards allowed. Burke is well-traveled around the NFL as a coach, with stops in Tennessee (2004-08), Detroit (2009-13), Cincinnati (2014-15), Miami (2016-18), Philadelphia (2019-20), New York (2021), and Arizona (2022).
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
January 14, 2026
The Miami Dolphins requested an interview with Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for their head-coaching job, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. In addition to interviewing for Miami's head-coaching job, the Washington Commanders are interested in Graham filling their DC job. Graham also received head-coaching looks last year but was not a finalist anywhere. Despite a tough season for the Raiders, he's still a respected defensive mind and head-coaching candidate. The Dolphins recently hired a new general manager and are now looking to replace Mike McDaniel, who was let go last week. Graham was the Dolphins' DC in 2019, but he'll likely be considered a long shot to get their head-coaching job. He has a much better shot at going elsewhere in 2026 in a DC role again.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 14, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers said that he enjoyed his experience with the Steelers in 2025, but owner Art Rooney hinted that he's unlikely to re-sign with the team this offseason if he decides to continue his playing career, according to Amanda Godsey of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat. Rooney said that Rodgers "came here to play for Mike." Long-time Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced his resignation on Tuesday, and he's not expected to coach anywhere in 2026. The 42-year-old future Hall of Fame QB could be leaning towards retirement despite finishing this year with a rough performance in the Wild-Card loss to the Houston Texans on Monday, when he went 17-for-33 passing for 146 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a lost fumble. If this is it for Rodgers, the four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion will finish with 66,274 passing yards and 527 touchdown passes in the regular season in 21 NFL seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: Johnstown Tribune-Democrat - Amanda Godsey
January 14, 2026
The Philadelphia Eagles fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo on Tuesday after a disastrous first season as the team's coordinator in 2025. The Philadelphia Inquirer's David Murphy thinks that former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel would be the perfect guy to replace Patullo. McDaniel initially made the Dolphins' offense pretty scary with all the speed they had, but they collapsed this year, and it didn't help that they lost receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee) early in the year. Despite being fired by Miami, McDaniel is still considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the league, and he'd certainly have plenty of shiny toys to play with in the Eagles' offense. The problem for Philly is that McDaniel is also a candidate for open head-coaching jobs around the NFL this cycle.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - David Murphy
January 14, 2026
Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) had surgery on his left foot on Tuesday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. It's the second surgery on Bland's foot in as many years, but the expectation is that he will be ready for the team's offseason program in the spring. The main focus is on having the 26-year-old defensive back be a full-go for training camp in the summer. The Cowboys held Bland out of the final three games of the 2025 season with his foot injury, and they're hoping the injury can be put behind him going into the 2026 campaign. Bland recorded a career-high 73 tackles (45 solo), an interception returned for a touchdown, and six pass breakups in 12 starts this year. He picked off 14 passes (five returned for touchdowns) in his first two years in the NFL, but he has just one interception in the last two years and has had trouble staying on the field.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
January 14, 2026
Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones (pectoral) has a chance to return if the Broncos advance to this year's Super Bowl, a source told Mike Klis of 9 News. The starting safety had surgery to fix a torn pectoral muscle that he suffered near the end of the first half against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. With the 27-year-old sidelined, P.J. Locke has filled in admirably as the team's starting free safety. In his second season with the Broncos before his injury, Jones had 78 tackles (43 solo), half a sack, one interception, seven pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in 14 games played. Denver would love to get Jones back if they made it deep in the postseason, but there's no guarantee that Jones will be ready to contribute if they do get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2016.
--Keith HernandezSource: 9 News - Mike Klis
January 14, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver/cornerback
Bo Melton (ankle) said that he expects to need just one month to recover from the ankle injury that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Barring a setback, Melton should be good to take part in the team's offseason workouts in the spring. The 26-year-old is unsure if he'll work more as a receiver or defensive back going into the 2026 season. Melton was mostly a backup wideout for the Packers this year, catching only four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets, transitioning more to a defensive role. He'll be a restricted free agent this offseason, which means he'll most likely return to Green Bay. We aren't expecting Melton to have any real fantasy football value in the fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tom Silverstein
January 14, 2026
NFL teams were told that former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin "does not plan to coach next year," according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Teams around the league contacted Tomlin to express their interest in him in the hours after he told the Steelers that he was stepping down on Monday, according to sources. The Steelers still have Tomlin's rights, and draft compensation would be necessary if Tomlin were to go to another team. That could eventually still happen, but it looks like Tomlin's plan right now is to take next season off after 19 years as the head coach in Pittsburgh. While Tomlin's recent run with the Steelers was marred by early playoff exits, he amazingly didn't have a losing season in his entire 19-year run with the organization. If the future Hall of Fame coach doesn't coach in 2026, he could be hired as an analyst by one of the big TV networks.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 14, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said that wide receiver/cornerback
Travis Hunter's (knee) rehab from a torn LCL is going "as expected," and he will play on both offense and defense next season, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Hunter played 67% of the offensive snaps and 36% of the defensive snaps in his first seven NFL games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Wolfe says to expect Hunter to play much more on the defensive side in 2026, which will be a bigger need for the Jaguars. Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in last April's draft, had surgery on his knee on Nov. 11. The 22-year-old caught 28 of his 45 targets for 298 yards and a touchdown before his injury, but he was starting to see a bigger role right before he got hurt. Hunter should be fully ready for the start of next season, but coming off injury and expected to see less time on offense means that his price tag on draft day will most certainly drop considerably from what it was going into his rookie season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe
January 14, 2026
Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh continues to gather information on potential destinations, and the expectation is that he will interview with the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Atlanta Falcons by the end of the week, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Other teams are interested, but Pelissero reports that the Giants, Titans, and Falcons appear to have the inside track. The Athletic's Ian O'Connor reports that Harbaugh is expected to meet with the Giants in New Jersey on Wednesday, barring a last-minute schedule change. New York and Tennessee have promising young quarterbacks in place for Harbaugh, and while the Falcons have a big question mark at the position, given
Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) injury situation, the former Ravens head coach could have some sway in picking the team's next general manager.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
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