Jets Shutting Down WR Garrett Wilson
Trudging through another down season, the Jets will not opt to bring back their cornerstone wide receiver from IR. Aaron Glenn confirmed Friday (via the New York Post’s Brian Costello) the team is shutting down Garrett Wilson.
This will go down as a lost season for the recently extended pass catcher. Wilson has not played since Week 10, going down with knee trouble. Wilson’s knee sprain affected the same knee that caused him to miss time earlier in the season.
[RELATED: Jets Add Hendon Hooker, To Start Brady Cook In Week 16]
That issue hurt a Jets passing attack which entered the season with questions about a shaky Wilson supporting cast. The team has shaken up that group, acquiring Adonai Mitchell in the Sauce Gardner trade and then granting Allen Lazard‘s cut request this week. No one claimed Lazard on waivers; he remains in free agency.
With the Jets starting 0-7 and entering Week 16 at 3-11, neither side stood to gain anything — particularly when draft position is factored in — by Wilson returning from IR. He will have an extended onramp toward 2026, when the Jets will almost definitely have a new starting quarterback. The team benched Justin Fields and will likely release him from the two-year, $40MM deal he signed in March.
Wilson signed a four-year, $130MM extension in July, making him the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid wideout — behind Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and D.K. Metcalf. Illustrating the Jets’ aerial difficulties this season, Wilson’s 395 receiving yards still lead the team. No other Jets wideout has accumulated 250 yards; Wilson’s four receiving touchdowns still pace the team by two. As Costello points out, the Jets last season in which no one eclipsed 500 receiving yards came in 1976. Rules at the time significantly restricted passing attacks, and Lou Holtz was a one-and-done (well, 11 games-and-done) HC that year.
The Jets observed Wilson become a quality receiver despite being restrained by a bad quarterback situation over his first two seasons. Wilson still started his career 3-for-3 in 1,000-yard seasons, doing so after a short-lived demotion to the team’s No. 2 receiver during Davante Adams‘ Big Apple cameo. After rumors of Wilson discontent emerged, the Glenn-Darren Mougey regime made him a priority. While the team trading Gardner so soon after his cornerback-record extension proved shocking, it prioritized Wilson at the deadline. He will undoubtedly enter 2026 as the Jets’ top skill-position player.
Falcons HC Raheem Morris Discusses Kirk Cousins’ Future
DECEMBER 19: To little surprise, Kendall’s colleague Jeff Howe writes a Cousins trade should not be expected this offseason. If a parting of ways is to take place, a release represents the logical path from Atlanta’s perspective. With plenty of uncertainty on the sidelines and in the front office, though, Cousins’ future remains unclear.
DECEMBER 18: With the goal of establishing a long-term plan at quarterback, the Falcons made multiple aggressive moves to bolster the position after the 2023 season. Their first bold strike came when they signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180MM pact with $100MM in guarantees in March 2024.
With Cousins in the fold on a mega-deal, there was no expectation the Falcons would immediately use a high pick on a passer in that spring’s draft. They stunningly did just that in selecting former Indiana Hoosier and Washington Husky Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall.
Despite Penix’s presence, Cousins entered 2024 as the Falcons’ unquestioned QB1. Although he signed with Atlanta after prolific runs in Washington and Minnesota, Cousins’ Vikings tenure ended with a torn Achilles in Week 8 of 2023. Over two years since suffering that injury, he hasn’t regained his old form.
Cousins bounced back from his Achilles tear to start the Falcons’ first 14 games last season. He posted mediocre-at-best numbers and led the team to a middling 7-7 record, though, and head coach Raheem Morris benched Cousins for Penix ahead of Week 16. Although the Falcons lost two of three under Penix and missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year, he showed enough to remain the starter heading into 2025.
With Penix taking over, Cousins was interested in a change of scenery in the offseason. Nothing came together on that front, leaving Cousins as a ridiculously expensive backup.
As was the case with Cousins in 2024, Penix didn’t look like the answer this year. His season ended with a partially torn ACL in a Week 11 loss to the Panthers. The Falcons, 3-7 at that point, turned back to Cousins to close out a dud of a campaign. The 37-year-old has put together a couple of strong performances and a pair of clunkers in his return to a starting role. Cousins turned back the clock in a Week 15 win over the Buccaneers, completing 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
Now 5-9, the Falcons are guaranteed to miss the playoffs again. Owner Arthur Blank will spend the next three weeks evaluating Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. They aren’t locks to return next year. Neither is Cousins, whose contract remains an albatross.
There are still two years left on Cousins’ deal, but the four-time Pro Bowler has the mentality of a soon-to-be free agent. Cousins said Wednesday that he feels as if he’s on an “expiring contract,” per Josh Kendall of The Athletic.
With an untenable $57.5MM cap hit in each of the next two seasons, it’s logical for Cousins to approach it that way. Designating Cousins as a post-June 1 release would enable the Falcons to spread out $35MM in dead cap over the next two seasons, Kendall notes. While an offseason split seems likely, Morris isn’t closing the door yet.
“Everything is on the table,” Morris said in regards to Cousins’ future. He later added: “We planned on the amount of years we put in his contract and hopefully potentially more. We will all sit down at the end of the season and have those discussions and talk about those things.”
Considering Penix may not be ready at the start of 2026, ditching Cousins would add to the Falcons’ questions under center. Morris said he still views Penix as the “quarterback of the future,” but his so-so performance in the pros and long-running history of serious injuries dating back to college don’t inspire confidence.
Whether it’s Cousins or someone else, the Falcons will have to line up a capable insurance policy at the position for next year. With Morris and Fontenot potentially on the outs, it’s possible a new regime will decide Cousins’ fate.
Bears WR Rome Odunze Out For Week 16; IR Stint Being Considered
Rome Odunze has been dealing with a foot injury since late October. The second-year receiver will miss Week 16, and a longer absence is being considered by the Bears. 
Odunze’s upcoming absence will be his third in a row. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports he is considered week-to-week at this point, but a decision will need to be made soon regarding a potential move to injured reserve. Head coach Ben Johnson recently noted Chicago could elect to shut Odunze down for a stretch.
“We’re going to do what’s best for Rome first and foremost,” Johnson said (via Fowler’s colleague Courtney Cronin). “I know he wants to be out there and helping. It’s hard to tell him no sometimes… So there may be a case where we have to protect him from himself a little bit and just make sure we get him right and he’ll be able to help us down the road.”
Moving Odunze to IR would see him miss the final three weeks of the regular season but also the Bears’ wild-card game (in the likely event Chicago reaches the playoffs without securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC). Such a transaction would carry significant weight as a result, but it would allow Odunze to focus on healing in full before making his return. The 23-year-old has been a focal point in the Bears’ passing game when on the field, and that will no doubt continue once he is healthy.
Selected ninth overall last year, Odunze posted a 54-734-3 statline as a rookie. Like everyone associated with the Bears’ offense, expectations were high for improvement this season. Odunze has delivered so far with six touchdowns and a 15.0 yards per catch average in 12 games. A starting role will await him upon return, although it remains to be seen when that will take place.
The Bears (10-4) will host the Packers (9-4-1) in a critical divisional matchup tomorrow night. Rookie wideout Luther Burden will also be absent for that game, leaving Chicago shorthanded at the position. As the team continues to strive for top spot in the NFC North, the injury status of Odunze in particular will be worth monitoring.
Dolphins TE Darren Waller Unsure Of Playing Future
When the Dolphins traded away Jonnu Smith, questions were raised about how they would replace his production at the tight end spot. In a move which few (if any) observers saw coming, Darren Waller was acquired upon unretiring. 
Waller’s career seemed to be over when he hung up his cleats last offseason, but the opportunity to reunite with Frank Smith (now the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator after working with Waller during his Raiders tenure) prompted his decision to return to the NFL. With the 2025 season winding down, it remains to be seen if he will continue playing next year.
“I will evaluate at the end of the season and see what I want to do,” the 33-year-old said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “I’m not leaning one way or the other right now. Just focusing on enjoying these moments we’ve got.”
Injuries were prevalent in Waller’s career prior to his retirement, and he has been sidelined on multiple occasions with the Dolphins. The former Pro Bowler has made seven appearances and counting, and that stretch includes a pair of two-touchdown performances. In all, Waller has totaled 243 yards and six scores on 20 catches this season. He could remain a red zone option for 2026 in the event he remains in Miami.
Having been eliminated from the playoffs on Monday, the Dolphins have three games remaining in their season. Healthy once more, Waller will look to remain available down the stretch as Miami turns to rookie Quinn Ewers under center. A strong finish to the campaign on offense in particular could be key in determining whether head coach Mike McDaniel (and by extension Smith and the rest of the team’s staff) will be retained this offseason. That, in turn, will likely play a large role in Waller’s decision on his own future.
Greg Dulcich and Julian Hill are pending 2026 free agents. The Dolphins’ tight end room also includes undrafted rookie Jalin Conyers, whose pact runs through 2027. Plenty of changes could be taking place soon at the position as a result, although part of the team’s planning will depend on how Waller chooses to proceed.
Two Teams Have Expressed Interest In Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick‘s return to football as head coach at North Carolina could not have gone much worse. Despite an underwhelming product on the field and an unusual amount of news off the field, Belichick is still apparently attracting some interest from the NFL.
[RELATED: Bill Belichick Expected To Draw Interest From Multiple Teams]
According to Josina Anderson, two unidentified NFL teams have recently expressed interest in the future Hall of Fame coach. This follows a report from last month that Belichick was expected to receive interest from multiple organizations.
While Anderson doesn’t mention any definitive suitors, she does note that “upper-level personnel” with the Falcons, Giants, and Browns are “still fond” of Belichick. It’s only natural to connect the Giants to the iconic head coach, as Belichick had a long and successful stint as the team’s defensive coordinator, a stretch in which he earned a pair of Super Bowl rings.
After the Giants moved on from coach Brian Daboll in November, there were some rumblings that the organization could take another look at Belichick. The coach was quick to deny any interest in the opening while restating his commitment to the Tar Heels. Similarly, there were reports that Belichick wasn’t included in the team’s “shortlist of candidates.” Either way, depending on the results of the Giants’ initial survey of coaching candidates, it wouldn’t be completely unfounded for the team to land back on Belichick.
Browns ownership doesn’t have any connection to the coach; in fact, Belichick coached the iteration of the Browns that ultimately transformed into the Baltimore Ravens franchise. The 73-year-old still represents a major “what if” for the city of Cleveland. Belichick never had the same success as he would later have in New England. In five seasons with the Browns, he only had a single winning season, and he finished his tenure with a 36-44 record. The coach did help lay the groundwork for the franchise’s future success in Baltimore, and there’s been a sentiment that he would have continued with the Art Modell-iteration of the organization had they stayed in Cleveland.
The Falcons’ lone connection to Belichick is a public flirtation back in 2024. Atlanta appeared to be the lone serious suitor for the coach following his ouster with the Patriots, but the Falcons ended up opting for Raheem Morris instead. There’s already been whispers that Morris could be on his way out in Atlanta, and perhaps Arthur Blank ends up turning back to one of his main alternatives from several years ago.
Belichick hasn’t done much in 2025 to help his case for a future NFL gig. He had a dreadful first season as North Carolina’s head coach, guiding his squad to a 4-8 record. The Tar Heels also failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in seven years. At the same time, Belichick was embroiled in a number of off-the-field stories. From his continued pettiness with the Patriots to his handling of recruits and incumbents to his his very-public dalliance, Belichick’s legacy would have done better had the coach stayed off the field (and out of the headlines).
Of course, Belichick’s illustrious resume will always keep him in the NFL coaching cycle. It’s hard to blame teams from being enticed by Belichick’s eight Super Bowl rings, including six as the head coach of the Patriots. Even if he doesn’t garner a job this offseason, this surely won’t be the last we hear his name connected to open jobs.
Jaguars Extend WR Jakobi Meyers
Jakobi Meyers has been in Jacksonville for just over a month, and the Jaguars are already committing to the wide receiver for the long haul. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jaguars are signing Meyers to a three-year extension. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the three-year pact is worth $60MM, including $40MM guaranteed. The $20MM average annual value will place Meyers 25th on the list of the league’s highest-paid WRs. The $40MM in guaranteed money now ranks 24th at the position.
The Jaguars acquired Meyers from the Raiders in early November for fourth- and sixth-round picks. The veteran has seen a significant role in his first six appearances with the organization, hauling in 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns. Most notably, the Jaguars have gone 5-1 in those six games and are second in points scored over that span. As James Palmer of NFL Network details, people in the Jaguars organization believe the receiver has “transformed” the offense, with Jordan Schultz adding that he’s never heard a team speak so “glowingly and positively” about a midseason acquisition.
With Meyers now locked in for the next few years, Trevor Lawrence can count on some continuity with his receivers corps. The Jaguars have used their last two first-round picks on wideouts Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. Thomas has taken a bit of a step back following a productive rookie campaign, while Hunter’s rookie season ended with only 298 receiving yards. Still, the trio should now lead one of the most intriguing WR rooms moving forward.
Meyers proved his consistency early on in his NFL career. Despite the Patriots alternating between Tom Brady, Cam Newton, and Mac Jones at QB, the wide receiver managed to carve out a role in each of his first three seasons. New England curiously decided to pivot to JuJu Smith-Schuster during the 2023 offseason, opening the door for Meyers to ink a three-year deal with the Raiders. The wideout experienced another carousel of QBs in Las Vegas, but he still managed to compile 1,881 yards and 14 touchdowns through his first two years with the organization.
As an impending free agent, Meyers seemed like a prime trade candidate heading into this year’s deadline. In seven games with the Raiders in 2025, the veteran hauled in 33 catches for 352 yards. In total, he’s snagged 60 catches for 707 yards and three touchdowns this season. Meyers’ extension will remove him from what was already an underwhelming WR free agency class. Mike Evans will lead that grouping, with the likes of Wan’Dale Robinson, Deebo Samuel and former Jaguar Christian Kirk representing the other top names on the market.
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49ers Unlikely To Trade WR Brandon Aiyuk; Steelers Among Potential Suitors?
With Brandon Aiyuk having been moved to the reserve/left squad list, it is highly likely he has played his final game as a 49er. The veteran wideout’s future will presumably not include time spent in San Francisco in 2026, but it remains to be seen where his next NFL gig will come from. 
A trade could of course be worked out in this case. Since the 49ers voided future guarantees in Aiyuk’s contract, the pact should be much easier to absorb than it otherwise would have been. Still, interested teams would much prefer to add Aiyuk as a free agent rather than parting with draft capital to acquire a player known to be on the way out. To no surprise, then, Matt Barrows of The Athletic predicts (subscription required) the 49ers will proceed with a release this spring.
Per Barrows, Aiyuk is still held in high regard by his teammates despite the way things have unfolded in his case. That puts the 27-year-old in a different situation than someone like De’Vondre Campbell, whose standing with the team unraveled when he refused to re-enter a game in Week 15 last season. Nevertheless, Aiyuk’s relationship with the organization has been the subject of speculation dating back to contentions extension talks in 2024. Provided he is released, it will be interesting to see how many suitors pursue Aiyuk coming off a full season spent on the sidelines.
It was reported last week the Commanders are among the teams which can be expected to show interest on that front. A reunion between Aiyuk and former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels would certainly not come as a surprise. Indeed, Barrows points to Washington as one of the likeliest landing spots for Aiyuk. He adds Pittsburgh as a team to watch regarding an Aiyuk deal.
The Steelers were long mentioned as a contender to acquire the former second-team All-Pro prior to his extension being signed. Pittsburgh and San Francisco engaged in trade talks to the point where an agreement was reached between the teams. Aiyuk himself ended the possibility of a Steelers swap by informing the 49ers of his desire to stay. His four-year, $120MM extension was finalized immediately thereafter. Pittsburgh has since acquired and extended D.K. Metcalf, but otherwise the WR position remains a question mark for the team.
Aiyuk has only made seven appearances since signing that pact. His knee injury (which included ACL, MCL and meniscus tears) has resulted in an absence which stretched through the second half of last season and all of the current campaign. A return to action in time for 2026 should be expected, but a short list of serious suitors could emerge if/when he hits the open market.
Latest On Patrick Mahomes’ Recovery
Three-plus months after opening the season among the NFL’s Super Bowl favorites, the Chiefs fell to 6-8 with a loss to the Chargers last Sunday. After earning seven straight trips to the AFC title game, the longtime juggernauts are officially out of the playoff race this year. Adding injury to insult, future Hall of Fame quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL in Week 15.
[RELATED: Unusual Chiefs Season Set To Precede Roster-Building Challenges]
With Mahomes out of commission for the rest of 2025, the Chiefs will ride out a bitterly disappointing season with Gardner Minshew as their starter. Beyond that, it’s unclear who will be at the helm when the 2026 campaign kicks off next September.
Mahomes underwent successful surgery on Monday. He’s already rehabbing, but it should take approximately nine months to recover. Mahomes looks iffy for Week 1 of next season as a result, but the Chiefs are hopeful he’ll return early in the year (via the Associated Press).
“Every player is different. Every sport is different. Every position is different,” Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder said. “[Mahomes] is so in tune to what he does, he does it a little quicker. Ballpark on this is nine months, but it could be a month or two more, a month or two less.”
A 2017 first-round pick, Mahomes spent nearly all of his rookie season redshirting behind Alex Smith. Since then, though, Mahomes hasn’t made fewer than 14 starts in a season. The three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP has led the Chiefs to a 95-31 regular-season record. Despite his team’s uncharacteristic struggles this year, Mahomes didn’t look like he was slowing down in his age-30 season.
While Mahomes has been durable during his brilliant eight-year reign as Kansas City’s starter, the team has typically employed backups with significant starting experience. Chad Henne, Matt Moore, Blaine Gabbert, and Carson Wentz preceded Minshew in the No. 2 role. With Minshew on a one-year deal, the Chiefs will have to decide whether to re-sign him in the offseason. If not, it’s likely they’ll will bring in another battle-tested reserve with Mahomes’ early 2026 status up in the air.
USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane To Declare For NFL Draft
One of the best vertical threats in college football is heading to the NFL. According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, USC wideout Ja’Kobi Lane is declaring for the 2026 draft.
Lane played sparingly as a freshman before bursting onto the scene in 2024, finishing with 12 touchdowns. He put himself firmly on the NFL map with a standout performance during the Las Vegas Bowl, where he finished with seven catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns. He carried that production into 2025, as the wideout hauled in 49 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns.
While Lane didn’t have as much luck finding the end zone in 2025, scouts have still lauded the prospect for his scoring ability. At six-foot-four, the receiver is a natural red zone target, but he’s also known for his big-play ability, as he averaged 13.8 yards per reception throughout his Trojans career.
Considering his size and skillset, Lane is currently projected to be a Day 2 pick, with some pundits estimating that he could hear his name in the second round. Even a strong combine and/or Pro Day showing likely won’t be enough to elevate him in the same tier as receivers like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, or even teammate Makai Lemon. However, he could easily emerge in that second tier of wide receivers.
That somewhat underwhelming draft projection had many scouts believing Lane would ultimately head back to USC, per Reid. The Trojans are also set to have some definitive subtractions from the WR room (including Lemon), perhaps opening the door for Lane to emerge as a true WR1. Instead, the prospect will look to begin his professional career as soon as possible.