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Top Darren Fells News
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Darren Fells: Back with practice squad
Fells reverted to Tampa Bay's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Fells was on the field for eight snaps on offense and one snap on special teams in the Week 18 victory over Carolina. He appeared in two games during the regular season for Tampa Bay.
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Buccaneers' Darren Fells: Elevated to Bucs' active roster
Fells was elevated from the Buccaneers' practice squad Saturday to play against the Panthers on Sunday, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The tight end last appeared in a game with the Buccaneers in Week 10, playing only a single offensive snap. Fells will remain a depth option in Week 18 behind the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate as the team takes on the Panthers to end the regular season.
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Darren Fells: Reverts to practice squad
Fells reverted to Tampa Bay's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Fells joined Tampa Bay after being waived by the Lions on Nov. 8. The veteran played just one snap on offense against Washington. As long as Rob Gronkowski (back) is out, Fells will likely have an opportunity to see the active roster again.
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Buccaneers' Darren Fells: Elevated to Tampa's roster
Fells will be elevated from Tampa Bay's practice squad to play against Washington on Sunday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Fells will provide depth behind Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard with Rob Gronkowski (back) having been ruled out. The 35-year-old veteran brings a wealth of experience at the tight end position.
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Darren Fells: Joins Tampa Bay's practice squad
Fells was signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad Wednesday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Fells cleared waivers and will join Tampa Bay's practice squad. However, Stroud reports that the 6-foot-7 tight end will likely be added to the 53-man roster ahead of Sunday's matchup with Washington. Rob Gronkowski's (back) status is uncertain, so if he isn't available, then Fells will likely play a depth role behind Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard during Week 10.
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Darren Fells: Let go Monday
Fells was waived by the Lions on Monday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Fells was in his second stint with the Lions, previously playing with them in 2017. He hadn't been active since Week 7 against the Rams and will finish his time with Detroit this season having recorded four receptions on five targets for 43 yards. The jettisoning of Fells makes way for undrafted rookie Brock Wright to be added to the active roster.
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Lions' Darren Fells: Not playing Sunday
Fells (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Eagles.
Fells has appeared in all seven games for the Lions this season, catching four passes for 43 yards. However, the 35-year-old will be sidelined Sunday, and Brock Wright will likely step into the backup tight end duties behind T.J. Hockenson.
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Lions' Darren Fells: No targets against Bears
Fells wasn't targeted during Sunday's 24-14 loss to Chicago.
This may not be the only game this season in which Fells is a complete afterthought in the passing game. The veteran will look to get back in the box score in Week 5 against Minnesota.
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Lions' Darren Fells: Totals 35 yards
Fells caught two of three targets for 35 yards during Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Ravens.
There won't be many days when Fells outproduces T.J. Hockenson in nearly every receiving category. After catching just one pass for two yards over the first two weeks of the season, this could be one of the most productive outings of the year for the 35-year-old Fells.
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Lions' Darren Fells: Little impact as receiver
Fells caught one of two targets for two yards during Sunday's 41-33 loss to San Francisco.
Fells clearly was the blocking-oriented tight end between himself and T.J. Hockenson, who caught eight of 10 targets for 97 yards and one touchdown. With left tackle Taylor Decker (finger) set to miss at least the next two games, Fells' largest responsibilities surely will remain as a blocker over the next couple of weeks.
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Lions' Darren Fells: Re-signs with Lions
Detroit re-signed Fells on Thursday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The Lions parted ways with Fells in the process of cutting down to the initial 53-man roster, but some subsequent IR transactions opened up room for the veteran tight end to return. Fells is currently Detroit's only backup behind T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), but the team will likely add more depth ahead of Sept. 12's opener against the 49ers.
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Darren Fells: Done in Detroit
The Lions released Fells on Wednesday.
Fells will need to search for a depth role elsewhere after failing to secure a spot on the Lions' initial 53-man roster. The veteran tight end appeared in 32 games over the last two seasons, in which span he handled a rotational role with the Texans.
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Lions' Darren Fells: Catches two passes
Fells caught two passes for 20 yards in Friday's 27-17 preseason loss to the Colts.
The 35-year-old Fells is mostly known for his blocking but also emerged as a red-zone threat in Houston the past couple seasons (11 TDs on only 55 catches). He's unlikely to maintain a similar ratio in the inexperienced Detroit offense, particularly while working as the No. 2 tight end behind third-year pro T.J. Hockenson. The Lions host the 49ers in Week 1.
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Lions' Darren Fells: Preparing for blocking role
Fells expects to primarily serve as a blocking complement to T.J. Hockenson, Justin Rogers of the Detroit News reports. "He's more of an F tight end - faster, moving around, receiving - and I'm more of a Y tight end, where I can go in there and do a little bit more of the dirty work," Fells said after a June minicamp practice. "Had the conversation with him already, that if we're both in there, I'll be like an extra lineman for him, to give him time to get open, so he can bump that touchdown total up to 12."
Fells was relatively productive for the Texans in 2020 with 312 receiving yards, four scores and career highs in yards per catch (14.9) and yards per target (11.1). However, he's now 35 and not catching passes from Deshaun Watson anymore, so last year's production is probably one of the best-case outcomes for Fells in 2021. The veteran's recent comments further support that notion, though it's possible that Fells could still be involved in the passing game to some degree given the Lions' lack of depth at both receiver and tight end.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-7, 281 lbs |
| Birthplace: Fullerton, CA |
| Age: 38 |
| School: California-Irvine |
| Experience: 8 |