NFL Player News

Smith was forced into Arizona’s No. 2 back job for a spell last season after Ryan Williams’ torn patella. Smith has respectable size and speed, but there is zero wiggle to his game and he doesn’t break tackles. He wound up averaging 3.40 yards per carry and falling back down the depth chart by season’s end. Smith will have to battle for a roster spot this summer.

The Jaguars will need to wait until the Eagles are either eliminated from postseason contention or have a bye week before the Super Bowl before they can speak with Moore. The Eagles’ OC has been a hot commodity on the coaching market and is still rumored to be in the mix for both the Saints and Cowboys head coaching vacancies, with both of those teams free to make an offer at any time. Moore’s Eagles are a win away from returning to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons. Should they defeat the Commanders in Sunday’s NFC Championship game, the Jaguars would only be permitted to do a virtual interview with Moore, which could also throw a wrench into the hiring process. We’ll see where things go from here but owner Shad Khan is clearly trying to exhaust all options for the team’s next head coach after going through two in four seasons.

Washington was hired by the Bears before the 2024 season and is officially one-and-done with the team. His dismissal can be partially blamed on the overturn at head coach, as Ben Johnson appears ready to bring on his own group of guys as he preps for his first run as a head coach. Washington didn’t begin calling plays for the Bears defense until Week 14. In his short stint as defensive coordinator, his team allowed 26.0 points per game and three games of 30-plus points. They also ranked 27th in EPA per play and 30th in success rate over that span. A veteran defensive line coach who joined the NFL ranks in 2008, Washington should have a decent market for work now that he’s available.

Brown’s departure from Chicago felt inevitable after the team hired Lions’ OC Ben Johnson as its next head coach earlier this week. Brown made the leap from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator to interim head coach in his lone season with the Bears. He had a chance to interview for the team’s head coaching vacancy earlier this offseason, but with a new regime set to come in, the likelihood of him being retained was low. Brown also interviewed with the Patriots and Seahawks for offensive coordinator vacancies. While Josh McDaniels has since claimed the Patriots’ job, the Seahawks have not named a replacement for former OC Ryan Grubb. Whether it’s with these teams or somewhere else, Brown feels like a lock to have a coaching role somewhere in 2025.

After interviewing with the Cowboys Tuesday, Schottenheimer was brought in for a second interview, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. As the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, he has a lot of familiarity with Jerry Jones and company. ESPN’s Todd Archer reports Schottenheimer’s second set of conversations with the team ended Wednesday night. The 51-year-old is still in the mix and is the only head coaching candidate to make it to two interviews for Dallas so far. Jones has been working with familiarity in head coaching candidates with former Cowboys and current Eagles OC Kellen Moore also in the mix. The Cowboys have shown the most interest in Schottenheimer thus far.

Both Brady and Moore have given first interviews with the Saints and are coaching the Bills and Eagles offenses, respectively, in conference championship games on Sunday. The Saints are hoping to conduct second-round interviews with both candidates, adding them into a mix that includes Mike McCarthy, Anthony Weaver, and Mike Kafka. With a few of the top candidates out of the way, the Saints look to be content waiting and fleshing out their second-round options for head coach. As Joe Brady and Kellen Moore gameplan for a chance to head to the Super Bowl, a head coaching job in New Orleans is also on the horizon.

Ben Johnson has not wasted time trying to put together his staff for the Bears. His first interview request for defensive coordinator is the Rams’ Aubrey Pleasant, who was named assistant head coach prior to the 2024 season. He has bounced around coaching staffs in the NFL, spending 2017-2020 with the Rams and re-joining them in 2023. Pleasant was a key piece in helping Rams DC Chris Shula build a formidable unit and now could join the Bears as defensive coordinator, a position he has yet to hold in his coaching career.

Dawkins was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday, ahead of the Bills’ AFC Championship game bout against the Chiefs. He was listed with an illness, which does not seem serious enough to put his status for Sunday’s game in doubt. It is still notable that he did not practice, but for now, Bills fans can expect their left tackle to still play in the biggest game of the season.

Spector landed on injured reserve with a calf injury towards the end of the season. He started four games in place of Matt Milano and is now headed to a potential return with the AFC Championship game on the horizon. If Spector is indeed activated, expect him to play a reserve or special teams role. Milano (hamstring) was limited in the Bills’ Wednesday practice, but expect him to start with Spector playing behind him on Sunday.

The Eagles have played things very conservatively on the injury front in recent weeks but Jurgens’ status should be closely monitored. The talented run-blocker has earned a 70.1 PFF run-blocking grade this season, ranking 13th among NFL centers with at least 500 offensive snaps.