After an impressive rookie season for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in 2024, new head coach Liam Coen is confident that the team can run things through Thomas again in 2025. Thomas set rookie franchise marks in catches (87), receiving yards (1,282) and touchdowns (10) to earn Pro Bowl and All-AFC honors. He's also a finalist for Rookie of the Year. Jacksonville relied more on Thomas after injuries to Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis and Evan Engram, and he delivered. Coen was impressed with the work that the 22-year-old did out of the slot. The Jaguars are going to build around quarterback Trevor Lawrence with Coen now the head coach, but Thomas is going to be a primary weapon after finishing third in the NFL in receiving yards in 2024. And with Coen running Jacksonville's offense now, Thomas is going to be drafted as a surefire WR1 in fantasy drafts this fall.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said that he fully endorses owner Jerry Jones' decision to hire former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as the team's next head coach. "I mean, Shotty means a lot to me. He's been a consistent man, and I think that's a part of why he's gotten this job in his time being here. I got four years left on my contract. He's tied directly to my future, so let's go be the best that we can in these four years," Prescott said. Although the move to hire Schottenheimer, who has never been a head coach in the NFL, wasn't a splashy one, it gives Prescott and the Dallas offense continuity. Schottenheimer didn't call offensive plays the last two years, but he was the offensive coordinator and knows Prescott well. Although Schottenheimer won't necessarily be great for Prescott, it's worth noting that he led the NFL with 36 TD passes in 2023, the first year that Schottenheimer became Dallas' OC.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets have requested to interview Washington Commanders assistant David Blough for their vacant quarterback coach position, while the Chicago Bears are seeking to interview him for their pass game coordinator role. Blough, a five-year NFL quarterback, was on the Detroit Lions practice squad in 2023 before joining the coaching ranks in Washington as the assistant quarterbacks coach. After the breakout rookie campaign from Jayden Daniels, it's no surprise he is drawing interest around the NFL for franchises building new staffs. The 29-year-old could make his way up the coaching ladder in short order if he excels with a potential promotion in 2025.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury and was listed as a non-participant in the team's practice on Wednesday. It's something to watch with Smith, but with the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs not coming until Sunday, Feb. 9, the 26-year-old wideout will most likely be ready by then. He played 83 percent of the offensive snaps in the win over the division-rival Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship and caught all four of his targets for 45 yards. The Eagles are likely just giving one of their top offensive weapons a little rest after a long season. Our best guess is that he will return to practice later this week and be fine to play in the Super Bowl in the weekend after next. The fourth-year wideout had a career-low 833 receiving yards in 13 regular-season games but also found the end zone a career-high eight times.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell (concussion, knee) did not take part in practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday after suffering a concussion on Sunday in the win over the division-rival Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship. In addition to being in the league's concussion protocol this week, the 25-year-old backup running back is dealing with a knee injury. It means his status for Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs is up in the air, but the good news is he'll have an extra week to recover with the game not taking place until Sunday, Feb. 9. Still, Gainwell's status for the big game is currently up in the air. If he is unable to gain clearance to play against KC, Will Shipley would be the primary change-of-pace back for the Eagles behind stud rusher Saquon Barkley. Gainwell only has 10 touches for 58 scrimmage yards in three playoff games this year.