NFL Player News

Houston signed Keene to a reserve/future contract Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Keene played just one game with the Texans this season, but they apparently saw enough to give him a chance at a spot on their 53-man roster for 2024. He has good speed and agility, but he's only suited up for seven games since he was drafted in the third round by the Patriots in 2020.

Tampa Bay signed Wells to a reserve/future contract Monday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Wells finished the season on the Buccaneers' practice squad, and now he'll get a chance to compete for a spot on their 53-man roster for 2024. Over five games this year, he drew just two targets, both of which he caught for minus-10 yards.

Schoonmaker caught eight of 15 targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns over 17 regular-season games in 2023.

The Cowboys used a second-round pick on the Michigan product in 2023, drafting him 58th overall, but while fellow rookie tight ends like Sam LaPorta (34th overall), Dalton Kincaid (25th overall) and the Packers' duo of Luke Musgrave (42nd overall) and Tucker Kraft (78th overall) all made impacts, Schoonmaker saw minimal looks behind Jake Ferguson and caught more than one pass in a game only once all year. Schoonmaker should have a bigger role in 2024, but as long as Ferguson stays healthy, a breakout seems unlikely.

Hendershot (foot) caught four of seven targets for 38 yards in eight regular-season games in 2023.

The second-year tight end had trouble staying healthy, and Hendershot's usage as a receiver declined even when he was in the lineup as Jake Ferguson had a breakout season. With Luke Schoonmaker likely to take on a bigger role in 2024 as well, there don't figure to be many snaps or targets left over for Hendershot next season.

Kelce recorded five receptions on six targets for 75 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Bills.

Kelce snapped out of a significant slump in the wild-card round, and he took another step forward against the Bills. His strong rapport with Patrick Mahomes shone through, as he led the Chiefs in targets and accounted for two of the team's three touchdowns with catches of 22 and three yards. The performance was particularly well-timed, as it was Kelce's first time finding the end zone since Week 11 and his first multi-touchdown game of the season. He'll face a tough test in the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore, as the Ravens have allowed only three scores to opposing tight ends this season.

Head coach Dan Campbell said after Sunday's 31-23 win over the Buccaneers that Wright sustained a broken forearm, Jeff Risdon of USA Today reports.

With such a serious injury, Wright will likely be out for next weekend's NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. Before sustaining the injury Sunday, Wright hauled in his lone target for a 29-yard reception. Anthony Firkser is set to move into the No. 2 spot at tight end behind Sam LaPorta if Wright can't play versus the 49ers.

Otton secured five of eight targets for 65 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 31-23 divisional-round loss to the Lions on Sunday.

On the heels of a career-best showing in the wild-card win over the Eagles, Otton put together a solid encore Sunday that included the Buccaneers' second-most receptions and receiving yards on the afternoon. The second-year tight end also tied for second in targets and hauled in a two-yard scoring grab just before halftime for his first career postseason touchdown. Otton, who'll head into the third year of his rookie contract in 2024, put together a relatively ordinary 47-455-4 line across 17 regular-season games; however, his combined 13-154-1 tally in two playoff games serves as proof he's capable of functioning as more than just a short-area, complementary option in the team's passing game.

LaPorta caught nine of 11 targets for 65 yards in Sunday's 31-23 divisional-round win over the Buccaneers.

He led the Lions in catches and finished second to Amon-Ra St. Brown in targets and receiving yards -- another remarkable performance for LaPorta as he plays through a bone bruise in his left knee that he picked up in Week 18. The nine catches tied his personal best, continuing an incredible campaign that saw LaPorta set an NFL record for a rookie tight end with 86 catches during the regular season. Detroit will likely take it very easy on him again in practice this week as the team gears up for an NFC Championship Game clash with the 49ers.

Wright has a forearm injury and is questionable to return to Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against the Buccaneers.

The second-string tight end caught one pass for 29 yards before exiting. Wright had 13 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in the regular season. Anthony Firkser should take his place behind starter Sam LaPorta.

Henry (knee) finished the 2023 regular-season with 42 catches on 61 targets for 419 yards and six TDs in 14 games.

A knee issue sidelined Henry for the Patriots' final three contests, with the tight end ultimately having been placed on IR ahead of Week 18 action. With the three-year, $37.5 million contract that the 29-year-old signed with the team back in March of 2021 now having been completed, Henry is eligible to become a an unrestricted free agent this offseason. While there figures to be plenty of roster turnover in New England during the coming months following a 4-13 campaign, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site suggests that Henry could end up being a priority re-signing, especially if the franchise turns over the reins to a new young signal-caller, a context in which rostering a player (like Henry) who can be a reliable security blanket between the numbers and in the red zone would be valuable.