NFL Player News

Kansas City released Smith on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 2019 second-round pick was a healthy scratch for the Bengals by the end of last season and now finds himself unable to earn a spot on Kansas City's initial 53-man roster. Smith is only 26 years old but may struggle to stick around the league as anything more than a practice squad player.

The Giants waived Stoll on Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

The 26-year-old tight end caught four passes for 39 scoreless yards during the preseason. Stoll appeared in a total of 50 games for the Eagles over the previous three seasons before signing with the Giants back in March. He'll look for a new opportunity elsewhere.

The Colts are in line to place Woods (toe) on season-ending IR, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

Woods, who missed all of last year due to repeated hamstring injuries, is now on track to be sidelined for a second straight season due to a turf toe injury that required surgery. In his absence, the Colts will move forward with a TE corps led by Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory.

Higbee (knee) will be on the reserve/PUP list to start the regular season, making him ineligible for at least the first four games, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This was expected after Higbee suffered an ACL and MCL tear in his right knee during a playoff loss to the Lions on Jan. 14. He's been on the active/PUP list since the start of training camp, with no real updates on his progress. With Higbee out for at least four games and possibly longer, free-agent signing Colby Parkinson is the leader of a TE room that also includes Davis Allen and Hunter Long.

The Cowboys waived Hendershot on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Hendershot caught on as an undrafted rookie in 2022 and made 25 regular-season appearances for Dallas over the last two years. He was said to be competing for a significant role last summer but ended up a distant third behind Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker in the Cowboys' TE room.

Hockenson (knee) will be on the PUP list to start the regular season, ruling him out for at least the first four games, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Hockenson has been on the active/PUP list since the start of training camp and will now shift to reserve/PUP on Tuesday as teams cut their rosters down to 53 players. He won't count against that limit for at least the first four weeks of the season, which means his earliest date for a 2024 debut would be Week 5 against the Jets (Oct. 6). Hockenson had the best statistical season of his career in 2023, only to see it marred by ACL and MCL tears on a hard hit to the knee during a Dec. 24 game against Detroit. Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver will take most of Minnesota's TE snaps until Hockenson is ready.

The Lions waived Zylstra on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Zylstra missed all of 2023 due to a knee injury, and Detroit has now decided to part ways with the 27-year-old. He appeared in 13 regular-season games for the Lions in 2022, catching 11 of his 15 targets for 60 yards and four touchdowns.

The Buccaneers waived Taula on Monday, JC Allen of SI.com reports.

The second-year tight end spent his entire rookie campaign on the Buccaneers' practice squad, and Tampa Bay is planning on bringing him back to that unit if he clears waivers, per Allen.

The Titans waived Stilianos on Monday, Sam Phalen of AtoZSports.com reports.

Stilianos signed with the Titans in May after going undrafted this past offseason, but it now appears that the team is moving in a different direction. The Iowa product recorded just eight receptions for 93 yards and no touchdowns during his senior season.

Foelsch is set to be waived by the Eagles on Monday, Andrew DiCecco reports.

Foelsch joined Philly after he was waived by the Jets on Aug. 2. An undrafted free agent out of New Haven, he also spent time with the Panthers earlier in the spring. The 23-year-old will likely end up working to earn a practice squad spot once 53-man rosters are set.