NFL Player News

Johnson caught his only target for 12 yards in Saturday's 26-3 preseason win over the Dolphins.

Johnson is expected to work as the Giants' No. 2 TE in 2026 behind offseason addition Isaiah Likely, who previously played under new Giants head coach John Harbaugh in Baltimore. As the team's top option at the position in 2025, Johnson caught 45 of 74 targets for 528 yards and five TDs. Likely's career high in any regular season is only 477 receiving yards, though he was stuck behind Mark Andrews during his stint with the Ravens.

Wright caught the first target of Thursday's preseason game against the Commanders, taking his sole reception for three yards.

Wright got the Lions' offense started, receiving the first target from quarterback Joshua Dobbs on the team's second drive of the game. With primary tight end Sam LaPorta's (hip) availability for Week 1 against the Saints in question, Wright could be the Lions' starting tight end to begin the regular season. The veteran player is entering his sixth year with the Lions and has both strong blocking and receiving upside.

Okonkwo caught his sole target for 10 yards in Saturday's 17-13 preseason loss to the Lions.

Okonkwo did not play in last Friday's preseason opener against the Dolphins, being sidelined with most of the starters. The tight end is set to be the primary option for the Commanders in 2026 after signing a three-year $27 million deal this offseason. If Okonkwo is to play in Friday's preseason contest against the Ravens, he will likely once again play a limited number of snaps.

Joly caught both of his targets for 10 yards in Friday's preseason game against the Packers.

Joly played just eight offensive snaps, meaning he was targeted 25 percent of the time he was on the field. The rookie fifth-rounder continues to make his case for one of the three primary tight end slots on the Broncos' 53-man roster. The low amount of snaps further implies Joly has played his way into a valuable position.

Tremble caught both of his targets for 20 yards during the Panthers' 34-17 win over the Jaguars in Friday's preseason game.

Tremble was listed as the Panthers' starting tight end Friday while Darren Waller observed the game in street clothes. Tremble played only five snaps on offense but made the most of his limited action, which included a 15-yard reception from Bryce Young during the Panthers' seven-play, 58 yard drive in the first quarter that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Jonathon Brooks. Tremble has logged 23-plus catches in each of the last three years and more than 230 yards in his last two seasons, but his playing time in the regular season could be limited by the presence of Waller.

Koziol played 18 snaps (13 on offense, five on special teams) but didn't show up in the box score otherwise during the Jaguars' 34-17 preseason loss to the Panthers on Friday.

Koziol and Hunter Long were listed as the Jaguars' starting tight ends for Friday's exhibition contest while both Brenton Strange and Nate Boerkircher observed the game from the sidelines. Koziol, a fifth-round selection of the Jaguars in the 2026 NFL Draft, is competing against Long and Quintin Morris for the TE3 role behind Strange and Boerkircher. Koziol's last in-game opportunity to win that job will come this Friday in the Jaguars' preseason finale against the Buccaneers.

Boerkircher did not participate in Friday's 34-17 preseason loss to Carolina.

The rookie second-rounder joined Brenton Strange on the sidelines for Friday's game, with fellow rookie Tanner Koziol seeing action against the Panthers. Boerkircher figures to be the favorite to enter the regular season as the Jaguars' TE2 behind Strange, with the former competing against Koziol, Quintin Morris and Hunter Long. The Jaguars wrap up their slate of preseason games this Friday against the Buccaneers.

Strange did not play in the Jaguars' 34-17 preseason loss to the Panthers on Friday.

Both Strange and rookie second-rounder Nate Boerkircher observed Friday's exhibition contest in street clothes, with Tanner Koziol, Quintin Morris, Hunter Long and Patrick Herbert each logging at least 13 offensive snaps. Strange is the top tight end on the depth chart, evidenced by the three-year, $48 million extension he signed with the Jaguars in June. He's coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which he caught 46 passes (on 60 targets) for 540 yards and three touchdowns across 12 regular-season games. Strange figures to play a key role in the Jaguars' passing attack this season alongside wide receivers Brian Thomas, Parker Washington (undisclosed) and Jakobi Meyers (hand).

Freiermuth played 10 snaps on offense but did not show up in the box score otherwise during the Steelers' 17-0 preseason loss to the Jets on Friday.

Freiermuth and Darnell Washington saw limited action in Friday's exhibition contest, with the former not seeing a target from Will Howard. Freiermuth is entering his sixth NFL season off the heels of a disappointing 2025 campaign, when he caught 41 passes (on 54 targets) for 486 yards and four touchdowns across 17 regular-season games, with his receptions and targets both being career lows. Freiermuth and Washington will provide quarterback Aaron Rodgers with big targets in the passing game, with both tight ends working in complement with wide receivers DK Metcalf (undisclosed) and Michael Pittman (hamstring).

Taylor caught his only target for 10 yards in Friday's 17-0 preseason win over the Steelers.

Taylor has been operating as the team's top tight end in training camp, as rookie first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) has been sidelined since the first week of August. Backup TE Jelani Woods capped the opening drive with a touchdown catch Friday, four plays after Taylor moved the chains with a 10-yard grab on third-and-9. Even once Sadiq gets healthy, Taylor's reliability as both a pass catcher and blocker should allow the 2025 second-round pick to maintain a sizable role.