NFL Player News

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Fant was placed on the active/PUP list Wednesday due to a knee concern, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Carroll relayed that Fant "had a little work done" on the knee in question, so it's unclear if the tight end underwent a procedure or merely was focusing behind the scenes on work with the Seahawks' training and medical staffs. Fant is able to practice and/or play at any point in the preseason, but in the meantime, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson will handle most of the top-level tight-end reps for Seattle.

McDonald (undisclosed) was removed from the Packers' active/non-football injury list Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Just five days after going on the active/NFI list, McDonald has passed his physical. Now that the undrafted rookie out of Florida State is healthy, he will be competing for a spot in an unproven yet crowded tight end room in Green Bay. He's currently listed sixth on the Packers' depth chart, so it seems like the best-case scenario is for him to make the practice squad.

Long (undisclosed) was placed on the active/PUP list Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Long's injury and recovery timeline is unclear; however, his placement on the active, as opposed to reserve, PUP list suggests his issue may be minor. The 2021 third-round selection was dealt to the Rams in March as part of the Jalen Ramsey trade, and he figures to compete for the No. 3 tight-end spot behind Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins, once Long can prove he is healthy.

Uzomah (leg) passed his physical Wednesday and was reinstated from the active/PUP list, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Now that the tight end has been activated, he's eligible to take part in practices. The 30-year-old recorded a 21-232-2 receiving line in 15 games with the Jets last season. Heading into his second season in New York, Uzomah is once again slated to work behind Tyler Conklin, who hauled in 58 passes in 2022.

LaPorta has already climbed the depth chart and is line to be the Lions' top tight end at the beginning of the regular season, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The second-round pick worked with backups early in spring practices, but offensive coordinator Ben Johnson confirmed Wednesday that LaPorta has quickly "earned the right" to be in the first-team huddle. LaPorta's rise up the depth chart happened before the start of contact practices, which means a lot can change before Week 1. Even so, the uninspired list of tight end alternatives in Detroit suggests LaPorta is probably the best man for the job. The other options are Brock Wright, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra -- a trio that formed a committee last season after the Lions traded T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota. As rare as it's been for rookie tight ends to make a fantasy impact, LaPorta is an excellent prospect and has a big opportunity ahead of him.

The Seahawks placed Fant (undisclosed) on the active/PUP list Wednesday for the start of training camp, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

The team provided no indication that Fant dealt with an injury or underwent surgery this offseason, but that doesn't necessarily mean nothing happened. The tight end could also be dealing with something minor that cropped up recently before the start of training camp, in which case Fant should be back on the field in short order. His competition for snaps looks much the same as last season, with Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson also returning to Seattle.

The Cardinals placed Ertz (knee) on the active/PUP list Wednesday.

The 32-year-old tight end is coming back from late-November surgery to repair the ACL and MCL in his left knee. Even if Ertz makes it back for the start of the season, he may end up in a smaller role than what he's accustomed to, as the Cardinals presumably want to give 2022 second-round pick Trey McBride at least a decent chunk of snaps and targets at tight end. Ertz can be activated from the PUP list to practice at any time this summer, and he can still attend meetings and work out at the team facility while he's ineligible for practice.

Keene was waived by the Eagles on Wednesday.

Philadelphia let the tight end go six months after signing him to a reserve/future contract. Keene spent time on the practice squad with the Eagles and Broncos during the 2022 season. The 2020 third-round selection of New England is now a free agent as training camps get underway.

Kmet agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the Bears on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Kmet's new deal reportedly includes $32.8 million guaranteed and $20 million in new first-year cash, a nice payday for the 2020 second-round pick. The move provides some additional surrounding stability for budding star Justin Fields, who showed a solid rapport with Kmet in 2022, as the tight end compiled a 50-544-7 receiving line in 17 contests. Chicago added Robert Tonyan to the tight end room this offseason, but Kmet's extension is a clear sign that the team is committed to him as its top option at the position in the long term.

Pitts (knee) practiced Wednesday while wearing a brace on his right knee, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Pitts was able to run routes Wednesday, though it's unclear if he'll be a full participant once the Falcons start holding full-contact practices. The uber-talented tight end is entering his third season in the NFL and will have his third different Week 1 quarterback in Desmond Ridder in 2023, assuming Pitts can gain 100 percent clearance from knee surgery by the end of the preseason.