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Armani Rogers, TE
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 7:31 PM
Player News:
The Bills signed Rogers to a reserve/future contract Friday.
Analysis:
Rogers, who played quarterback in college before converting to a tight end upon going pro, originally signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He was a bit of a Cinderella story that season, opening the campaign on the Commanders' roster and catching five passes on six targets for 64 yards while rushing twice for 26 yards over 11 games. However, Rogers tore his Achilles in May of 2023 and hasn't played in an NFL game since, though he spent much of the 2024 campaign on Atlanta's practice squad. Rogers isn't eligible to play for Buffalo during the remainder of the postseason, but he'll be able to compete for a roster spot during training camp this summer.
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AJ Barner, TE
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 6:52 PM
Player News:
Barner caught 30 passes (38 targets) for 245 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games with the Seahawks in 2024.
Analysis:
Barner operated as the Seahawks' No. 2 tight end behind Noah Fant. The rookie fourth-round pick managed to finish third among all Seahawks pass-catchers with four touchdowns despite never recording more than 34 yards in a game. Fant has one year remaining on his contract, meaning Barner will likely serve as the No. 2 once again in 2025.
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Pharaoh Brown, TE
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 6:47 PM
Player News:
Brown recorded eight catches (12 targets) for 65 yards through 15 games with the Seahawks in 2024.
Analysis:
Brown averaged 16.3 offensive snaps per game, finishing behind both Noah Fant and rookie fourth-round pick AJ Barner. The 30-year-old tight end will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so he may end up on his fifth team in four years.
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Jaelon Darden, WR
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 6:43 PM
Player News:
Darden caught his lone target for six yards across 12 games between the Browns (seven) and Seahawks (five) in 2024. He also returned 10 punts for 75 yards and seven kickoffs for 199 yards.
Analysis:
The 2021 fourth-round pick didn't play an offensive snap for the Seahawks. He'll be a restricted free agent this offseason, and even if the Seahawks retain him, Darden will need to earn his job in training camp.
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Kenneth Walker, RB
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 6:40 PM
Player News:
Walker (ankle) rushed 153 times for 573 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 46 passes (53 targets) for 299 yards and a touchdown across 11 games in 2024.
Analysis:
Walker popped out of the gate with 103 yards on the ground in the season opener, but he only eclipsed the 80-yard rushing mark one other time the rest of the season. He dealt with multiple injuries, including an ankle injury that ended his season. When the 2022 second-round pick was healthy, he was the clear starting running back ahead of Zach Charbonnet. However, Charbonnet looked solid down the stretch with 60 carries for 303 yards (5.0 YPC) and three touchdowns over the final five games. Walker should be healthy to start the 2025 season -- the final year of his contract -- and he'll need to perform well and stay healthy to stave off Charbonnet.
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Mecole Hardman, WR
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 5:40 PM
Player News:
Hardman (knee), who remains on injured reserve, has been ruled out for Saturday's divisional-round contest against the Texans.
Analysis:
The Chiefs designated Hardman for return from injured reserve on Jan. 1, but the wide receiver has yet to progress beyond a limited listing on six ensuing Chiefs injury reports. His window in which to get back on the active roster for the first time since Week 13 also is quickly coming to a close. First, though, Kansas City will need to emerge victorious Saturday in order for Hardman to have a chance to play again this season.
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Tyler Higbee, TE
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 4:50 PM
Player News:
Higbee (chest) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's divisional-round game in Philadelphia, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis:
Higbee was forced out in the second quarter of Monday's wild-card win versus the Vikings due to a chest injury that required a visit to the hospital. Fortunately for the tight end, he was able to travel back to Los Angeles with his teammates, and he followed up a limited listing Wednesday with a capped session Thursday and full practice to cap the week, thereby clearing him for the second round of the playoffs. Higbee may find the sledding tough Sunday against an Eagles defense that has conceded the fewest YPT (5.71) to opposing TEs this season.
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Jeshaun Jones, WR
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 4:49 PM
Player News:
The Vikings signed Jones to a reserve/future contract Friday.
Analysis:
Jones, who spend much of the 2024 campaign on Minnesota's practice squad, has earned an opportunity to stick with the team throughout the offseason and continue his development. The undrafted rookie out of Maryland is still looking for a chance to make his NFL debut.
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Mike Strachan, WR
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 4:38 PM
Player News:
The Commanders signed Strachan to a reserve/future contract Friday.
Analysis:
Strachan will get an opportunity to continue his development with Washington this offseason, though his contract makes him ineligible to contribute during the team's postseason run. That means Strachan won't be a candidate to suit up for Saturday's road divisional-round matchup against the Lions on Saturday.
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J.J. Taylor, RB
Published:
Friday, January 17, 2025 4:09 PM
Player News:
The Texans announced Friday that Taylor has been elevated from the practice squad for Saturday's road divisional-round matchup against the Chiefs.
Analysis:
Taylor will be available for Houston as insurance option behind Joe Mixon (ankle), who is officially listed as questionable. The starting running back appears to be trending in the right direction, however, and even if Mixon were to miss time, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale would stand to handle the majority of the Texans' backfield reps.
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