NFL Player News

Ferguson returned to practice Monday after picking up a hamstring issue last Tuesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Ferguson looked strong in his return to the field and stood out for his blocking Monday, according to Archer. The four-year collegiate starter out of Wisconsin should have ample experience as a run blocker, and this trait could give him an advantage in the competition for the Cowboys' No. 2 tight end spot behind Dalton Schultz. Should he remain active, it will be worth monitoring how many snaps Ferguson potentially sees ahead of fellow tight ends Sean McKeon and Jeremy Sprinkle during Dallas' first preseason game Saturday at Denver.

Arizona will continue to have McBride sit out of practice for a couple more days while he deals with back soreness ahead of the team's first preseason game Friday night, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

The Cardinals' reluctance to rush McBride back to practice is understandable after the team selected him in the second round of this year's draft. Nevertheless, coach Kliff Kingsbury has been optimistic that the tight end will be available for the team's first preseason matchup against Cincinnati. McBride likely will slot in as Arizona's No. 3 tight end behind Zach Ertz and Maxx Williams, and he should see plenty of run in the exhibition opener if he's available, according to Weinfuss.

Atlanta signed Pruitt on Monday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

Pruitt saw double-digit targets for just the third time in his eight-year career in 2021, turning those 18 looks into a career-high 14 receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games. The bad news, though, is that he's joining a tight-end room that's a bit crowded after former quarterback Feleipe Franks made a switch to the position in June. Pruitt will contend with Franks for opportunities behind Kyle Pitts and Anthony Firkser during training camp, but he'll need to make a good impression quickly to snag a spot on the Falcons' initial 53-man roster.

Freiermuth (hamstring) returned to practice Monday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Out for over a week with hamstring tightness, Freiermuth may be eased back into practice and won't necessarily pay in Saturday's preseason opener against Seattle. He might not have played anyway, with his status as the starting tight end locked up after a rookie campaign with 60 receptions and seven TDs -- rare territory for a first-year TE. The one thing lacking was any impact downfield, with Freiermuth averaging a mere 8.3 yards per catch at an average target depth of 5.8. He did break eight tackles, tied for fourth most among tight ends, so he isn't necessarily destined to be a catch-and-fall guy. It remains to be seen if QB Mitch Trubisky (or rookie Kenny Pickett, eventually) can help Freiermuth produce more big plays in Year 2.

Waller (undisclosed) remained sidelined at Monday's practice, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

Reed also noted that coach Josh McDaniels hasn't provided specifics about the tight end's injury issue. With that in mind, consider Waller day-to-day in advance of Sunday's preseason game against the Vikings.

Conklin was the most targeted player in Saturday's practice, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Conklin caught seven passes from starting quarterback Zach Wilson, including a touchdown. Coach Robert Saleh has described Conklin's performance in camp as "a pleasant surprise," and Conklin consistently has won 1-on-1 matchups against defenders. Both Conklin and fellow offseason addition C.J. Uzomah are likely to see significant playing time in 2022, but it sounds like the former Vikings tight end thus far has made the stronger impression as a pass catcher.

Brown shed 18 pounds during the offseason, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brown said he was motivated to alter his diet after watching film of himself, noting that he was slow and "wasn't athletic." The trimmer Brown has not gone unnoticed by head coach Lovie Smith. "He's listed as a tight end, but he can play in line, he can move out," Smith said. "It's a tough matchup because he has big wide receiver skills. Just another weapon that we have to be able to use." At 6-foot-6, a quicker Brown could be a matchup nightmare for defenders, and offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has lined him up against cornerbacks in camp. Working on a one-year contract, Brown acknowledged he's looking for a big payday and multiple years. "I'm trying to get a David Njoku deal after this year," Brown said. To do that, a tight end needs to catch a lot of balls, and Brown feels his new look puts him in a better position to do that. Brevin Jordan is considered the upside fantasy play at tight end for Houston, but Brown should get ample playing time.

Otton made a strong impression as both a receiver and blocker in Sunday's practice, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

The highlights were plentiful for the rookie Sunday, starting with several noteworthy catches that included an over-the-shoulder grab in the left corner of the end zone and a leaping reception on a seam route in a goal-line period. Otton also saw reps split out wide and in the slot with Cameron Brate receiving a veteran's day off, Chris Godwin (knee) once again limited to individual drills, and Mike Evans (hamstring) still sidelined. Dix noted the Washington product also rounded out his day with several key chip blocks at the end of the offensive line and emphasized after practice that he focuses heavily on his blocking responsibilities in addition to his pass-catching duties.

Parham is dealing with a hamstring injury that likely will force him to miss approximately a week of practice, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Parham went down with an apparent leg injury during Saturday's practice, and coach Brandon Staley clarified Sunday that the tight end is dealing with a hamstring issue. The Chargers have their first preseason game Saturday, Aug. 13 against the Rams, and it certainly seems possible that Parham will be kept off the field. If the 24-year-old ultimately is sidelined, Tre' McKitty (undisclosed) and Hunter Kampmoyer could see increased looks versus the reigning Super Bowl champs.

Bellinger has been getting the clear majority of first-team work at tight end during camp, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Bellinger spent some time on the PUP list in late July, but he's since recovered from a quadriceps issue and may have worked his way into the lead role at tight end for New York to begin his rookie season. Ricky Seals-Jones initially was thought to be the slight favorite to top the depth chart at the position, but he's missed the entire past week of practice with an undisclosed issue. Should Bellinger secure the No. 1 TE role, he'd be an interesting target in fantasy given the team's potential offensive growth in head coach Brian Daboll's new system.