

Wed Jan 7 6:59pm ET
Field Level Media
Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles told the Tampa Bay Times via text on Wednesday that he will be returning for the 2026 season, the newspaper reported.
Bowles led the franchise to NFC South titles in each of his first three seasons as coach, but Tampa Bay missed the playoffs in 2025 with an 8-9 record.
Bowles has a 35-33 record in four seasons and stands 1-3 in the postseason. He is under contract with the Buccaneers through the 2028 season.
While meeting with reporters on Monday, Bowles stated that he deserved to return for the 2026 season.
"I've earned the chance -- I've won three straight division titles, so that says a lot as far as I'm concerned," Bowles said.
Tampa Bay started 6-2 this season with quarterback Baker Mayfield ranking as one of the NFL's top players during that stretch. However, injuries to Mayfield and other players caused a major setback in the second half of the season.
The Buccaneers returned from a midseason bye to lose three straight and seven of eight games to find themselves two games below .500 entering Week 18.
Tampa Bay posted a 16-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, but missed the playoffs when the Atlanta Falcons won their game Sunday, creating a three-way tie for the NFC South crown. The Panthers won the tiebreaker and advanced to the playoffs.
Bowles met the Glazer family, who own the Buccaneers, on Tuesday and was reportedly scheduled to meet with members of his coaching staff on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tampa Bay's top record under Bowles is a 10-7 mark in 2024. The lone playoff victory under Bowles came in the 2023 season when the Buccaneers mauled the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 in the NFC wild-card round.
Bowles has a 61-74 record in eight-plus seasons as a head coach. He went 24-40 from 2016-18 with the New York Jets and also went 2-1 in an interim role in 2011 with the Miami Dolphins after Tony Sparano was fired.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) did not take part in Wednesday's practice, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Lambert-Smith's status for the Wild-Card playoff tilt on Sunday night against the New England Patriots is in question after the 23-year-old pass-catcher hurt his hamstring in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Denver Broncos. He never returned to the contest. If Lambert-Smith isn't cleared to play this weekend, Tre' Harris and Derius Davis could see more time on the field as WR depth behind Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston. Lambert-Smith, a fifth-rounder out of Auburn back in April, saw action in only 10 regular-season games in 2025 and caught just five passes for 51 yards and one touchdown for the Bolts. He'll be off the fantasy radar if he's active for the postseason.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) continued to be limited in practice on Wednesday, according to Packers.com. Wicks suffered a concussion in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens, didn't practice at all last week, and was inactive for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. The good news is that the 24-year-old has advanced through the league's concussion protocol, but he still has more boxes to check to be cleared to play on Saturday night against the division-rival Chicago Bears on Wild-Card weekend. How much he's able to do in practice on Thursday could determine Wicks' status for Saturday's playoff game. Wicks has been a boom/bust fantasy wideout all season long, with one really true boom performance in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions, when he caught six passes for 94 yards and his only two TDs of the year. If he's active against Chicago, fantasy managers should focus on more reliable options.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra (ankle) could be in danger of missing Wild-Card weekend and Sunday's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers after missing Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury. Calcaterra saw the field a bit more in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, with Dallas Goedert (knee) being rested, and he caught two of his three targets for a season-high 21 yards and his only touchdown of the year. The 27-year-old was injured in the season finale, though, and he'll need to get back on the practice field over the next two days if he wants to be active for the playoff opener as the Eagles look to defend their title. With Goedert most likely returning this weekend, Calcaterra won't be in play as a TE option in fantasy playoff leagues.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was shut down in the regular-season finale by the Seattle Seahawks, throwing for a season-low 127 yards with one interception and his only game this season without a touchdown. Purdy suffered a stinger on the final play of the game, but he is not expected to miss any practice time and will be good to go for Sunday's Wild-Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old signal-caller had another strong season overall despite playing in only nine games due to an early-season turf-toe injury. He'll be in line for another challenging matchup against a stout Eagles defensive unit that ranks sixth in both dropback-success rate (40.7%) and dropback EPA (-0.109) over the final five weeks of the season.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, according to the team. Goedert didn't practice at all last week and was held out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders with the Eagles resting most of their starters. The 31-year-old veteran should be able to return for the Wild-Card matchup on Sunday against the visiting San Francisco 49ers, but we'll keep a close eye on his status the rest of the week. It's worth noting that Grant Calcaterra (aknle) did not practice on Wednesday, so the Eagles could be thin at the position behind Goedert if Calcaterra doesn't play this weekend. As long as Goedert is active to kick off the playoffs, fantasy managers should consider him a top-five TE after he tied with Trey McBride in touchdowns at the position with 11 in 15 regular-season games.
From RotoBaller
For the second straight day this week, Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (knee) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. Moore's fantasy stock is at an all-time low heading into the playoffs and a Wild-Card matchup against the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Saturday night at Soldier Field. Not only could Moore take a questionable tag into the weekend if he doesn't practice in full on Thursday, but he's coming off back-to-back one-catch efforts in the final two games of the regular season with Rome Odunze (foot) out of action. The 28-year-old has become extremely hard to trust as a WR4/flex in fantasy lineups, and especially so this weekend with Odunze expected to return after missing the last five weeks. Don't expect Moore to show out the way he did the last time he faced Green Bay, when he caught five of seven targets for 97 yards and a touchdown in the overtime win.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum broke out in his sophomore campaign, taking 145 carries for 746 yards and six touchdowns to go with eight catches (14 targets) for 36 yards while playing all 17 games. Corum was one of the most efficient backs in the league on a per-carry basis, with his 5.14 yards per carry ranking fifth-highest among running backs with at least 100 carries. He remains the No. 2 running back behind Kyren Williams and has seen more work as a result of the Rams looking to keep Williams fresh for the playoffs. They've formed the most potent running back duo in the league in the Rams' high-powered offense, as Williams ranks first in rushing success rate (62.9%), while Corum ranks second (59.3%), per Fantasy Points Data. Corum should continue to be involved in the Rams' Wild-Card matchup against the Carolina Panthers, who have allowed the 10th-most rushing yards per game (138.3) over the final four weeks of the season. He projects as an RB2/RB3 in fantasy for Saturday's game.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) said he plans to play in Saturday's Wild-Card matchup against the division-rival Green Bay Packers, according to Adam Hoge of AllCHGOcom. Odunze has missed the past five games due to a stress fracture in his foot, but he appears set to make his return in the playoffs. The second-year wideout has cooled off considerably since the Bears' Week 5 bye, recording three or fewer catches in six of eight games, with only one touchdown after finding the end zone five times in the first four weeks of the season. It's tough to trust Odunze as anything more than a low-end flex option for fantasy in the playoffs, with Chicago's pair of rookies in Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III emerging as go-to targets down the stretch.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (knee) said Wednesday that "this is the best I've felt in six weeks," as he's been dealing with a knee injury that he originally suffered in Week 11 versus the New York Giants. Jacobs is off the injury report for the first time since then and should be ready to handle his full workload in Saturday's Wild-Card matchup against the division-rival Chicago Bears after being rested in Week 18. The 27-year-old had another strong season despite the lingering injury, handling 234 carries for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 36 catches (44 targets) for 282 yards and another score as a receiver. Jacobs will face a Chicago defense that allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game (134.5) and the fourth-highest yards per carry (5.0) this season. Jacobs profiles as a rock-solid RB1 for Wild-Card weekend in a favorable matchup and with improved health.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland put together a fantastic regular season, recording 58 receptions (82 targets) for a team-leading 713 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. Loveland paced the Bears' passing game in Week 18's loss to the Lions, bringing in 10 of 13 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. The budding star continued his late-season surge and is trending favorably heading into Chicago's Wild-Card matchup against the division-rival Green Bay Packers. Green Bay has allowed the 13th-most catches per game (5.6) and the sixth-fewest yards per game (44.9) to tight ends this season, with Loveland totaling seven catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in their two regular-season meetings. Receiver Rome Odunze (foot) is expected to return on Saturday after missing the previous five games, which could take some targets away from Loveland. The 21-year-old Loveland still profiles as one of the best tight end options for fantasy managers in playoff leagues and should be in all lineups.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) was listed as limited in practice again on Wednesday as the team prepares to face the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Saturday night on Wild-Card weekend. Odunze has not played since Week 13 due to a stress fracture in his foot, but the Bears are hoping he'll make enough progress this week to return for the first round of the playoffs. The 23-year-old second-year wideout may need to upgrade to a full practice on Thursday to avoid taking a questionable tag into the weekend. Odunze managed to score five times in the first four weeks of the season, but he cooled off considerably after that before being shut down due to his foot injury. Odunze will be a shaky WR4/flex option in fantasy for the playoffs if he returns against the Packers. Since Odunze last played, rookies Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland have become a much larger part of Chicago's offense.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater (quadriceps) was unable to practice on Wednesday. Prater aggravated a quad injury in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets on Sunday and is now questionable to be able to kick in the first round of the playoffs this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Sean McDermott said that the team is planning to have Prater return to practice on Thursday, which will give him a chance to play on Wild-Card weekend. As insurance, the Bills added journeyman kicker Matthew Wright to their practice squad on Tuesday. If Prater doesn't get cleared to play against the Jags, Wright will fill in as the team's placekicker on Sunday. Given the 41-year-old Prater's injury going into the postseason, fantasy managers should consider him a weak option for lineups this week.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (ankle) was unable to practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets on Sunday. Before his injury, Johnson handled a season-high 13 carries for 36 yards and a touchdown and added two catches for 20 yards and another score with the Bills resting starting RB James Cook after the opening drive. The 28-year-old is now in danger of missing Wild-Card weekend on Sunday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars if he's unable to return to practice the next two days. Johnson isn't a realistic fantasy option if he's able to suit up this weekend with both Cook and Ray Davis fully healthy. If Johnson cannot go against the Jags, Davis would see more complementary work in the backfield behind Cook.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) was a non-participant in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. It's unclear if Palmer aggravated an ankle injury that kept him out in Weeks 13 and 14, but his status is worth watching going into the team's Wild-Card playoff matchup on Sunday against the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars. Even if the 26-year-old ends up being fine to play this weekend, fantasy managers in playoff leagues can ignore him. Palmer finished his first regular season in Buffalo with a career-low 22 receptions on 37 targets for a career-low 303 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games played (eight starts). If Palmer is unable to play in Jacksonville, Brandin Cooks and Tyrell Shavers could see a few more targets behind top wideout Khalil Shakir. Gabe Davis and Keon Coleman could also have slightly bigger roles in the passing game.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) will not practice on Wednesday, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. The Chargers held Hampton out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but at the time, it was believed that the Bolts were just giving the 22-year-old rookie some rest before the start of the playoffs. A DNP in the first practice of the week as the Chargers prepare to face the New England Patriots on Wild-Card weekend, though, suggests that Hampton could have suffered a setback to his ankle that landed him on Injured Reserve earlier in the year. Hampton made the start in the Week 17 loss to the Houston Texans and scored a touchdown for the second straight week, but he averaged only 2.1 yards per carry on 14 rushing attempts. His status for Sunday against the Pats is firmly up in the air. If Hampton is ruled out, Kimani Vidal would most likely lead L.A.'s backfield.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo (knee) has been designated for return to practice on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Arroyo is now eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve at any time now that his 21-day practice window has been opened. The Seahawks secured the top seed in the NFC, so they are on bye for Wild-Card weekend, and Arroyo will have another full week to practice before the Seahawks decide if he's ready to return for the Divisional Round of the postseason. The 22-year-old second-rounder would merely play a depth role for Seattle's offense if he returns for their first playoff game, making him hard to trust in fantasy playoff leagues. In his first year in the NFL, Arroyo took a back seat to AJ Barner and caught 15 of his 26 targets for 179 yards and only one touchdown.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle) will be a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Kittle suffered an ankle injury in Week 16 and was held out of Week 17, but the 32-year-old Pro Bowler made his return for the Week 18 regular-season finale showdown against the Seattle Seahawks last Saturday night. He tied for the team lead in targets in the loss, catching five of his seven targets for only 29 yards in a game in which the Niners couldn't find the end zone at all. Kittle should be fine to play on Sunday in the Wild-Card playoff tilt against the hosting Philadelphia Eagles, and he'll have a good chance to bounce back if receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) misses a second straight game. Despite missing time with various lower-body injuries in 2025, Kittle averaged 12.1 half-PPR fantasy points per game. He should be one of the top TE targets for fantasy managers competing in playoff leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey finished 2025 as the RB1 in almost all fantasy formats, and he carries the same projection into most fantasy playoff leagues. San Francisco opens the playoffs against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and a defensive front that scarcely resembles the one that gave Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs fits in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles were the 10th most generous fantasy defense to opposing running backs, and McCaffrey comes into the matchup having finished as the RB12 or better in 14 of 17 starts in Full-PPR formats. He is RotoBaller's RB1 for Wild Card Weekend and, given San Francisco's status as 4.5-point road underdogs, an obvious must-start in formats that allow players to be started only once.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will not practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Pearsall aggravated a PCL sprain in his right knee and was held out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks last Saturday. The 25-year-old former first-rounder missed a good chunk of the 2025 season due to his knee injury, so he could be fighting an uphill battle to play on Wild-Card weekend in Philadelphia against the Eagles on Sunday. If Pearsall cannot get cleared to play in the opening round of the playoffs, it will open up targets for receivers Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Kendrick Bourne, as well as tight end George Kittle. In the Week 18 loss to Seattle, Jennings led the team with four catches for only 35 yards. As of right now, Pearsall is likely on the wrong side of questionable to play against Philly.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson was pegged as an obvious beneficiary of the Week 15 injury to teammate Davante Adams (hamstring), given his usage around the goal line. Unfortunately, after being one of the most popular waiver adds of Week 16, he opened the fantasy playoffs with a two-catch, 21-yard performance with zero touchdowns against the Seahawks. Parkinson was able to string together two strong performances to close the year, but heading into the NFL playoffs, Adams is expected to return to action after being listed as a full participant on Tuesday's estimated injury report, and Tyler Higbee (ankle) is another week removed from the ankle injury that landed him on Injured Reserve for nearly two months. Working in Parkinson's favor is that rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) began the week with an estimated DNP after missing the season finale with a hamstring injury. However, with so much uncertainty lingering about his usage, Parkinson is best left out of starting lineups or simply undrafted in fantasy playoff leagues.
From RotoBaller