2025 NFL Playoff Buzz: Falcons Could Reduce QB Kirk Cousins After Restructuring Deal

[ad_1] The 2025 common season is within the books, that means it is time for some to modify gears to the offseason and others to shift focus to the NFL playoffs.

Each bit of stories is all of the extra consequential getting into the postseason, because the march to Tremendous Bowl LX in Santa Clara formally kicks off.

Who's damage? Who's practising? Who's beginning? And who's on the recent seat?

This is the newest on what's taking place across the league getting into wild-card weekend:

The Seattle Seahawks' beginning quarterback is listed as questionable to play within the group's Saturday Divisional Spherical matchup in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers resulting from an indirect harm. Within the common season, Darnold totaled 4,048 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 99.1 passer ranking, whereas finishing a career-high 67.7% of his passes.

The Seahawks went 14-3 within the common season, which ended with them beating the 49ers on the street in Week 18 to clinch the NFC West and the No. 1 seed within the NFC. Kickoff is on Saturday night time at 8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app.

Payments down a number of defenders Head coach Sean McDermott mentioned on Jan. 15 that defensive backs Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and Maxwell Hairston (ankle) will probably be inactive for the group's AFC divisional-round matchup in opposition to the Denver Broncos on Saturday. McDermott additionally mentioned that working again Ty Johnson is questionable to play with an ankle harm.

Thielen introduced his retirement after 12 seasons on Jan. 14. A two-time Professional Bowler, Thielen spent the primary 9 seasons of his profession with the Minnesota Vikings (2014-22), adopted 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).

Regardless of an injury-shortened rookie marketing campaign, the Jacksonville Jaguars intend on having the extensive receiver/cornerback play each methods once more in 2026, per ESPN. Hunter's 2025 season ended after seven video games resulting from a knee harm. Hunter, whom the Jags traded as much as choose with the second total decide within the 2025 NFL Draft, totaled 28 receptions for 298 yards and one landing as a receiver. Hunter logged three passes defended and 15 mixed tackles as a defensive again. Jacksonville went 13-4 and received the AFC South this season earlier than dropping to the Payments within the AFC wild-card spherical.

Packers HC Matt LaFleur extension on the horizon? The Packers will talk about a brand new contract with their head coach after the season, in line with NFL Media. LaFleur has one 12 months remaining on his present deal. This season, Inexperienced Bay enters the playoffs 9-7-1 and performs the NFC North-rival Chicago Bears on the street within the wild-card spherical on Saturday; the 2 groups cut up the regular-season collection. Below LaFleur, the Packers are a mixed 76-40-1 within the common season and 3-5 within the postseason since 2019.

Bears lose beginning left sort out for the rest of playoffs On the heels of a historic wild-card spherical win, head coach Ben Johnson introduced beginning left sort out Ozzy Trapilo suffered a patellar harm and can miss the rest of the season. Chicago will now should account for the lack of Caleb Williams' blindside safety heading into its first divisional-round sport since 2010.

'I am tremendous excited': RB Omarion Hampton set for playoffs The Los Angeles Chargers formally listed rookie working again Omarion Hampton as questionable for Sunday, however the first-rounder mentioned he is able to go for Sunday's AFC wild-card sport in opposition to the New England Patriots. Hampton suffered an ankle harm in a Week 18 loss to the Broncos, which has been a recurring situation for Hampton this season. He missed eight regular-season video games with an ankle harm however has been productive when he has seen the sector. He was the Chargers second-leading rusher (545 yards) and has scored 5 touchdowns (4 dashing, one receiving).

Crosby went by profitable surgical procedure to restore the meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday. He could have six months to get well earlier than NFL coaching camp begins. Crosby missed the Raiders' last two video games of the 2025 season after posting 10.0 sacks and 73 tackles in 15 video games.

The Falcons have agreed to switch the ultimate two years of Cousins' contract, per ESPN and The Athletic. In keeping with experiences, the transfer will possible result in the Falcons releasing Cousins by the third day of the 2026 NFL league 12 months on March 13, as it's unlikely any group would look to commerce for him given his contract. As a part of the restructure, Atlanta transformed Cousins’ 2026 wage from $35 million to $2.1 million and moved the remaining $32.9 million to his 2027 base wage to extend the determine to $67.9 million. His 2027 wage would change into assured if he is nonetheless with the group by March 13, whereas releasing him with a post-June 1 designation would value the Falcons a lifeless cap hit of $35 million that may be cut up into funds of $22.5 million in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027.

Cousins, who began eight of his 10 video games performed this season, will play in his fifteenth season in 2026. The veteran signal-caller led the Falcons to a 5-2 file rather than the injured Michael Penix Jr. (torn ACL) to finish the 12 months, finishing 61.8% of his passes for 1,471 yards, 10 landing passes and 5 interceptions in that span.

The Commanders had the NFL's oldest roster this season, however certainly one of their key veterans has expressed an curiosity in returning in 2026. Miller introduced that he'd prefer to proceed enjoying at the very least another season and would like to remain in Washington. Miller, who signed a one-year deal final offseason, will flip 37 in March, the identical month he can even be a free agent. The 2025 marketing campaign was Miller’s first full season since 2018. He began three of his 17 video games performed and collected 9.0 sacks, 26 tackles and 6 tackles for loss.

"I feel I proved to myself I can play one other 12 months," Miller mentioned, per NBC. "I need to be right here, however I’m not ready to begin making calls for and saying the place I need to play and the place I need to be at. Whoever desires me, that’s the place I’ll be. … I'd like to be a Commander. … [Head coach Dan Quinn] does an incredible job of retaining 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 during which the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive 12 months, 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 will probably 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 group made an official announcement — McDaniel mentioned he has spoken with proprietor Stephen Ross.

The Dolphins additionally want to determine what they will 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 important hits to the wage cap by releasing him. Releasing him subsequent 12 months would lead to a $99 million lifeless cap cost. If the transfer is designated as a post-June 1 launch, these prices are cut 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 nervous about his job safety after an epic collapse by the Bucs. Every part 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 prospect," Bowles mentioned about coming again. "I’ve received three straight division titles, so that claims rather a lot so far as I’m involved. I don’t actually have a message for followers apart 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 group higher and that’s all I’m wanting ahead to.

"I really feel like we had sufficient expertise to win. The errors we made weren’t talent-driven; they have been extra mistake-driven."

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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