NFL Player News

Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension with the Steelers on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

This move confirms recent rumblings that Pittsburgh was trying to get Freiermuth extended before the start of the regular season. Freiermuth is locked in through the end of the 2028 season, as the extension will kick in after the fourth and final year of his rookie contract wraps up in 2024. The 2021 second-round draft pick is looking to bounce back under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, starting with Sunday's game against the Falcons, after posting a career-low 308 receiving yards in the 2023 regular season.

Sanders could see increased opportunities Sunday against the Saints, as Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) and Ian Thomas (calf) have been ruled out.

Sanders won't face competition for playing time from either of Carolina's banged-up veterans as the 2024 fourth-round draft pick makes his NFL debut Sunday. Along with Sanders, the Panthers have converted wide receiver Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson available at tight end, but coach Dave Canales said Friday that Sanders will start, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Tremble (hamstring/back) did not practice Friday and is ruled out for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Saints, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Tremble and Ian Thomas (calf) are both ruled out for Week 1, leaving rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders, veteran Jordan Matthews and newcomer Messiah Swinson as healthy options among Carolina's tight end room. Tremble's next chance to take the field will come Week 2 at home versus the Chargers.

Gray secured all three of his targets for 37 yards during Thursday's 27-20 win over the Ravens.

Gray outperformed star tight end Travis Kelce, who had three grabs for 34 yards despite drawing one more target, during Kansas City's season opener. The 2021 fifth-round pick, who signed a three-year extension just prior to Thursday's game, played 54 percent of offensive snaps compared to Kelce's 89 percent, so he remains relegated to backup duties heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Bengals. Still, if Gray can continue looking solid in two-TE sets, he may emerge as a viable fantasy option in leagues that require multiple starting tight ends.

Thomas (calf) isn't practicing Friday and said he won't play in Sunday's game against the Saints, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Fellow tight end Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) also is absent from Friday's practice, leaving rookie fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders as the likely No. 1 tight end for his NFL debut. The Panthers have Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson on the roster for depth, and Thomas suggested he could be back as soon as Week 2 against the Chargers.

Andrews brought in both targets for 14 yards in the Ravens' 27-20 loss to the Chiefs on Thursday night.

Carrying out his most robust workload since mid-November of last season, Andrews looked somewhat rusty at times and was even on the sideline for some key moments in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Isaiah Likely, who thrived in Andrews' injury absence down the stretch in 2023, took over the air attack to the tune of a team-best 9-111-1 line. Naturally, a one-game sample isn't an ironclad indication of how usage between the two will unfold throughout the season, but it wouldn't be inconceivable for Andrews to cede appreciably more snaps and/or targets to Likely than he ever would have before going down with a serious ankle injury Week 11 of last season.

Likely caught nine of 12 targets for 111 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 27-20 loss to the Chiefs on Thursday night.

Likely was the surprise leader in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the night for either squad, outperforming both teammate Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce as the standout tight end in the opener. Likely's night would have been that much more memorable had he been able to keep his right toe from landing slightly out of the back of the end zone on a spectacular would-be touchdown grab as time expired in regulation. Likely had already scored a 49-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, eluding two defenders on his way to the end zone, and it appears he's set to continue in at least a version of the expanded role he enjoyed in the latter portion of last season when Andrews was injured. Likely will look to build on the breakout Week 1 effort in a home battle versus the Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Kelce caught three of four targets for 34 yards in a 27-20 win over the Ravens on Thursday night.

Kelce had an uncharacteristically quiet performance to start the season, with fellow tight end Noah Gray actually matching his reception total and outgaining him by three yards. Most of Kelce's production came on an impressive 23-yard reception, as the veteran star ceded the spotlight to Rashee Rice and rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy. Kelce should have a more robust role other weeks this season, and he'll aim to make good on that possibility against the Bengals in Week 2.

Myarick is signing with the Texans' practice squad after a successful workout Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The fullback was cut by Jacksonville on Aug. 25. Myarick did not play in 2023 after suiting up for 16 regular-season games with the Giants in 2022. The 28-year-old has 10 catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns in his career, though he has yet to record a carry.

Brown (foot) was absent from Thursday's practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Brown has now logged back-to-back DNP's to start the week. He has one more chance Friday to practice in some capacity ahead of Sunday's regular-season opener against the Broncos. If Brown were to be ruled out for Week 1, Brady Russell and AJ Barner would be in line for more backup tight-end snaps behind starter Noah Fant (toe).