NFL Player News

Hopkins recorded seven catches for 109 yards during the 2022 season.

Hopkins missed three games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, but he was on the field for all 14 of the Rams' remaining games, operating as the No. 2 tight end behind Tyler Higbee after Kendall Blanton was cut. As injuries piled up for the Rams, Hopkins saw his role increase as the season progressed, and he notched a career-high 57 receiving yards in the Week 16 contest against the Broncos. The 2020 fourth-round pick will enter the final season of his rookie deal looking to continue carving out a role similar to what he saw in the latter half of the 2022 season while firmly entrenched behind the veteran Higbee.

McKitty finished the 2022-23 season catching 10 of his 18 targets for 72 yards.

McKitty failed to surpass 100 yards on the season despite playing in every game, and he was outgained by Donald Parham, who only suited up for six contests. While McKitty has primarily been used as a run blocker, he has still failed to live up to his status as a third-round pick. Don't expect McKitty to be involved more as a pass catcher unless the Chargers opt not to bring back Parham, who is a restricted free agent.

Rigg signed a reserve/future contract with the Titans on Thursday, John Glennon of SI.com reports.

Rigg spent training camp with the Bengals after joining them as a UDFA in May. However, after being unable to make the team out of camp, he did find his way to the Steelers' practice squad. Ultimately, the 24-year-old was unable to maintain a spot with the team. He'll now work toward earning an opportunity with the Titans.

Fant (knee) doesn't have a designation for Saturday's wild-card contest at San Francisco, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Fant's practice limitations stem back to Week 16 prep as he tends to a knee injury, which didn't allow him to participate in Tuesday's walkthrough. But he managed limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday and now is ready to go for the first round of the postseason. While playing through his current health concern, Fant has recorded a cumulative 8-72-1 line on 10 targets over the last three games while operating behind fellow tight end Colby Parkinson.

Wright played 34 of the Lions' 60 snaps on offense and failed to reel in his lone target in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Packers.

After Shane Zylstra scored three times in a Week 16 loss to the Panthers, Wright came through with two touchdowns in a Week 17 win over the Bears, but both tight ends came up empty in the season finale. While combining to play 56 snaps Week 18, Wright and Zylstra went without a catch, as third-stringer James Mitchell's seven-yard reception amounted to the only production from the position group. Even though his opportunities picked up following the trade of T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota in November, Wright finished the 2022 campaign with an unremarkable 18-216-4 receiving line on 24 targets over his 16 appearances. Wright is an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason and will most likely be retained, but expect the Lions to at least explore outside options at tight end this offseason rather than promising the 24-year-old the starting gig heading into 2023.

Mitchell played 10 of the Lions' 60 snaps on offense and recorded a seven-yard reception in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Packers.

Though he ranked third in snap share among Detroit tight ends in each of the final five games of the 2022 campaign, Mitchell still drew at least one target in all but one of those contests. All told, Mitchell turned in 11 receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown on 11 targets across his 14 appearances with the Lions in 2022. The 23-year-old is likely to remain in a depth role for Detroit heading into his second NFL season in 2023.

Wilcox played 27 of the Bengals' 65 snaps on offense and went without a target in Sunday's 27-16 win over the Ravens.

Hayden Hurst settled back in as Cincinnati's top tight end in his return from a three-game absence, resulting in Wilcox settling for a downturn in playing time as the No. 2 option at the position. While Hurst was sidelined, Wilcox offered only marginal fantasy value, as he cobbled together a 10-79-1 receiving line on 11 targets during that three-game stretch.

Oliver played 32 of the Ravens' 75 snaps on offense in Sunday's 27-16 loss to the Bengals and failed to corral his lone target.

Though the Ravens played the regular-season finale without top tight end Mark Andrews -- who sat out for rest purposes -- Oliver wasn't a major beneficiary. Oliver's 43 percent snap share actually took a step back from his 60 percent mark against the Steelers one week earlier, as Isaiah Likely (88 percent, 8-103-0 receiving line on 13 targets) and Charlie Kolar (44 percent, 4-49-0 on six targets) instead took advantage of Andrews' absence. Because the Ravens value Oliver's blocking skills and ability to contribute on special teams, he's still likely to be active for Sunday's rematch with the Bengals in the wild-card round.

Kolar played 33 of the Ravens' 75 snaps on offense and finished with four catches for 49 yards on six targets in Sunday's 27-16 loss to the Bengals.

After playing just two snaps in his NFL debut in the Ravens' Week 17 loss to the Bengals, Kolar was thrust into a more prominent role in the regular-season finale while top tight end Mark Andrews sat out for rest purposes. Though Isaiah Likely started and stepped in as the Ravens' top option in the passing game (eight catches for 103 yards on 13 targets), Kolar out-produced every other Baltimore pass catcher aside from receiver Sammy Watkins (two catches for 79 yards). While the rookie fourth-round pick out of Iowa State was able to end the regular season on a high note, he'll likely see a steep decline in snaps and could even be a healthy inactive for Sunday's wild-card rematch with the Bengals with Andrews set to return to the lineup.

Hooper recorded four catches on four targets for 38 yards in Saturday's 20-16 loss to the Jaguars.

Hooper tied for the third-most targets on the team and was relatively efficient with his opportunities, finishing with his highest catch and yardage totals since Week 14. While his numbers rebounded compared to his 2021 campaign with the Browns, Hooper was still in a timeshare with other tight ends on the Tennessee roster, including Chigoziem Okonkwo and Geoff Swaim. Hooper will hit free agency this offseason, and even if he returns to Tennessee, Okonkwo will likely step into a more significant role in 2023 to Hooper's detriment.