NFL Player News

GM Ryan Poles said Tuesday that Loveland (shoulder) is "ready to go" for the start of training camp, but there may be a ramp-up period for the rookie tight end, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Despite undergoing surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder in January, Loveland was the first tight end off the board in this year's draft, going to the Bears 10th overall. He proceeded to miss the entire offseason program and acknowledged last week that he may not be ready once camp kicked off. The Bears seemingly will ease him in with the goal of getting him ready for Week 1. Loveland will be vying with Cole Kmet for targets from second-year signal-caller Caleb Williams to begin his NFL career.

The Bills signed Sokol on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old tight end has appeared in eight career regular-season contests but has never been targeted on 53 offensive snaps. He'll try to latch on as a deep reserve blocker.

Bartholomew (undisclosed) was placed on the active/PUP list by the Vikings on Monday.

Once the tight end is able to resume practicing, he can return at any point during training camp and the preseason. Bartholomew was rehabbing an undisclosed injury during the Vikings' offseason program in June. Minnesota selected the Pittsburgh product in the sixth round of April's draft, though he's clearly behind T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver on the depth chart.

The Panthers placed Tremble (back) on the active/PUP list Monday.

Tremble underwent a back procedure in May and will continue to rehab as training camp opens. He's expected to be ready ahead of Week 1. With Tremble idle to begin camp, second-year TE Ja'Tavion Sanders and fifth-round rookie Mitchell Evans will benefit from extra reps. While Tremble is expected to play a substantial role on offense this season, he's mainly used as a blocker. Sanders has late-round fantasy appeal as a catch-first, playmaking tight end.

Arroyo will compete with AJ Barner for the starting tight end job after the Seahawks released Noah Fant on Sunday, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

A rookie second-round pick, Arroyo was going to be in the mix for the starting job regardless, but Fant's departure opens the door further. Arroyo (6-foot-5, 254 pounds) struggled with knee injuries during his second and third seasons at Miami before reeling in 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns in his final collegiate campaign. He didn't test at the NFL Combine or pro day due to a knee injury, but he's considered a standout athlete anyway. Barner is considered a better blocker and held his own as a rookie, starting six of 17 games and finishing with a 30-245-4 line. According to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, Arroyo impressed at rookie minicamp with his ability to challenge safeties with his size and speed. There's probably room for both tight ends to have significant roles in this offense, but for fantasy purposes, Arroyo has the more compelling upside.

Barner will compete with rookie Elijah Arroyo for the starting tight end job after the Seahawks released Noah Fant on Sunday, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

The Seahawks selected Arroyo in the second round of April's draft and signed Eric Saubert this offseason, allowing them the flexibility to move on from Fant with one year left on his deal. A 2024 fourth-round pick, Barner started six games as a rookie and finished with 30 receptions for 245 yards and four touchdowns over 17 games. Barner will face stiff competition from Arroyo for the starting job in 2025. Arroyo is likely the better athlete of the two and should eventually command more attention in the passing game, but Barner will look to leverage his experience to hold off the newcomer.

Watson (undisclosed) was placed on the active/PUP list by Kansas City on Sunday, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.

Watson signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in April after completing his collegiate career at Texas A&M in 2024, reeling in 21 passes for 280 yards and a score. He will now be sidelined to open camp, but the tight end is eligible to return to practice and play at any point in the preseason.

The Bengals placed All (knee) on the active/PUP list Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

All tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 9 last season and spent the remainder of the campaign on IR. While the 24-year-old is technically eligible to return to practice at any point as long as he's medically cleared, there's a strong chance that he'll need to sit out the entire 2025 season while rehabbing from the injury.

New England placed Hooper (undisclosed) on the active/PUP list Saturday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Hooper is among a group of four Patriots who were moved to the PUP list Saturday. Players on the list are eligible to return to practice and participate in preseason games as soon as they are medically cleared. Hooper re-signed with New England in March and, if healthy, is expected to be part of a tight-end tandem with Hunter Henry this season.

Ferguson is ready to sign his rookie deal with Los Angeles after having agreed to terms with the team on his four-year contract Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Ferguson had been among the second-round picks of the 2025 Draft class holding out for more guaranteed money in their rookie contracts, and Schefter now reports that he gets roughly $8 million of his four-year, $9.7 million deal guaranteed. Ferguson's draft capital and pass-catching chops promise real upside in the Rams' offense, surpassing 32-year-old incumbent starter Tyler Higbee. However, Higbee is healthy after missing most of 2024 due to injury, and he will provide a notable challenge for the rookie. Higbee is slated to hit free agency next offseason, however.