NFL Player News

The Browns will use their franchise tag on Njoku, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Cleveland will make the transaction official before Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline. Njoku thus appears on track to remain with the Browns for the 2022 campaign while carrying just under an $11 million salary, which gives both sides more time to negotiate a potential long-term deal. The 25-year-old tight end now has five seasons of NFL experience under his belt, and though he hasn't yet emerged as a consistent, high-end starter, Njoku did make improvements in 2021. Through 16 appearances last season, he secured 36 of 53 targets for 475 yards and four touchdowns.

Johnson, who had been an exclusive rights free agent, has signed a one-year deal with the Saints, Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Johnson, who joined the Saints as a UDFA in 2020, switched from wideout to tight end last season and ended up logging 13 catches (on 22 targets) for 159 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games. Now that he's back in the fold, the 25-year-old will continue to work in a New Orleans TE corps that also includes Adam Trautman, Nick Vannett, Ethan Wolf and Dylan Soehner, with Garrett Griffin slated to become a restricted free agent. As long as Trautman remains healthy and available, however, Johnson is off the fantasy radar in most formats.

Thomas agreed to terms with Carolina on a three-year contract Friday.

Thomas was scheduled to hit free agency mid-March, but he will instead stick with the team that initially selected him back in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Though the 26-year-old was effectively invisible for fantasy purposes in 2021 -- he posted just 18 catches for 188 yards without a touchdown across 17 appearances -- he did solidify himself as a capable blocker. That said, positional teammate Tommy Tremble could well be the more interesting fantasy option next season.

Myarick signed a contract with the Giants on Tuesday, NFL agent Paul Sheehy reports.

Myarick started the 2021 campaign with the Giants before being waived and landing on Cincinnati's practice squad. He appeared in eight games for New York last season and caught three passes for 17 yards and one touchdown.

Head coach Zac Taylor said Wednesday that Uzomah (knee) is scheduled to undergo another MRI, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Uzomah was able to play through the MCL sprain of his left knee in Sunday's Super Bowl LVI matchup with the Rams, securing both his targets for 11 yards in the Bengals' 23-20 loss. The 29-year-old is coming off a career year, having racked up 493 yards and five touchdowns on 49 catches in the regular season. The fact that he's headed for another MRI could suggest that surgery might be on the table for Uzomah, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year in mid-March.

Washington was signed to the Bengals' offseason roster Tuesday.

Washington signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft and has spent the last two seasons on the Bengals' practice squad. The 6-foot-5 tight end has yet to make his NFL debut.

Uzomah (knee) caught both his targets for 11 yards during Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Rams in Super Bowl LVI.

Uzomah suited up for the Super Bowl despite suffering a sprained MCL during the AFC Championship Game two weeks prior, and he still operated as Cincinnati's No. 1 tight end. However, he was unable to replicate his success from the first two rounds of the playoffs, when he totaled 13 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown. The 29-year-old set career highs across the board during the 2021 regular season with 49 catches for 493 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games, and he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year in March.

Blanton (shoulder) didn't record any counting stats across 30 offensive snaps during Sunday's 23-20 Super Bowl win over the Bengals.

Blanton stepped up during the NFC Championship Game in place of Tyler Higbee -- who suffered an MCL sprain in the first half -- catching all five of his targets for 57 yards. However, the 6-foot-6 tight end was limited during the Super Bowl after suffering a shoulder injury, according to Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In Blanton's absence, Brycen Hopkins stepped up as the primary tight end and caught all four of his targets for 47 yards across 39 offensive snaps.

Hopkins hauled in all four of his targets for 47 yards Sunday in the Rams' 23-20 win over the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

After drawing only one target in total over the first 12 regular-season and playoff appearances of his career, Hopkins saw a surprising amount of involvement on the biggest stage. With Tyler Higbee (knee) placed on injured reserve in advance of the Super Bowl, Kendall Blanton drew the start at tight end, but it was Hopkins who operated as the top pass-catching option at the position. He ended up out-snapping Blanton, 39-30, and had a key third-down reception with just over four minutes remaining on the Rams' game-winning scoring drive. Higbee should be back to full strength for the offseason program and is under contract through 2023, but Hopkins' Super Bowl performance could be a springboard for him to take on a more enhanced role as Higbee's top backup next season.

Uzomah (knee) is listed as active for Super Bowl LVI against the Rams on Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Since suffering an MCL sprain in the AFC Championship Game back on Jan. 30, Uzomah was held out of practice entirely during the first week of Super Bowl prep, only to manage a limited session this past Thursday before upgrading to full Friday. Despite entering the weekend as questionable to play Sunday, both the tight end and coach Zac Taylor expressed optimism along the way that Uzomah would be available. Indeed, after taking part in pregame warmups -- per Goldsmith -- Uzomah will suit up in the biggest contest of the Bengals' campaign. In 19 appearances (including playoffs) this season, Uzomah averaged 4.2 targets per game en route to a 62-628-6 stat line.