NFL Player News

Smythe secured three of five targets for 39 yards during Sunday's 11-6 win over the Jets.

Smythe recorded his best receiving performance of the year in Miami's regular-season finale, a game that saw Skylar Thompson rely heavily on short-yardage completions to tight ends and running backs. If Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) or Teddy Bridgewater (finger) are healthy enough to suit up for Sunday's playoff matchup in Buffalo, it would stand to reason that Smythe will revert to his normal role, which involves more blocking than route running.

Tonyan caught all three of his targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Lions.

The veteran tight end was on the field for 37 of the Packers' 60 offensive snaps and was unable to produce much for fantasy purposes with his opportunities. He finished the season with 53 catches for 470 yards and two touchdowns. Fantasy managers thinking that Tonyan would become a bigger factor in 2022 with the departures of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were met with great disappointment, as the 28-year-old was typically an afterthought in Green Bay's inconsistent aerial attack. After inking a one-year, $3.75 million contract with Green Bay last offseason, Tonyan is set to become a free agent in the spring.

Hurst caught four of five targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 27-16 win over the Ravens.

After missing the Bengals' previous three games with a calf injury, Hurst reclaimed his role as Cincinnati's top tight end. He played 73 percent of the Bengals' offensive snaps, and his four catches were third-most of any Cincinnati pass catcher. Hurst wrapped up the regular season with 52 receptions for 414 yards and two touchdowns on 68 targets across 13 appearances.

Knox caught both of his targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 35-23 win over the Patriots.

That makes four straight games with a score for Knox, who rallied to finish with a 48-517-6 line for the season, quite similar to his 49-587-9 line from 2021. Knox will remain a key red-zone option when the Bills begin their playoff march Sunday against the division-rival Dolphins, who were one of only four teams this season to allow double-digit receiving touchdowns to tight ends.

The Packers signed Allen to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Allen will stick with Green Bay after joining the team's practice squad Jan. 3. The tight end out of Nebraska originally signed with the Giants as an undrafted rookie in May, though he was cut from the team's practice squad Oct. 18 before ever making his NFL debut. Allen will now look to make an impression with the Packers this offseason.

The Patriots signed Washington to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Washington spent the first two seasons of his career with the Bengals before signing with the Patriots' practice squad Sept. 20. The 25-year-old tight end then made his NFL debut after being elevated for the Week 16 loss to Cincinnati, though he did not log a target over his 20 offensive snaps. Washington landed on the practice-squad injured list with an undisclosed issue Dec. 27, and it appears he is now healthy again heading into the 2023 offseason.

New England signed Sokol to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Sokol was claimed off waivers by the Patriots in May before being signed to the team's practice squad. The 26-year-old tight end was then elevated for three games this regular season, including each of the final two weeks. Sokol still did not log a target during the 2022 campaign, and he'll now look to record the first reception of his NFL career heading into the 2023 season.

Tennessee signed Odukoya to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.

Odukoya signed with the Titans in May as part of the NFL International Player Pathway Program. The 25-year-old then spent the entirety of this regular season on the team's practice squad, and he'll now look to earn a spot on the 53-man roster heading into the 2023 campaign.

The Steelers signed Williams to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Williams signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee Martin, though he was waived in mid-August after three months with the team. The 24-year-old then signed with Pittsburgh's practice squad Sept. 13. Williams will now compete for a chance to make his NFL debut heading into the 2023 campaign.

Fant (knee) was listed as a non-participant at Tuesday's walk-through practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Due to a lingering knee injury, Fant has sat out the first practice of the week ahead of each of the Seahawks' last three games, but he's proceeded to suit up for each contest while producing a collective 8-72-1 receiving line on 10 targets. Assuming he didn't suffer any sort of major setback during Sunday's 19-16 overtime win over the Rams, he should be good to go for this Saturday's wild-card game in San Francisco. If that's the case, Fant would once again be in line to split snaps at tight end with Colby Parkinson.