NFL Player News

Loveland is listed as a starting tight end along with Cole Kmet on the Bears' unofficial depth chart.

The 10th overall pick in the 2025 Draft, Loveland had a slow start to his rookie season, coming out of Week 8 with 11 catches total on the campaign and one DNP due to a hip injury. From Week 9 through the Bears' divisional-round loss to the Rams, though, he ran roughshod over opposing defenses, hauling in 59 of 89 targets for 790 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. Loveland capped that stretch with four consecutive contests with double-digit targets, indicating he finished last season as QB Caleb Williams' top option in the passing game. While Loveland still has to contend with WRs Rome Odunze and Luther Burden (groin) for the attention of Williams, the tight end is poised to make a leap to the NFL's best at the position.

Johnson didn't see any action during the Saints' three-game preseason slate.

Johnson is locked in atop the depth chart at tight end for New Orleans, and with Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) set to miss at least the first four games of the season and no clear WR2 on the roster, Johnson could have a significant pass-catching role out of the gates. Tyler Shough has already predicted a big season for his former college teammate after Johnson was fantasy's overall TE5 in yards per game and TE8 in catches per game following last season's Rashid Shaheed trade ahead of Week 10. Turning 30 years old Sept. 13, Johnson is coming off a 77-889-3 campaign on 102 targets last season.

Barner sits atop a Seahawks tight end depth chart that's unchanged from last season heading into the 2026 regular season, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

The Seahawks won the Super Bowl last season with a tight end room consisting of Barner, Eric Saubert, Elijah Arroyo and Nick Kallerup, so it's understandable that the team decided not to rock the boat at the position. Arroyo is Barner's primary competition for pass-catching opportunities, as the 2025 second-round pick enjoyed a productive 2026 preseason after a lackluster rookie regular season in which Arroyo posted just 179 receiving yards. Barner led the position group with 52 catches for 519 yards and six touchdown receptions on 68 targets during the 2025 regular season.

Goedert didn't see any action during the Eagles' three-game preseason slate.

The Eagles rested all of their key starters for the three exhibitions. Now 31 years old, Goedert is a veteran who doesn't necessarily need to play in meaningless preseason games. With A.J. Brown now in New England, Goedert is expected to have a big red-zone role for Philadelphia this season after he set a career high with 11 touchdown grabs on 60 catches last season. It will be difficult for Goedert to replicate that astounding touchdown rate, but he's very much in the TE1 mix for fantasy.

Andrews is one of four tight ends on the Ravens' 53-man roster, along with Durham Smythe, Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas.

Unlike previous years, when he had Isaiah Likely breathing down his neck, Andrews isn't projected to have much competition for targets at his position. Smythe is a blocking specialist who has averaged fewer than 10 receiving yards per game in his career, while Hibner and Cuevas are rookie Day 3 draft picks. Andrews will be 31 years old when the 2026 regular season kicks off, and he averaged a career-low 24.8 receiving yards per game in 2025, so age-related decline seems to be his biggest concern from a fantasy standpoint.

Hockenson recorded a touchdown reception from Kyler Murray during the Vikings' final training camp practice Aug. 26, Andrew Krammer of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Hockenson played just five snaps in the Vikings' preseason opener and was rested for the final two exhibition tilts, but he's been getting in reps with the first-team offense throughout camp. After a delayed start to the 2024 campaign while he completed his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, Hockenson mostly stayed healthy in 2025 but was a middling fantasy option at tight end with a 51-438-3 receiving line on 66 targets over 15 games. Though Hockenson should benefit from upgraded quarterback play in 2026 after drawing targets from the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer a season ago, the closest Murray has come to supporting two fantasy relevant pass catchers was in 2024, when tight end Trey McBride (111-1,146-2 line in 16 games) and wideout Marvin Harrison (62-885-8 in 17 games) both had some utility. Justin Jefferson is locked in as the clear top weapon in the passing game and should dominate the targets, but Hockenson could struggle to see consistent volume while he's vying with the likes of No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison and No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings for the remaining looks that don't go to Jefferson.

Likely could emerge as the second option in the Giants' passing game behind Malik Nabers (knee), according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.

Likely signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Giants in March and has subsequently formed a strong connection with QB Jaxson Dart on and off the field. The 26-year-old tight end also has familiarity with head coach John Harbaugh from their time together in Baltimore, where Likely played from 2022 to 2025. Likely was overshadowed by Mark Andrews on the Ravens, but the former has a clear path to a larger role in New York, where Likely will be competing for targets with fellow TE Theo Johnson (shoulder), as well as a WR room that includes Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields and Odell Beckham behind Nabers.

The Buccaneers cut Culp from the practice squad Wednesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

The Buccaneers waived Culp on Sunday, and after the tight end cleared waivers Monday, he joined the team's practice squad before ultimately being cut Wednesday. Culp was cut from the practice squad to make room for cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, who won the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in the 2020 season.

The 49ers signed Dinkins to the practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

The 49ers waived Dinkins during Sunday's cutdown day. The tight end cleared waivers and has rejoined the 49ers, who signed him to a three-year contract Aug. 22. Dinkins has a good chance to be elevated to the active roster if George Kittle (Achilles), Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell or Brayden Willis (concussion) misses time due to injury.

The Steelers signed McRee to the practice squad Monday.

The Steelers waived McRee during Sunday's cutdown day. The undrafted free agent out of USC played well enough throughout training camp to receive an invitation to the team's practice squad. McRee participated in all three preseason games, catching five of his nine targets for 60 yards and a touchdown.