NFL Player News

Andrews projects to see a higher snap count in 2020, writes John Eisenberg of the team's official website.

Though Andrews led all tight ends with 10 touchdowns last season, he did so while playing a mere 41 percent of the team's offensive snaps. Part of that was dealing with some bumps and bruises, and part of it was Hayden Hurst commanding a significant chunk of snaps as well. With a clean bill of health and Hurst moving on to Atlanta, the runway is clear for Andrews to play a high percentage of the snaps in Baltimore. Much has been made about the sustainability of his touchdown rate from 2019 (10.2 percent). However, if he sees a major snap count increase and thus major target increase, any regression in touchdown efficiency could be smoothed over by the significant uptick in opportunities.

Butler agreed to a contract with the Patriots on Monday, Doug Kyed of NESN.com reports.

Butler was let go by the Raiders earlier in the month, but as evidenced by this news, he found a new team shortly after as a depth option. The 27-year-old has spent time with both the Raiders and Lions in his career, mainly on the practice squad, as he's yet to see regular-season action.

Higbee said he tried to take advantage of the increased opportunities presented to him late last season and prove he can be relied on in the passing attack, Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

With 43 receptions for 522 yards and two touchdowns over the final five games of the 2019 season, Higbee certainly proved capable of being a reliable contributor for head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff. It's not a lock Higbee picks up where he left off, though. To start, it's a small sample, and fourth-year tight end Gerald Everett will also be involved in the passing attack. Still, Higbee is the superior blocker of the two, and he's already showcased his ability to make an impact. A career-best statline this season shouldn't surprise.

Hockenson says his surgically repaired ankle isn't quite back to 100 percent strength, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell made a similar comment in mid-June, noting that the tight end had resumed running routes but likely would need more time to regain his pre-injury explosiveness. Hockenson is working his way back from the ankle injury that ended his rookie season Week 12, and while he's been able to practice with teammates to this point in training camp, it sounds like he's a work in progress. He has four weeks to ramp things up before the Lions are scheduled to face the Bears on Sept. 13.

Sternberger was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list for Monday's practice, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

The second-year pro was placed on the list at the end of July, missing nearly three weeks of team activities. Even so, Sternberger is the favorite to operate as Green Bay's top pass catcher at tight end, potentially replacing Jimmy Graham. The 2019 third-round pick barely played as a rookie, but he did have 39 offensive snaps and a TD reception in two playoff games.

Seals-Jones was carted off the practice field Monday with an apparent right leg injury, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

Signed to a one-year contract in the offseason, Seals-Jones is hoping to replace Blake Bell as the No. 2 tight end in Kansas City. His main competition (Deon Yelder) has been dealing with a groin strain, so the Chiefs likely will sign a tight end at some point this week.

Oliver suffered a broken foot bone Sunday and will undergo surgery, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

It's not clear the exact type of foot fracture Oliver suffered, but the quick surgery announcement implies it was something substantial that could keep him out for an extended period. It's a frustrating development for the athletic but raw tight end, a third-round pick of Jacksonville's from the 2019 draft. The Jaguars have at least two capable veterans on the depth chart in Tyler Eifert and James O'Shaughnessy, but both of them have their own durability concerns. After those two veterans, rookie sixth-round pick Tyler Davis might be next on the depth chart.

The Chiefs claimed Helm off waivers from the 49ers on Sunday, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reports.

Every other team passed up on acquiring Helm, but the Chiefs opted to add depth to their tight-end room. Helm didn't play a snap in 2019 as an undrafted rookie, and he'll likely seek to be the No. 4 tight end behind Travis Kelce, Ricky Seals-Jones and Deon Yelder (groin).

The Panthers waived Sutton on Sunday, Myles Simmons of the team's official site reports.

Sutton signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in April, but he didn't last long in training camp. The 23-year-old caught just nine passes for 154 yards over his final two collegiate seasons, so he'll likely need to prove his run-blocking abilities to make an NFL roster. However, his frame (6-foot-6, 226 pounds) could inhibit his chances at tight end.

Fant has added muscle and is embracing offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur's new offense, which the sophomore tight end describes as more nuanced and able to exploit mismatches, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Much has been made of what new weaponry -- Melvin Gordon, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler -- can do for the Broncos offense and Drew Lock's first full season. But, with a year of development, Fant should have every opportunity to be the second major threat in the passing game behind Courtland Sutton. Fant finished second on the team in receiving yards (562), targets (66) and touchdowns (three) as a rookie. However, he faded down the stretch and -- despite a monster 113-yard performance against Houston in Week 14 -- saw his targets per game drop sharply once Lock entered the fold Week 13 (4.7 versus 2.8). Shurmur has experience with athletic tight ends from his time with Evan Engram in New York, and with improved chemistry with Lock, there's reason to be optimistic about Fant's sophomore campaign.