NFL Player News

Trautman finished the 2025 season with 20 receptions on 23 targets for 195 yards and one touchdown across 17 games.

Trautman continued his typical role as a blocking specialist this season, failing to reach 200 receiving yards for the second straight season. In his third year with Denver, the veteran played the most offensive snaps of any Broncos tight end despite not being utilized much as a pass catcher. Meanwhile, teammate Evan Engram handled the majority of tight-end pass-catching duties in Denver's offense. Trautman will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and his blocking acumen will likely help him garner interest from teams around the league. Considering his experience in Sean Payton's system, it wouldn't be surprising to see him back with the Broncos on a new deal next season, yet he'll continue to have little appeal for fantasy purposes.

Likely finished the season with 27 catches for 307 yards and one touchdown on 36 targets.

It was a tough season for Likely, who was poised to build on his career year from 2024 when he had 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns. Instead, Likely posted career lows across the board and also missed three games. In fairness, Likely suffered a foot injury in camp that required surgery, which could explain the drop-off in production. There were also contextual issues. Lamar Jackson missed some time, and Baltimore ended up with the sixth-fewest passing yards in the league, along with the fewest pass attempts. Likely is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and with Mark Andrews having recently inked an extension in Baltimore, it's fair to wonder if Likely will be playing elsewhere in 2026.

Bates caught four of five targets for 48 yards over a combined nine regular-season games for Houston and Cleveland in 2025.

Bates spent the first half of the season with the Texans before latching on with the Browns for the second half. While Cleveland often targeted its tight ends, most of those went to Harold Fannin (groin) and David Njoku (knee). Bates will become an exclusive rights free agent and can be brought back for one year at the league minimum.

Whiteheart had two catches on six targets for four yards over 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Whiteheart spent the entire season on the Browns' 53-man roster as the team's third tight end. Cleveland's tight ends turned out to be major targets, but he was never a factor in the passing attack, even in the final few games when injuries hit both David Njoku (knee) and Harold Fannin (groin). Whiteheart enters restricted free agency this offseason.

Whyle logged five catches (on six targets) for 36 yards and a touchdown across eight regular-season games with the Packers in 2025.

Whyle spent the first half of the season on the Packers' practice squad after failing to make the Titans' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. There wasn't a path to playing time for the third-year tight end until Tucker Kraft tore his ACL in Week 9 against the Panthers, which prompted the Packers to sign Whyle to the active roster in early November to serve as the team's TE2 behind Luke Musgrave. Whyle didn't see more than one target in any of his eight regular-season appearances, serving mostly as a blocker on offense. He will have the ability to test the waters during the 2026 offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Musgrave played just two offensive snaps and was not targeted during Green Bay's regular-season finale against the Vikings.

Musgrave has operated as Green Bay's top tight end since Tucker Kraft (ACL) suffered a season-ending injury Week 9. His receiving production has been underwhelming, however, and despite suiting up for all 17 regular-season games, Musgrave has totaled just 24 catches for 252 yards (on 31 targets) without a single touchdown. He surpassed 50 receiving yards in just one of those 17 appearances. Musgrave will continue to handle the No. 1 tight end role during Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Bears.

Calcaterra (ankle) was limited in practice Thursday.

Calcaterra did not practice Wednesday, but he appears to be making progress ahead of Sunday's wild-card round matchup against the 49ers. Meanwhile, top tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) has logged back-to-back limited practices after having sat out Week 18. It appears both TEs have a solid chance of being available for Sunday's contest, and Friday's practice report will officially reveal whether either Calcaterra or Goedert are assigned an official injury tag.

Kittle (ankle) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Kittle returned from a one-game absence this past Saturday against the Seahawks and handled a massive 95 percent snap share, but the results in the box score (5-29-0 on seven targets) were minimal. He's operated with practice restrictions so far this week due to the mid-to-low ankle sprain that sidelined him Week 17, giving him one more chance to practice in full ahead of Sunday's wild-card game at Philadelphia.

Goedert (knee) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

After missing the Eagles' Week 18 loss to the Commanders due to a knee injury, Goedert has put together back-to-back capped sessions to begin this week. Ultimately, Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not he enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's wild-card game against the 49ers. Goedert finished the 2025 regular season with career highs in catches (60) and TD receptions (11) while also accumulating 591 yards and 82 targets in 15 contests.

Ferguson (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card round game against the Panthers after being a limited participant at Thursday's practice, Adam Grosbard of the LA Daily News reports.

Ferguson upgraded to limited participation Thursday after a pair of practice absences, but the rookie remains uncertain to make his playoff debut Sunday at Carolina. Tyler Higbee (ankle) practiced without limitations Thursday and doesn't have an injury designation, so Higbee and Colby Parkinson are in line to lead a Rams tight end room that also includes Davis Allen and Nick Vannett. Higbee, Parkinson and Allen all played at least 64 percent of offensive snaps in the regular-season finale against the Cardinals, which Ferguson sat out due to the latter's hamstring injury.