NFL Player News

Gesicki is expected to part ways with the Dolphins as a free agent this offseason, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Gesicki secured 32 of 52 targets for 362 yards and five touchdowns across 17 regular-season appearances with the Dolphins in 2022, and general manager Chris Grier said he has "earned the right to be a free agent" after a year playing on the franchise tag. The tight end appeared a questionable fit in coach Mike McDaniel's scheme even ahead of this past campaign, and despite Miami's coaching staff relaying continued optimism that the athletic tight end would keep a key role on offense, he ended up with his lowest receiving marks since his rookie season. Though Gesicki continued to flash occasional playmaking ability when called upon, his underwhelming utilization in McDaniel's scheme makes it seem unlikely he re-signs with the Dolphins. Other franchises in the league may be more willing to feature Gesicki's receiving skill set.

Sample recorded two catches for minus-2 yards over two appearances before missing the rest of the regular season and postseason while recovering from surgery to address MCL and PCL damage to his right knee.

A second-round pick in 2019, Sample never developed into a major receiving option over the four years of his rookie deal. Though Sample could be at or near full health by the spring, the impending free agent isn't a lock to be retained by Cincinnati.

Hurst had four catches on five targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.

Signed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal this offseason, Hurst enjoyed a nice bounce-back campaign in Cincinnati despite missing three games due to a calf injury. After generating a 52-414-2 receiving line on 68 targets over his 13 appearances during the regular season, Hurst likely won't be keen on settling for a one-year deal as he heads back into free agency this spring. Even if the 29-year-old tight end does end up signing another one-year contract, he should at least be in store for a slight bump in pay whether he returns to Cincinnati or heads elsewhere.

Hendershot (hamstring) caught 11 of 16 targets for 103 yards and two touchdowns over 17 regular-season games in 2022. He also added a two-yard rushing TD on his only carry.

An undrafted rookie out of Indiana, Hendershot impressed in training camp and won the No. 3 spot on the tight end depth chart to begin the season, a role that wound up leading to some fantasy value thanks to his nose for the end zone, even if he didn't see more than one target in any game after the Cowboys' Week 9 bye. Dalton Schultz is a free agent this offseason, and if he heads elsewhere, Hendershot could see a much more significant role in the Dallas offense in 2023, though he'd likely still be behind 2022 fourth-round pick Jake Ferguson.

Ferguson caught 19 of 22 targets for 174 yards and a touchdown over 16 regular-season games in 2022.

A fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ferguson most productive performance came Week 6 when he caught four of six targets for 40 yards and a TD. Stuck behind Dalton Schultz when the veteran tight end was healthy, Ferguson got only occasional chances to flash his upside and athleticism as a pass catcher, but he tended to make the most of them. Ferguson landed on highlight reels during a Thanksgiving Day win over the Giants with a 30-year catch-and-run that featured both a leaping grab and a hurdle over safety Jason Pinnock. Schultz is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and if Dallas elects not to bring him back, Ferguson could head into 2023 as the team's No. 1 tight end.

The Bengals signed Hudson to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Hudson joined the Bengals' practice squad at the beginning of December after being waived by the Giants. He made 11 straight appearances for New York to start the season, totaling 10 receptions on 15 targets for 132 yards across 244 offensive snaps, but he was never elevated to Cincinnati's active roster. With his new contract, the fourth-year tight end will get to stick around the Bengals' organization and compete for a roster spot next season.

The Bengals signed Bowers to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Bowers spent the entire regular season on the Bengals' practice squad. He was elevated for the first time during Cincinnati's divisional-round win over Buffalo, but he didn't play any snaps. With his new contract, the undrafted tight end out of Penn State will get to stick around the organization and have a chance to compete for a larger role next season.

Falcons tight end coach Justin Peele said Monday that Pitts (knee) is "on schedule" in his recovery, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

Pitts is recovering from right knee surgery undergone late November to address a Grade 2 MCL sprain. Suffering the injury Week 11 cut Pitts' sophomore campaign short, as he logged just 10 appearances, but there haven't been any hints of concern out of Atlanta about him potentially missing time during offseason workouts. In any case, Pitts should be back to full health well before the start of the 2023 season, barring any setbacks. The athletic tight end posted 1,026 receiving yards as a rookie, and depending on the Falcons' quarterback situation next season, Pitts once again may be a popular option in the early rounds of fantasy drafts.

Kelce secured seven of eight targets for 78 yards and a touchdown and committed a fumble recovered by Kansas City during the Chiefs' 23-20 win over the Bengals in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

Kelce had found production hard to come by against the Bengals defense in three prior meetings over the last two seasons, but he appeared to be on his way to a big day Sunday after amassing a 4-55-1 line in the first half. The touchdown came from 14 yards out on a fourth-down play late in the first half to extend the Chiefs' lead to 13-3 at the time, but Kelce largely was kept in check over the final two quarters. Nevertheless, he'll be set for potentially even more work than usual during the Super Bowl LVII matchup against the Eagles in two weeks' time if any of wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Kadarius Toney (ankle) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis), who all left Sunday's contest with injuries, remain sidelined.

Goedert caught five of six targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 31-7 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

It wasn't a big performance by any means, but the tight end's five receptions actually led the Eagles in a game where they didn't need to throw the ball much after the loss of Brock Purdy (elbow) derailed the Niners offense. Goedert has a 10-81-1 line on 11 targets through two playoff games this season, and he figures to have a solid floor with some upside potential in two weeks during the Super Bowl.