NFL Player News
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C.J. Uzomah TE | PHI
Jets' C.J. Uzomah: Lands on preseason PUP list
The Jets placed Uzomah (leg) on the PUP list Wednesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
The tight end suffered an apparent right leg injury last month. As a result, Uzomah won't be allowed to practice once the Jets start training camp, though he can be activated at any time. Once he returns to the field, Uzomah will be in line to reclaim his role in a Jets tight-end corps led by Tyler Conklin.
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Evan Engram TE | DEN
Jaguars' Evan Engram: Agrees to three-year deal
Engram agreed to a three-year, $42.5 million contract with the Jaguars on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Engram sat out the Jaguars' offseason program after being assigned the franchise tag for $11.35 million, but the two sides reached a long-term deal that gives the 2017 first-round pick job security and a hefty raise before Monday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline. The 28-year-old Engram joined Jacksonville on a one-year contract ahead of the 2022 campaign and finished with 73 receptions for 766 yards -- both career highs. With Calvin Ridley now in town and Travis Etienne fully healthy, Engram's target share might drop a bit, but the tight end is still expected to be a vital part of Jacksonville's passing attack in 2023.
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Evan Engram TE | DEN
Jaguars' Evan Engram: Expected at camp
Engram likely will report to training camp even if he doesn't get a long-term deal before Monday's deadline, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Engram sat out the offseason program after the Jags assigned him a franchise tag for $11.35 million. He's hoping for a long-term deal before 4:00 p.m. ET on Monday but apparently will sign the tag and report to camp even if it doesn't happen. Engram signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Jaguars last offseason and finished his first year in Jacksonville with career highs for catches (73) and receiving yards (766). He'll turn 28 a week before the 2023 season begins and has missed only two games over the past three seasons after sitting out 14 his first three years in the league.
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Mike Gesicki TE | CIN
Patriots' Mike Gesicki: Slated to work alongside Henry
This coming season, the Patriots appear likely to employ a good amount of two-tight end sets featuring Gesicki and Hunter Henry, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.
The report notes that over the last two seasons the Patriots ranked 25th in 12-personnel usage, but with Gesicki now in the mix instead of Jonnu Smith, look for the team to find ways to utilize the newcomer's natural pass-catching skills and alignment flexibility in tandem with Henry. Assuming new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien does in fact allocate ample snaps to New England's top TE duo, Gesicki has a good chance to see an uptick from the 32-362-5 receiving line he put up while logging 52 targets (down from 112 in 2021) in 17 games with the Dolphins last season. Per Lazar, the 27-year-old free-agent addition was "impactful in OTAs and minicamp sessions running the seam, stretching the field horizontally, and showing decent separation quickness."
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Leonard Taylor TE | JAC
Jaguars' Leonard Taylor: Lands on injured reserve
Taylor (undisclosed) reverted to IR on Tuesday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Taylor went unclaimed after being waived with an injury designation Monday. The 23-year-old had joined Jacksonville after going undrafted out of Cincinnati in May. He'll now be forced to sit out the 2023 season unless he's able to reach an injury settlement with the team, and subsequently can prove that he's healthy.
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Leonard Taylor TE | JAC
Leonard Taylor: Waived by Jacksonville
Taylor (undisclosed) was waived/injured by the Jaguars on Monday, John Shipley of SI.com reports.
It's unclear what injury Taylor is dealing with, but the tight end will revert to injured reserve Tuesday, assuming he clears waivers.
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Josh Pederson TE | JAC
Jaguars' Josh Pederson: Signs with Jacksoville
Pederson and the Jaguars agreed on a contract Monday, John Shipley of SI.com reports.
Pederson will head to Jacksonville after being let go by the Chiefs prior to the 2022 campaign. The tight end has yet to make his NFL debut after going undrafted in 2021 following a collegiate career at Louisiana Monroe, and he'll look to at least crack the Jaguars' practice squad in 2023.
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Taysom Hill QB | NO
Saints' Taysom Hill: Could catch more passes in 2023
Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael said in June that he would like to use Hill more as a pass catcher this season, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Hill had a 19-234-6 receiving line back in 2019 but has produced a 21-227-3 line in the three subsequent seasons, instead doing the vast majority of his damage as a ball carrier. The 221-pounder's usage as a rusher reached its peak in 2022, finishing as the Saints' second-leading rusher in both carries (96) and rushing yards (575) behind Alvin Kamara. However, New Orleans shouldn't have to rely on Hill's rushing ability nearly as much in 2023 after the team added running backs Jamaal Williams and rookie Kendre Miller this offseason. While he isn't going to become a high-volume receiver in his age-33 season, Hill still has a degree of fantasy appeal thanks to a unique role in which he gets more playing time near the goal line and sometimes throws passes rather than running routes or carrying the ball. HIll's role makes him an appealing option for best ball leagues, if nothing else, though the ceiling scenario of him making starts at quarterback with tight end fantasy eligibility is further away than ever after the Saints signed Derek Carr and retained Jameis Winston.
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Foster Moreau TE | HOU
Saints' Foster Moreau: Deemed to be in remission
Moreau announced on Twitter on Monday that he's in full remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma.
It's tremendous news after the Saints discovered Moreau's cancer in a free agency visit physical back in March. Moreau eventually signed a three-year deal with New Orleans and was even fully participating in OTAs and minicamp this spring. He's expected to complement Juwan Johnson atop the Saints' tight end depth chart this season.