2025 NFL Playoff Buzz: Dolphins Zeroing in on Packers DC Jeff Hafley

The 2025 regular season is in the books, meaning it's time for some to switch gears to the offseason and others to shift focus to the NFL playoffs.

Every bit of news is all the more consequential entering the postseason, as the march to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara officially kicks off.

Who's hurt? Who's practicing? Who's starting? Who's on the hot seat? 

Here's the latest on what's happening around the league entering divisional-round weekend:

Dolphins want Jeff Hafley

Hafley, the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, has emerged as the "frontrunner" to become Miami's next head coach, per NFL Media. Hafley, 46, has been Green Bay's defensive coordinator the past two seasons, a stint preceded by being the head coach at Boston College from 2020-23. Miami recently hired long-time Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as its new general manager; Hafley and Sullivan worked together the last two years in Green Bay.

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold hasn't thrown since Thursday

Seattle's starter is still listed as questionable to play in the team's divisional-round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app) due to an oblique issue, per ESPN. Darnold hasn't thrown a football since Thursday. While Seattle is reportedly staying positive about the matter, there's a legitimate chance that Darnold doesn't play on Saturday night, with Drew Lock set to start if Darnold can't go.

In the regular season, Darnold totaled 4,048 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 99.1 passer rating, while completing a career-high 67.7% of his passes. The Seahawks went 14-3, which ended with them beating the 49ers on the road in Week 18 to clinch the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Texans WR Nico Collins out

Houston's No. 1 wide receiver will miss the team's Saturday divisional-round matchup against the New England Patriots due to a concussion. Collins suffered the head injury in Houston's Monday night wild-card round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and missed a game in Week 8 due to a concussion. Collins, a two-time Pro Bowler, totaled 71 receptions for 1,117 yards (15.6 yards per reception) and six touchdowns across 15 regular-season games.

Rams OL Kevin Dotson starting?

Head coach Sean McVay announced on Friday that Dotson will start Sunday's division-round playoff matchup. Dotson was limited in Wednesday's practice and had missed the final three games of the regular season with an ankle injury suffered against the Seahawks in Week 16. Dotson had started all 15 games that he played in before that point, and his presence should provide additional protection for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was also on this week's injury report with a sprained finger on his throwing hand.

Bills down multiple defenders

Head coach Sean McDermott said on Jan. 15 that defensive backs Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and Maxwell Hairston (ankle) will be inactive for the team's AFC divisional-round matchup against the Denver Broncos on Saturday. McDermott also said that running back Ty Johnson is questionable to play with an ankle injury.

Veteran WR Adam Thielen retires

Thielen announced his retirement after 12 seasons on Jan. 14. A two-time Pro Bowler, Thielen spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings (2014-22), followed by a two-year stint with the Carolina Panthers (2023-24) and splitting the 2025 season with the Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. He totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in three seasons (2017, 2018 and 2023) and double-digit receiving touchdowns in two seasons (2020-21).

Update on two-way star Travis Hunter

Despite an injury-shortened rookie campaign, the Jacksonville Jaguars intend on having the wide receiver/cornerback play both ways again in 2026, per ESPN. Hunter's 2025 season ended after seven games due to a knee injury. Hunter, whom the Jags traded up to select with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, totaled 28 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. Hunter logged three passes defended and 15 combined tackles as a defensive back. Jacksonville went 13-4 and won the AFC South this season before losing to the Bills in the AFC wild-card round.

Packers HC Matt LaFleur extension on the horizon?

The Packers will discuss a new contract with their head coach after the season, according to NFL Media. LaFleur has one year remaining on his current deal. This season, Green Bay enters the playoffs 9-7-1 and plays the NFC North-rival Chicago Bears on the road in the wild-card round on Saturday; the two teams split the regular-season series. Under LaFleur, the Packers are a combined 76-40-1 in the regular season and 3-5 in the postseason since 2019.

Bears lose starting left tackle for remainder of playoffs

On the heels of a historic wild-card round win, head coach Ben Johnson announced starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered a patellar injury and will miss the remainder of the season. Chicago will now have to account for the loss of Caleb Williams' blindside protection heading into its first divisional-round game since 2010.

'I'm super excited': RB Omarion Hampton set for playoffs

The Los Angeles Chargers officially listed rookie running back Omarion Hampton as questionable for Sunday, but the first-rounder said he is ready to go for Sunday's AFC wild-card game against the New England Patriots. Hampton suffered an ankle injury in a Week 18 loss to the Broncos, which has been a recurring issue for Hampton this season. He missed eight regular-season games with an ankle injury but has been productive when he has seen the field. He was the Chargers second-leading rusher (545 yards) and has scored five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving). 

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has meniscus surgery

Crosby went through successful surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday. He will have six months to recover before NFL training camp starts. Crosby missed the Raiders' final two games of the 2025 season after posting 10.0 sacks and 73 tackles in 15 games. 

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins moving on?

The Falcons have agreed to modify the final two years of Cousins' contract, per ESPN and The Athletic. According to reports, the move will likely lead to the Falcons releasing Cousins by the third day of the 2026 NFL league year on March 13, as it is unlikely any team would look to trade for him given his contract. As part of the restructure, Atlanta converted Cousins’ 2026 salary from $35 million to $2.1 million and moved the remaining $32.9 million to his 2027 base salary to increase the figure to $67.9 million. His 2027 salary would become guaranteed if he's still with the team by March 13, while releasing him with a post-June 1 designation would cost the Falcons a dead cap hit of $35 million that can be split into payments of $22.5 million in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027. 

Cousins, who started eight of his 10 games played this season, will play in his 15th season in 2026. The veteran signal-caller led the Falcons to a 5-2 record in place of the injured Michael Penix Jr. (torn ACL) to end the year, completing 61.8% of his passes for 1,471 yards, 10 touchdown passes and five interceptions in that span.

Von Miller back with Commanders in 2026?

The Commanders had the NFL's oldest roster this season, but one of their key veterans has expressed an interest in returning in 2026. Miller announced that he'd like to continue playing at least one more season and would prefer to stay in Washington. Miller, who signed a one-year deal last offseason, will turn 37 in March, the same month he will also be a free agent. The 2025 campaign was Miller’s first full season since 2018. He started three of his 17 games played and accumulated 9.0 sacks, 26 tackles and six tackles for loss.

"I think I proved to myself I can play another year," Miller said, per NBC. "I want to be here, but I’m not in a position to start making demands and saying where I want to play and where I want to be at. Whoever wants me, that’s where I’ll be. … I would love to be a Commander. … [Head coach Dan Quinn] does a great job of keeping me healthy and ready to go as far as vet days and rest, and I would love to be able to run that back."

Dolphins preparing for QB competition?

After another season of failed expectations in which the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year, they enter another offseason of uncertainty, starting with who'll be their next general manager and starting quarterback in 2026. 

Head coach Mike McDaniel, who's 35-32 in his four seasons, indicated that he will be part of the decision-making in both processes. Though he did not specifically say he has been told by Miami's ownership that he's returning next season — nor has the team made an official announcement — McDaniel said he has spoken with owner Stephen Ross. 

The Dolphins also need to figure out what they're going to do at quarterback after Tua Tagovailoa was benched for the final three games of the season because of poor play. Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million for 2026, and the Dolphins would incur significant hits to the salary cap by releasing him. Releasing him next year would result in a $99 million dead cap charge. If the move is designated as a post-June 1 release, those charges are split over two years, with $67.4 million allocated to the 2026 cap and $31.8 million in 2027.

Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles confident in 2026 return

Bowles isn’t worried about his job security after an epic collapse by the Bucs. Everything unraveled after a 6-2 start, and the Buccaneers (8-9) failed to win their fifth consecutive NFC South title. Bowles had led Tampa Bay to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons after replacing Bruce Arians in 2022. He has three years remaining on his contract, and he’s operating as if he’ll return for a fifth season.

"I’ve earned the chance," Bowles said about coming back. "I’ve won three straight division titles, so that says a lot as far as I’m concerned. I don’t really have a message for fans other than true fans are true fans, and we’re going to try to do our best to go out there and win for them. They’re going to feel how they feel, but that’s not a coach’s problem. The coach’s problem is to make the team better and that’s all I’m looking forward to.

"I feel like we had enough talent to win. The mistakes we made weren’t talent-driven; they were more mistake-driven."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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