Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday that wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee) will remain on Injured Reserve, which means he won't play again this season, even if the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship this Sunday to advance to a third straight Super Bowl appearance. The Chiefs opened Hardman's 21-day practice window to return from IR before the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos, but the team never felt comfortable putting him out there on game day. The 26-year-old will now begin his offseason early and make sure that his knee is fully ready for the start of the 2025 regular season this fall. Hardman was mostly valuable to the Chiefs this year before his knee injury as a return man on special teams, as he caught only 12 of 14 targets for 90 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games played in 2024.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is widely regarded as one of the best place-kickers in NFL history, but he is coming off the worst season of his career in 2024. The eight-time All-Pro connected on a career-low 73.3% of his field goal tries and missed two extra points for the first time since 2019. Tucker rebounded late in the season and made all five of his attempts in the final five games of the campaign. The team has a potential out in his contract this offseason, but Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said he expects Tucker to be kicking for the organization again in 2025. That said, the 35-year-old's 2024 season could be a sign of regression to come, and if he struggles to begin the 2025 season, things could change. For now, he remains in place and will be on the fantasy football radar on a team with an elite offense and plenty of scoring opportunities.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey (neck) is having his practice window opened on Wednesday ahead of the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders. The 27-year-old was placed on Injured Reserve for the second time this season after suffering a neck injury in Week 13 against the Baltimore Ravens. Covey's injuries have limited him to just five games this season. In those five games, he's hauled in seven receptions for 34 yards and returned five punts for 46 yards. It's unclear if the team is looking to activate him ahead of Sunday's game, but he could potentially return for the Super Bowl if Philadelphia advances.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed free-agent tight end Nick Muse and offensive lineman Cameron Erving to their practice squad on Wednesday and released defensive end KJ Henry from the practice squad in a corresponding move. Muse, a former seventh-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, appeared in four regular-season games in Minnesota but spent most of his time on special teams and was not targeted on offense. In his three years with the Vikings, he appeared in 16 games (zero starts) and caught his only target for a pickup of 22 yards. The 26-year-old will provide tight end depth for the Eagles for the rest of the postseason. Erving, 32, did not appear in the NFL at all in 2024 and last played three games with the New Orleans Saints in 2023. He's a nine-year NFL veteran who was originally a first-round selection (19th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in 2015 out of Florida State.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) is on this week's injury report but was a full participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Mahomes suffered a mild high-ankle sprain late in the regular season but didn't miss any time other than being held out of the Week 18 regular-season finale for rest purposes with the No. 1 seed in the AFC already locked up. He's apparently still receiving treatment on his ankle, but it shouldn't be a factor at all in the AFC Championship game this Sunday against the visiting Buffalo Bills. The two-time MVP went 16-for-25 for 177 yards and only one touchdown in last week's victory over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round and will now face a Bills defense that he went 23-for-33 against with 196 yards, three TDs and two interceptions in a loss back on Nov. 17.