NFL Player News

Drew Brees said he'd be fine with Hill taking more snaps in 2020, Chris Simms of NBC Sports reports.

Brees hasn't officially decided on playing another season but seems to be leaning in that direction. A few recent reports have suggested the Saints view Hill as Brees' eventual replacement at quarterback, which hints at Teddy Bridgewater finding a new team when he becomes a free agent this offseason. An expanded role for Hill in 2020 could involve more snaps at quarterback, or it could just mean more playing time as a wide receiver, tight end or running back.

Hamlett (leg) has signed with the Seattle Dragons of the XFL.

Hamlett broke his leg in the 2017 preseason and hasn't played in the NFL since. He has just one career reception -- a 17-yard touchdown catch -- and he'll look to revitalize his career in the XFL.

Tomlinson caught his only target for one yard in eight games between the Giants, Patriots and Raiders this season.

The 27-year-old actually entered training camp with the Jets, but he was let go at roster cutdowns and subsequently joined the Giants for a few weeks. Tomlinson was again let go, only to join the Patriots and start two games before being released and eventually signing with the Raiders in December. He has yet to be a significant producer in the passing game, totaling 17 catches for 194 yards and one touchdown over the first four seasons of his career. Tomlinson will become an unrestricted free agent in March and will continue to be viewed as a reserve option at tight end.

Hockenson (ankle) was still using a scooter to get around in late December, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

There hasn't been any substantiative update on Hockenson's recovery from the season-ending ankle injury he suffered in late November. His continued use of a scooter a full month later suggests he had surgery, but neither player nor team has provided confirmation. The eighth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft finished his rookie season with 32 catches for 367 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games, struggling to make an impact after his 6-131-1 explosion Week 1 at Arizona. Hockenson was limited to 4.7 yards per target after the opener, including 3.4 YPT in his four games without Matthew Stafford (back) in the lineup. Stafford and Hockenson should both have time to get healthy before Week 1 of 2020.

Kittle relayed during a recent podcast that he's played the past two seasons with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com reports.

Kittle opened preseason 2018 by separating his shoulder, which sidelined him for the rest of that exhibition season. However, he's avoided being listed on the injury report with 'shoulder' next to his name in the meantime and doesn't intend to have surgery to address it. Instead, Kittle tended to a myriad of other health concerns in the 2019 campaign, namely a lingering ankle issue that sidelined him Weeks 10 and 11. Despite the compromised health, he's totaled 173 catches (on 243 targets) for 2,430 yards and 10 TDs in his last 30 regular-season games, but only a 4-35-0 line on six targets in two playoff contests to date. He'll look to reverse the recent trend in the Super Bowl against a Chiefs defense that gave up the second-most receptions (98) to tight ends in 2019.

Kroft finished his first season with the Bills with just six catches on 14 targets for 71 yards and one touchdown over 11 regular-season games.

Kroft suffered a broken foot in his very first practice with the Bills, then added an ankle injury on top of it as he was close to a return to action. He ended up playing the last 11 games plus the playoff loss, but by then he'd lost any chance to feel comfortable in the offense with everyone else long up to speed. Kroft went over 14 receiving yards just once and had zero or one catches in 11 of his 12 games played, counting the postseason. With rookies Dawson Knox and Tommy Sweeney coming along quicker than many originally thought, there's a small chance Kroft could get cut this offseason if the Bills want to use money elsewhere. More likely, everyone will chalk it up to an injury-marred season and he'll spend the summer competing with Knox for the starter's job in 2020.

Fumagalli caught six of nine passes for 38 yards and a touchdown during the 2019 season.

After missing his entire rookie season with a hernia, Fumagalli appeared sparingly in 11 games in 2019. The 2018 fifth-round pick saw 20 or more offensive snaps in a game just once and was targeted multiple times just twice. He figures to be on the roster bubble heading into 2020 with fullback Andy Janovich likely pushing the promising Andrew Beck over to tight end full time with fellow 2019 rookie Noah Fant. That'll leave Fumagalli, veteran Jeff Heuerman, Jake Butt and Austin Fort -- who impressed during training camp before tearing his ACL in the preseason -- to fight over one or two spots.

Pruitt caught all four of his targets for 28 yards in three postseason games.

The 27-year-old worked as a reserve tight end for Tennessee all season, but he found more involvement in the passing game after the Week 11 bye with Delanie Walker (ankle) injured. Pruitt totaled six catches for 90 yards and one touchdown in 16 games this season. He's headed for free agency in March and is likely to fill a similar role wherever he lands in 2020.

Knox caught 28 of 50 targets for 388 yards and two scores during his rookie campaign.

Knox was picked in the third round as more of a project type and had been expected to serve as the backup to free-agent signee Tyler Kroft, but Kroft struggled with injuries and Knox ended becoming the starter for much of the season. While the Mississippi product struggled a bit with drops, he also showed a knack for big plays and an ability to rumble for yards after the catch. Kroft is healthy again, but Knox offers more upside and (for now) a better rapport with quarterback Josh Allen, so there's a chance he gets to take the starter's job and run with it in 2020.

Firkser recorded 14 receptions for 204 yards and a touchdown across 15 games for the Titans in 2019.

Firkser worked behind Jonnu Smith as the team's primary tight end, but he managed to top 200 yards for the second consecutive season. Though he didn't produce overly impressive statistics, he has now converted 33 of his 44 targets into receptions through two seasons as a pro. Firkser will enter the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent, meaning the Titans will only need to offer him a minimum contract to maintain his rights.