NFL Player News

Coach Pete Carroll said Dissly (knee) may not be ready for the start of OTAs this spring, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Dissly has been out of commission since Week 4 of last season when he damaged the patella tendon in his right leg. He'll be roughly 10 months removed from the injury by the time training camp opens this summer, which should be enough time for him to get back into shape.

General manager Brian Gutekunst suggested Graham will stay with the Packers for 2019, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Apparently satisfied with Graham's 55-636-2 receiving line on 89 targets (7.1 YPT) in an Aaron Rodgers offense, Gutekunst expressed his faith in the veteran tight end remaining a viable starting option heading into the upcoming season. It would be hard to argue against dropping Graham after the first season of his three-year, $30 million contract, but the Packers seemingly anticipate the 32-year-old improving his performance under new head coach Matt LaFleur. The team will need to make a final decision before March 15, when Graham is scheduled to receive a $5 million roster bonus.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert suggested James may be re-signed this offseason, Chris Adamski of TribLive.com reports.

James may want to survey the league after he played second fiddle to Vance McDonald in 2018, but it's hard to imagine many teams would view the 24-year-old as much more than a high-end No. 2 tight end. The 2015 fifth-round pick did add an element of occasional explosiveness to his game last season, piling up a career-best 423 yards despite seeing his fewest targets (39) since his rookie season. James produced 14.1 yards per catch to improve his career mark to a measly 9.9, but he didn't actually have much of an impact in the passing game after his 5-138-1 receiving line against Kansas City in Week 2. Given the poor alternatives at his position in the upcoming class of free agents, James could cash in with a surprisingly large contract if he finds one or two teams that view him as a starter. McDonald is under contract in Pittsburgh through 2021.

Hurst revealed Monday that he's finally back at full strength after having a screw removed from his foot, Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The No. 25 overall draft pick had the screw placed in his foot in late August to help stabilize a stress fracture, leading to four consecutive absences to kick off his career. The 25-year-old finished the season with 13 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown in 12 games, while fellow rookie tight end Mark Andrews -- a third-round selection -- caught 34 passes for 552 yards and three scores. Andrews is the superior fantasy asset heading into 2019, but the Ravens should have plenty of snaps for both players if they allow Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams to walk in free agency. The team likely plans to expand Hurst's role even if Boyle or Williams sticks around.

Allen didn't draw any targets while playing 21 of 72 offensive snaps Sunday in the Patriots' 13-3 win over the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.

As usual, Allen was limited to a blocking role during his time on the field and finished the postseason without any targets. Allen is under contract through 2019 but probably won't be in store for a significant role in the Patriots' passing game even if top tight end Rob Gronkowksi opts to retire over the offseason.

Higbee didn't draw any targets during a 13-3 loss to New England in the Super Bowl.

While he technically got the start, Higbee played fewer snaps (35) than fellow tight end Gerald Everett (44), who also finished the night without any catches. The Rams increased their usage of tight ends in the passing game after Cooper Kupp suffered a torn ACL in November, but neither Higbee nor Everett proved to be a reliable threat. Higbee figures to enter the final year of his rookie contract stuck in a timeshare, potentially losing even more work to Everett in 2019. If forced to pick between the two, Everett is the one with receiving upside.

Everett finished without a catch on one target in a 13-3 loss to New England in the Super Bowl.

Everett played 68 percent of snaps on offense, while fellow tight end Tyler Higbee handled 54 percent and didn't draw any targets. The Rams were fortunate to get increased production from their TE timeshare after wide receiver Cooper Kupp suffered an ACL tear in mid-November, but there's no question it was a major loss to have Kupp's targets redirected to Everett, Higbee and WR Josh Reynolds. There is some potential for Everett, a 2017 second-round pick, to take another step forward in his third pro season. Higbee has one season remaining on his rookie contract, but he simply hasn't displayed much of a ceiling in the passing game.

Derby (foot) finished the 2018 campaign with three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown in four games.

Derby missed most of the season while nursing a foot injury that eventually relegated him to injured reserve in early December. He averaged 31 offensive snaps in his four appearances and opened the season as Miami's top pass-catching option at tight end. The team surely wants 2018 second-round pick Mike Gesicki to seize that role in 2019, but there may still be room for Derby on the roster as a depth tight end and special-teams contributor. The 27-year-old can also weigh other options, as he'll become an unrestricted free agent in March if he doesn't re-sign with the Dolphins first.

The Packers currently plan to keep Graham under contract for 2019, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A major disappointment in the first season of his three-year, $30 million contract, Graham may get a second chance in Green Bay under the guidance of new head coach Matt LaFleur. It feels like a suboptimal decision from a salary cap standpoint, but the Packers aren't crazy to hope for some degree of improvement if the new scheme can take advantage of their tight end's 6-foot-7 frame while mitigating the impact of his declining athleticism. The team will need to make a final decision by March 15, at which point the 32-year-old is due a $5 million roster bonus. Regardless of this recent report, Graham's spot on the team will be tenuous until that date passes.

Manhertz is re-signing with the Panthers on a two-year contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 26-year-old caught two passes on 344 offensive snaps in 2018, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown reception on a fourth-down pass from running back Christian McCaffrey in Week 15 against New Orleans. With fellow tight ends Greg Olsen (foot) and Ian Thomas both under contract for 2019, it appears Manhertz is headed for another season working as a blocking specialist.