NFL Player News

Parkinson underwent surgery June 2 after suffering a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot during an offseason workout, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per the report, the 2020 fourth-rounder has been in Seattle rehabbing the injury. While a precise timetable for Parkinson's return to action has not been established, it's possible that the tight end will miss time early on this season. The Seahawks also roster Greg Olsen, Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister, so even when he is ready to play, Parkinson doesn't appear to have a clear path to steady targets as a rookie.

Davis signed his rookie contract with the Jaguars on Thursday, John Oehser of the team's official site reports.

Jacksonville has now signed three of the 12 players that comprise the team's 2020 draft class. A rookie sixth-round pick, Johnson only showed limited abilities as a pass catcher in college. He'll face the task of competing for a depth role as a blocker this offseason.

Thomas has a good chance to win Washington's starting job at tight end, according to Kyle Stackpole of the team's official web site.

The Virginia Tech quarterback turned 2014 fourth-round pick has drifted around the NFL as a backup tight end, with last season's 16-173-1 receiving line in Detroit representing a career-best performance. It may not sound like much, but Washington saw enough to give Thomas a two-year, $6.15 million contract, which is the largest commitment to any player in a tight-end room full of journeymen and undrafted youngsters. Coach Ron Rivera compared Thomas to Greg Olsen in terms of athleticism, and while that's likely an exaggeration, the soon-to-be 29-year-old does have a nice opportunity ahead. Competition for snaps consists of Jeremy Sprinkle, Richard Rodgers, Hale Hentges and Thaddeus Moss.

Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said Hockenson has resumed running routes, but the tight end's right ankle may not be 100 percent, Chris Burke of The Athletic reports.

Hockenson had a star-crossed rookie season. After reeling off 131 yards and a touchdown on six catches Week 1 against the Cardinals, he surpassed 50 yards just one time in his 11 other appearances, finishing with a 32-367-2 line on 59 targets. Injuries limited him along the way, including a concussion, shoulder issue and ankle concern, the latter of which resulted in his placement on injured reserve Dec. 2. The Lions never confirmed whether Hockenson underwent surgery, but he was seen on a scooter in late December, indicating he had some sort of procedure. Bevell added Hockenson is "well on his way to being there," so he likely will be out there once the Lions reconvene for training camp.

Hill would not be considered the immediate backup in the event Drew Brees were to miss time, Larry Holder of The Athletic reports.

This probably shouldn't be much of a surprise considering Teddy Bridgewater took over during the six weeks Brees was out in 2019, but Hill's $16.3 million offseason extension certainly adds a bit more weight to the 29-year-old's claims to the backup throne. Jameis Winston poses a formidable foe given his starting resume, but ironically Hill's versatility is probably the ultimate detriment considering his ability to impact the team in a number of different ways.

Hurst thanked Matt Ryan for backing him during a virtual interview session with reporters Tuesday, per the tight end's personal Twitter account.

The Falcons' franchise quarterback lauded Hurst, calling him a "mismatch problem" for opponents. Despite the ongoing pandemic, Hurst stated that he has been driving from his home in Jacksonville, FL to Atlanta in order to hold workout sessions with Ryan, and it appears the two have an instant connection. "I've been incredibly impressed with (Hurst's) work ethic," Ryan said Tuesday. "He fits in well with the group of guys we have." Hurst, a 2018 first-round pick who was buried on the depth chart in Baltimore, could be a profitable fantasy acquisition for 2020. Though he hasn't yet delivered on his lofty draft position, Hurst has an enormous opportunity to produce in Atlanta, where Austin Hooper racked up 146 catches and 10 touchdowns between 2018 and 2019 before departing to Cleveland during free agency.

Coach Frank Reich said Monday that he expects Alie-Cox to garner increased playing time as a blocker and pass catcher in 2020, Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site reports.

Alie-Cox is a unique weapon in Indianapolis' tight end corps, boasting a dominating 6-foot-5, 267-pound frame, and he appears to have earned a fan in Reich after spending his the last two seasons developing with the Colts. Jack Doyle and Trey Burton (hip) are early favorites to handle the majority of snaps at the position, but Alie-Cox's power and stature could conceivably lend him to red-zone utilization or even a handful of designed plays. After hauling in just 15 combined passes in his first two years, the 26-year-old could now be in line for a key role on offense if he can take another step forward in his development.

Kittle's agent doesn't believe the existing tight end market is relevant to his client's next contract, ESPN.com reports.

The agent, Jack Bechta, makes a reasonable point, considering Kittle's combination of receiving and blocking skill hasn't been seen in the NFL since Rob Gronkowski's prime. Travis Kelce is the closest thing to a fair comparison right now, but he signed a five-year, $46.8 million extension four years ago and has since become one of the top bargains in the league for his team. Entering the fourth and final season his his rookie contract, Kittle can make a case for the same type of money that's recently been paid to No. 1 WRs and top pass rushers -- around $20 million per year. The 49ers do have some leverage in the form of franchise tags, an option that likely would cost $10-11 million for 2021 and $12-13 million for 2022. Of course, it's also an option that likely would led to a holdout, and potentially hostility between player and team.

The Raiders re-signed Butler on Thursday, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Butler was waived by Las Vegas earlier this month, but the team's decision to place Nick O'Leary (illness) on the reserve/Non-Football Injury List list opens up a roster spot. The 27-year-old will now resume competing for a depth role in the Raiders' crowded tight end room.

Henry is willing to play under the franchise tag, though he prefers a long-term contract, SiriusXM NFL Radio reports. "I think it's fine," Henry said when he was asked about the tag. "I mean, obviously, I would like to get something done... just for security, in the long term."

Henry signed the franchise tender in April, ending any discussion of a possible holdout. He said it's been awhile since serious contract negotiations took place, but he's hoping to get a deal done this summer. The tight end also mentioned that he's been able to talk and throw with rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, the sixth overall pick from April's draft. The Chargers still expect Tyrod Taylor to get the Week 1 start, but recent history shows that first-round QBs tend to get on the field sooner rather than later.