Panthers: 5th year option lifted for Bryce Young
The Panthers trust him. Bryce Young will remain Carolina’s quarterback for at least two more seasons. The franchise’s general manager, Dan Morgan, announced it to the press on Tuesday. The team plans to extend Young by activating the 5th year option on his rookie contract. With this clause, his annual salary should reach $26.5 million. And everything will be fully guaranteed.
Kevin Stefanski talks with the Dolphins
After the firing of Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins are still looking for his successor. According to NFL Network, after interviews with Jim Harbaugh and Klint Kubiak, franchise representatives met Kevin Stefanskithe just fired Browns coach, Tuesday. A coach in high demand since Stefanski is already in his fifth interview since the end of the regular season. The Dolphins, for their part, still have a few candidates in mind. In particular, they asked to meet Robert Saleh (DC, 49ers), Chris Shula (DC, Rams), Jeff Hafley (DC, Packers), Kelvin Sheppard (DC, Lions) and Patrick Graham (DC, Raiders).
Titans: Brian Daboll and Jeff Hafley’s turn
The Titans continue their interview marathon for the position of head coach with two new candidates. It is about Brian Daboll (ex HC, Giants) et Jeff Hafley (DC, Packers).
For Daboll this is the first known interview for a new head coach position. After being fired during the season by the Giants, it would still be surprising to see him be chosen by the Titans. As for Hafley, he continues his little tour of franchises, since the defensive coordinator was also listened to by the Cardinals, Dolphins, Falcons and Raiders.
Jesse Minter received everywhere
With the elimination of the Chargers, Jesse Minter (DC) now has a little more free time and can focus on the interviews that await him, and there are many of them!
According to Sports Illustrated, the young Chargers defensive coordinator just received interview requests from the Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins and Giants for the coming week. He will be able to do these meetings in person, his team being eliminated. Note that Minter has already traded with the Ravens, Browns and Raiders as well.
Seahawks vs 49ers: Charles Cross returning, Ricky Pearsall and Trent Williams limited
Good news in perspective for Seattle and its offensive line. Charles Cross (LT) has been training fully since the beginning of the week. The lineman had missed the last three regular season games. With a hamstring injury, Cross therefore seems to be able to resume his starting position against the 49ers this weekend.
49ers side, Trent Williams (LT, ischios) is limited in training but should be able to play this weekend. He was already limited last week but was able to play against the Eagles as a wild card. Ricky Pearsall (WR) also returned to training on a limited basis. The player suffered from a knee injury that he aggravated in Week 17. But last week, Pearsall had not completed any practice before being declared “out” against the Eagles. His return, even limited, is therefore a positive sign towards participation in the divisional.
Finally in defense, Dee Winters (LB) was also able to practice with the 49ers.
Broncos vs Bills: Dre Greenlaw limited, breakage among Bills receivers
Denver could well have reinforcements on defense for its playoff match against the Bills. After missing the last two regular season games, Dre Greenlaw (LB) returned to training on a limited basis this week. For John Franklin-Myers (DL), the news is even better since the player has been training without restrictions.
On the other hand, Brandon Jones (S), injured in his pectorals since week 15, should not return this season according to Sean Payton.
As for the Broncos’ opponent, the Bills, the week is complicated for the receivers. After Gabe Davis, we learn that it’s Tyrell Shavers who must end his season due to a knee injury (anterior cruciate ligament). With this new injury, the Bills currently only have 3 active receivers. Curtis Samuel could return this weekend and expand the group.
We should therefore expect to see the Bills bring up one of their receivers from the reserve team which includes Mecole Hardman Jr., Stephen Gosnell and Kristian Wilkerson.
Chargers: Khalil Mack, stop or again?
At 34, Khalil Mack wants to take the time to think about his future in the NFL.
“I don’t want to make this decision now, like I almost did before. I try to stay as present as possible, pray, and make a decision based on how I feel, how my family feels, and my intuition. »
While he had re-signed for one season last offseason, the veteran does not yet know if he will play next year. Capable of still being productive, Mack should be able to contribute in 2026, but does he want to? Answer to come…
Buccaneers: Todd Monken returning?
The Buccaneers will interview a well-known face of the franchise for their offensive coordinator position. This is Todd Monken, offensive coordinator of the Ravens, who was offensive coordinator of the Buccaneers between 2016 and 2018.
Technically, Monken is still under contract with Baltimore. But since the firing of John Harbaugh, his future no longer seems to be with the Ravens.
Brian Flores: meeting with the Commanders, Minnesota confident
Brian Flores (DC, Vikings) has just finished his 3rd year of contract with the Vikings, and for the moment, the coordinator has not re-engaged with them. The coach therefore increases exchanges with other franchises. He has already met with the Raiders and Ravens for their head coach position. And now, according to NFL Networkhe is preparing to trade with the Commanders for their defensive coordinator position.
But the Vikings remain confident in a return of their coach. In a recent interview, Kevin O’Connell (HC) said that he and Flores have spoken almost daily since the end of the season.
“Based on my conversations, I’m confident we can keep him as offensive coordinator. »
However, we learned that the Vikings have been trying to extend their coordinator since last summer. He may not have accepted thinking he could bounce back as head coach this year.
Two NFL players arrested by police
One was arrested for trespassing. The other for “reckless driving”. According to information from Heavy media and the Dallas Morning News, Jordan Addison (WR, Vikings) et Donovan Ezeiruaku (DE, Cowboys) were both arrested on Monday.
Addison was arrested in Florida at a hotel and casino a few miles from Tampa Bay. He is accused of illegally entering “an occupied structure or means of transportation.” After posting bail, he was released. The receiver had already been suspended for three games this season for violating the NFL’s illegal substances policy. His criminal record also shows a ticket for speeding over 220 km/h.
Ezeiruaku was arrested Monday morning in Plano, Texas. He also posted bail and was released.
Upcoming contract restructuring for Lamar Jackson
Still under contract for three seasons with the Ravens, Lamar Jackson must see his weight in the Ravens’ payroll increase to 74.5 million in 2026, or 25% of the team’s payroll. An untenable situation which the Ravens want to remedy as quickly as possible. Steve Bisciotti (owner) spoke about it this Tuesday at a press conference.
“The urgency of the situation is important to me because we have free players and I don’t want to approach the transfer period with this uncertainty hanging over our heads. I have made this clear to Lamar and I believe he has understood my position and is willing to work with Eric [DeCosta, GM] to avoid it dragging on until April like last time. It will be very difficult for him to build a team until this issue is resolved. »
Audience card for the NFL
Roger Goodell can smile. The success of the wild card round of these 2026 NFL playoffs is also found in the audiences achieved by several matches. There FOX announces that the game between the Eagles and the 49ers was seen by 41 million people, the best audience for a wild card game since 2022 and a 49ers vs Cowboys.
Even more interesting for the league, the match between the Bears and the Packers, broadcast on Prive Video, became the most viewed match in history on a streaming platform. 31.61 million viewers connected to Prime Video for the meeting, and a peak of 34.16 million was even measured. If the “rivalry” aspect obviously helped, Prime still managed to increase its audience by 43% compared to last year’s wild card match!
Proof therefore that the NFL’s strategy of opening up to streaming platforms is a real success.
