NFL Player News

Malleck (neck) was waived by the Steelers on Tuesday, Dale Lolley of the Observer-Reporter announced.

Malleck suffered a neck injury during training camp with the Giants prior to the 2016 season, eventually landing on injured reserve before being released with an injury settlement. He was then picked up by the Steelers in February but isn't in the long-term plans and has now been released. The fact that he's been cut prior to training camp doesn't bode well for his chances of making a final roster, but Malleck will now hope for an opportunity elsewhere as a depth tight end.

McFarland signed with the Cowboys on Tuesday, Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News reports.

McFarland will likely function as a special teams asset if he makes the team and survives the final roster trims. With Jason Witten still in the fold, McFarland would hold little fantasy value even if he slid up to a backup role.

Swaim (foot) is unlikely to return to team activities until training camp, Todd Archer of ESPN reports.

Both Swaim and fellow tight end James Hanna are not expected to participate in organized team activities or June's minicamp as they continue to recover from injuries. The plan is for Swaim to return for the start of training camp in July, barring any setbacks.

Williams signed a deal with the Seahawks on Friday.

The tight end went undrafted last season before signing with New England, being waived, and then signing with the Rams' practice squad. He has not yet appeared in a regular-season game, but Williams will have an opportunity to impress the Seahawks during their rookie minicamp this weekend as a member of the team's 90-man roster.

Williams was released by the Rams on Thursday, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Williams signed with the Rams in January, but he found himself the odd man out after the team drafted tight end Gerald Everett with the No. 44 pick in last weekend's draft. The East Carolina product will now look to find his way onto another roster in time for training camp.

Hamm (leg) was released by the 49ers on Tuesday.

The release comes as the result of a failed physical. Hamm played in five games with the 49ers in his rookie season and tallied two receptions for 13 yards in the process. He suffered a leg injury in the team's regular-season finale, which resulted in him missing the team's offseason minicamp prior to the draft.

Bibbs was waived by the Jaguars on Monday, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports.

Bibbs signed a contract with the Jaguars in January with the hope that he'd be able to compete for a 53-man roster spot in training camp, but with six other tight ends on the depth chart, the front office determined he was an expendable piece. As a rookie last season with the Browns, Bibbs appeared in seven games, hauling in one of his two targets for seven yards.

Derby will be pushed by 2017 fifth-round pick Jake Butt, Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post reports.

Butt is still on the mend from a torn ACL suffered in the Orange Bowl, but Derby -- and the rest of Denver's tight ends -- are on notice as the 2016 Mackey Award winner joins the roster. Of the bunch, Derby arguably has the greatest opportunity to complement, as opposed to be threatened by, Butt. Acquired midway through last season in a trade with New England, the former Arkansas quarterback provides a level of quickness and receiving ability not shared by fellow incumbents Jeff Heuerman and Virgil Green. Derby caught at least four passes in three of five games in Denver before his season was cut short due to a concussion.

Higbee could have a sizable role with new head coach Sean McVay's offense significant involvement of its tight ends, Rich Hammond of the Orange County Register reports.

As the offensive coordinator for Washington the past three years, McVay leaned on Jordan Reed whenever he was healthy, and his backups were also able to provide serviceable fantasy results when Reed was injured. Higbee has the physical tools needed to succeed at the highest level, but the Los Angeles offense will have to prove it can get out of its own way before the second-year tight end lands on the fantasy radar. Additionally, the Rams also added Gerald Everett in the second round of the 2017 draft, so Higbee could be leapfrogged on the depth chart, if he hasn't been already.

The Vikings selected Hodges in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, 201st overall.

This is perhaps the most surprising faller in this year's draft. Hodges is a rare athlete at tight end and, despite a tendency for drops, proved productive as well. Even if the league doubts his skills as a tight end, it's surprising that a team wouldn't take him sooner for special teams play alone -- this is a 6-foot-6, 257-pound player with a 4.57-second 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical and 134-inch broad jump. Unfortunately, even if he proves his doubters wrong, the Minnesota offense likely won't afford him many targets as long as Kyle Rudolph is around.