NFL Player News
-
Michael Ezeike TE | SEA
Seahawks' Michael Ezeike: Brought in by Seattle
The Seahawks agreed to terms with Ezeike on Monday, Graham Kinsinger of the team's official site reports.
The undrafted tight end out of UCLA has yet to appear in an NFL game, but he's found a new home in Seattle. Ezeike worked with the Chargers last offseason, and during his final year of college, the 23-year-old tallied 20 receptions for 226 yards and four touchdowns. He's expected to compete for a depth role in the Seahawks' TE room as the preseason progresses.
-
George Kittle TE | SF
49ers' George Kittle: Remains ready for Week 1
Kittle remains on track to suit up for Week 1 of the regular season, despite being held out of both of the 49ers' preseason games.
Kittle spent the months leading up to training camp recovering and then reconditioning from offseason groin surgery. The star tight end's absence from both of San Francisco's completed exhibitions was by design, and he doesn't carry an injury designation as we get closer to the kickoff of the regular season. The rock star tight end is fresh off of his third campaign recording at least 65 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
-
Cameron Latu TE | PHI
49ers' Cameron Latu: Three catches in preseason win
Latu corralled three of five targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 16-10 preseason victory over the Saints.
Latu caught a pair of balls in San Francisco's preseason opener and followed that up with another positive performance. This all follows a lengthy rehab from a torn meniscus that cost the 2023 third-round pick his entire rookie campaign. With consecutive healthy showings this exhibition season, Latu looks ready to officially make his debut with the 49ers. The Alabama product will compete with veteran Eric Saubert for one of the vacant roles backing George Kittle this upcoming season.
-
Mark Andrews TE | BAL
Ravens' Mark Andrews: Absence downplayed Monday
Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that Andrews (undisclosed) is "going to be fine" and called his absence from practice "minor," Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Andrews was involved in a car accident last Wednesday, and though the standout tight end was reportedly uninjured, he hasn't practiced since. It's possible Andrews is simply dealing with soreness or something minor unrelated to last week's incident. In any case, there doesn't seem to be any concern about Andrews' status for Week 1. Baltimore's starters have rested throughout the preseason, meaning Andrews' final chance to log exhibition action will come Saturday on the road against Green Bay.
-
Michael Mayer TE | LV
Raiders' Michael Mayer: Three catches Saturday
Mayer caught three of his four targets for 16 yards in Saturday's 27-12 preseason loss to the Cowboys.
As a rookie, Mayer -- whom the Raiders took in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft -- recorded a 27-304-2 line on 40 targets in 14 regular-season games. Following his initial campaign as a pro, it looked like the Notre Dame product would be in a position to see a significant uptick in volume in Year 2, but when the Raiders selected fellow tight end Brock Bowers 13th overall this April, that scenario became far less likely. That said, while playing alongside Bowers hampers Mayer's weekly fantasy upside, he could still merit attention in TE-friendly formats, with Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com noting that Las Vegas' Gardner Minshew-helmed offense figures to feature a lot of multiple tight end sets.
-
Ben Sims TE | MIA
Packers' Ben Sims: Records lone reception
Sims caught one pass for 10 yards in Sunday's preseason game against the Broncos.
After being blanked in Green Bay's first exhibition contest, Sims made at least a minor mark in his next opportunity. He sits third on the depth chart at his position with one preseason game to go.
-
John Bates TE | WAS
Commanders' John Bates: Catches two passes from Daniels
Bates caught both of his targets for 20 yards in Saturday's 13-6 preseason loss to Miami.
Both receptions came from QB Jayden Daniels, with Bates making the start and playing nearly all the first-team snaps for a second straight week. The fourth-year pro is unlikely to have an every-down role once the regular season begins, but it does seem Bates will start the year ahead of rookie second-round pick Ben Sinnott, serving as the blocking/inline tight end in a timeshare with Zach Ertz. It may not be long before Sinnott pushes for more snaps, however.
-
Dawson Knox TE | BUF
Bills' Dawson Knox: Returns from groin injury
Knox (groin) played in Saturday's preseason game against Pittsburgh and caught his lone target for a nine-yard gain.
Knox and Dalton Kincaid both started, alongside RB James Cook and WRs Keon Coleman and Mack Hollins. Kincaid was removed from the game after two snaps, and Knox didn't stay in much longer (six snaps) before handing things over to No. 3 TE Quintin Morris, who then left with a shoulder injury. Groin and ankle injuries have cost Knox some practice time this summer, but he's been available more often than not.
-
Hunter Henry TE | NE
Patriots' Hunter Henry: Shouldn't be out long
Coach Jerod Mayo expects Henry (undisclosed) and the Patriots' other injured tight ends to be "ready to go relatively early in the season," Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Henry was held out of Thursday's preseason loss to the Eagles, while fellow tight ends Austin Hooper (undisclosed) and Mitchell Wilcox (calf) both played but now are dealing with injuries. Previous reports suggested Henry's issue isn't serious, but it isn't clear when he's expected to rejoin practice.
-
Hunter Long TE | JAC
Rams' Hunter Long: Fails to make an impact
Long failed to bring in either of his two targets during Saturday's 13-9 victory against the Chargers.
The battle to start the season as the No. 2 tight end behind Colby Parkinson while Tyler Higbee (knee) remains on the mend, seems to be leaning toward Davis Allen. Long hasn't done anything to make himself stand out over the second-year pro, and Allen showed enough when called upon in the latter half of the 2023 campaign to secure a roster spot. Long will likely be the tertiary option at tight end to start the year unless he breaks out in a big way against the Texans in the Rams' preseason finale, and he will likely struggle to find snaps on offense even before Higbee's eventual return.