NFL Player News

Zylstra finished the 2024 regular season having caught his only target for 22 yards over 10 games.

Zylstra was virtually nonexistent on the offensive side of the ball in 2024, operating as the No. 3 tight end behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. Zylstra's only catch came in Week 11 against the Jaguars when LaPorta didn't play due to a shoulder injury. Zylstra will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning the Lions will have the ability to match any offer put in front of him by another team.

Wright finished the 2024 regular season having caught 13 of 16 targets for 100 yards and two touchdowns over 17 games.

Wright was once again the No. 2 option at tight end behind Sam LaPorta, operating as a top-tier blocking option at his position. Wright found his way into the end zone on a pair of occasions, including in Week 11 against the Jaguars when he drew the start at tight end in place of LaPorta, who was unavailable with a shoulder injury. Wright signed a three-year deal with Detroit in April, and he'll likely enter the 2025 campaign in a very similar role as the top reserve option at tight end.

Kelce had two receptions on four targets for 19 yards in Sunday's AFC Championship Game victory over the Bills.

Kelce was primarily used as decoy on his routes and finished with just 19 of Patrick Mahomes' 245 passing yards Sunday. The 35-year-old Kelce's gravitational pull on the defense opened the door for auxiliary players such as Xavier Worthy (6-85-1) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (2-60-0) to hit Buffalo with big-chunk plays in the hard-fought victory. Kelce and the Chiefs will face an Eagles defense that surrendered 104 yards to Commanders' TE Zach Ertz in the NFC Championship Game. Fantasy players rolling with Kelce in Super Bowl LIX are hoping that Taylor Swift will be the only one doing any spectating in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

Ertz recorded 11 receptions on 16 targets for 104 yards in Sunday's 55-23 loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.

Ertz was Jayden Daniels' favorite target throughout the game, allowing him to post the first 100-yard performance of his career in the postseason as well as his first overall since Week 9 of the 2019 season. He was particularly productive throughout the second half, tallying long gains of 21 and 16 yards. Ertz will enter the offseason as a free agent, though he had a resurgent season and will likely land a short-term deal in Washington or elsewhere around the league.

Goedert caught seven of eight targets for 85 yards while rushing twice for 13 yards in Sunday's 55-23 win over the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.

Goedert led the Eagles in receptions, tied A.J. Brown for the team lead in targets and finished just 11 receiving yards short of Brown's team-leading total. If you take away Week 6, when Goedert got hurt after playing three snaps against the Browns, he's averaging 52.6 receiving yards in 13 other combined regular-season and postseason games. That average was topped by only George Kittle, Trey McBride and Brock Bowers in the regular season among all NFL tight ends. Goedert will play in his second Super Bowl on Feb. 9 in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, having been part of the Philadelphia team that lost Super Bowl LVII to the Chiefs two years ago.

Bates (shoulder) was a limited participant in practice Friday and does not carry an injury designation for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.

Bates has dealt with a shoulder injury throughout the postseason, but his availability hasn't yet been impacted. He secured one of two targets for 20 yards during the team's divisional-round win over Detroit while working behind Zach Ertz at the tight end position.

Goedert (ankle) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's NFC Championship Game versus the Commanders.

The Eagles held Goedert out of drills both Wednesday and Thursday due to an ankle injury, but he got back on the field Friday as a full participant and thus will be available this weekend. He even relayed to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia that the plan all along was for Philadelphia to manage the tight end to ensure he was good to go with the team just one win away from a Super Bowl berth. In his sole appearance against Washington this season back in Week 11, Goedert hauled in all five of his targets for 61 yards, which marked his third-highest yardage total of the campaign (including playoffs).

Goedert (ankle) said Friday that he intends to play in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Commanders, Martin Frank of The Delaware News Journal reports. "I feel great," Goedert added.

Goedert was held out of drills Wednesday and Thursday due to an ankle issue, but he was spotted on the side in the latter session and then was present during the media-access portion of Friday's practice, per Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. The tight end's optimism aside, the Eagles still may tag Goedert with a designation ahead of Sunday's contest, something that'll be clarified on Friday's injury report.

Goedert (ankle) is participating in the early portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Brooks Kubena of The Athletic reports.

Goedert missed practice Wednesday and Thursday due to an ankle issue, so his participation in even a limited capacity Friday would represent a notable step in the right direction. Friday's official injury report will reveal whether Goedert officially carries an injury designation for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Commanders.

Goedert (ankle) didn't practice Thursday.

Coach Nick Sirianni told Tim McManus of ESPN.com earlier Thursday that Goedert would be on the practice field. Per Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the preceding came to pass, but Goedert also didn't take part in warmups and remained on the sideline, ultimately going down as a DNP for a second straight day. Goedert thus will have one more chance to mix into drills this week during Friday's session, at which point the Eagles could make a ruling on his availability for Sunday's NFC Championship Game versus the Commanders.