NFL Player News

Westover signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with the Patriots on Tuesday.

It was merely a formality for the 26-year-old lead blocker. Westover has touched the ball one time in 20 career regular-season games and has logged 246 offensive snaps in that span.

Fannin (groin) participated in Tuesday's voluntary veteran minicamp practice, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.

Fannin sat out the Browns' 2025 season finale against the Bengals due to a groin injury, but the tight end's participation in Monday's session illustrates that he's moved past the issue. As the coming campaign approaches, Fannin sits firmly atop his team's TE depth chart, which no longer includes David Njoku, who remains a free agent. As a rookie last year, Fannin recorded a team-high 72 catches (on 107 targets) for 731 yards and six TDs in 16 regular-season contests. With Njoku no longer in the mix, Fannin should have an opportunity to improve on those numbers, health-permitting, given that current reserves Jack Stoll, Blake Whiteheart, Brenden Bates and Sal Cannella are not likely to command significant volume in Cleveland's offense.

Panthers GM Dan Morgan said Tuesday that Sanders (fibula) has resumed running and making cuts in his rehab and could be ready for the start of OTAs, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Sanders is recovering from surgery to address a broken right fibula suffered in late December. Across 13 regular-season appearances last year, the 2024 fourth-round pick secured 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown. Unless Carolina makes significant additions to the tight end position in the 2026 NFL Draft, Sanders and Tommy Tremble will again operate as the team's top options at the position.

Andrews said Wednesday that he expects "a lot of opportunities in this offense" after fellow tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar left the Ravens this offseason, NFL.com reports.

More help is probably on the way, but so far Baltimore has only signed blocking specialist Durham Smythe to help replace Likely (Giants) and Kolar (Chargers) at tight end. The Ravens also lost long-time fullback Patrick Ricard, who followed Likely and coach John Harbaugh to New York. Andrews, meanwhile, is entering the first season of the three-year extension he signed in December, with his 2026 compensation fully guaranteed and his 2027 salary partially guaranteed ($5 million out of $9 million). The Ravens clearly have him ticketed for a key role under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, but that doesn't mean Andrews will approach his peak volume (or production). He'll turn 31 in September, coming off back-to-back seasons with less than 4.5 targets and 40 yards per game. Even the TD production slipped in 2025, with Andrews posting a 48-422-5 receiving line (compared to 55-673-11 in 2024) while finishing with career-low marks for yards per catch (8.8) and yards per target (6.0).

Las Vegas re-signed Thomas to a one-year contract Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Thomas will run it back with the Raiders after having secured all 13 of his targets for 114 yards across 15 regular-season appearances with the team in 2025. He projects for a blocking role behind Brock Bowers (knee) and Michael Mayer again next season.

Pitts is present for the start of voluntary workouts Tuesday and is signing his franchise tag with the Falcons, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Pitts and Atlanta will still have until mid-July to negotiate a long-term deal, but without one the 2021 first-round pick will have a $15.05 million salary for 2026. The 25-year-old tight end finished 2025 with an 88-928-5 line on 118 targets while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. Pitts' major task this offseason will be to establish a rapport with new quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will compete with Michael Penix (knee) for the starting job under center.

Bates signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with Cleveland on Monday.

Bates began last season with Houston before the Browns signed him off waivers in late October. The tight end out of Kentucky played in six contests with Cleveland, catching two of three targets for 25 yards. Bates should compete for a depth role next season, but while long-time starter David Njoku was released in March, Harold Fannin (groin) has a strong grip on the Browns' primary tight-end duties.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn named Taylor (neck) when asked Monday which players he anticipates taking a step forward in 2026, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.

Taylor missed the final four games of last season due to a neck injury, but there have been no indications that he will be hampered in OTAs. Across 13 regular-season appearances during his rookie campaign, Taylor secured 44 of 65 targets for 369 yards and one touchdown, solid totals considering the struggles of New York's aerial attack, which averaged a league-worst 140.3 passing yards per game. The arrival of Geno Smith should provide stability on that front, and Taylor is currently positioned as one of the new QB's top targets along with Breece Hall (knee), Garrett Wilson (knee) and Adonai Mitchell.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Monday that Kincaid (knee) has officially had his fifth-year option picked up by the team, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.

Kincaid's fifth-year option keeps him under contract with Buffalo through the 2027 campaign. The 2023 first-round pick was limited to a career-low 12 regular-season appearances in 2025 due to a lingering PCL injury in his knee (that dates back to November 2024), but he nonetheless was productive, securing 39 of 49 targets for 571 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Across two playoff appearances, Kincaid posted a 9-111-2 line on 11 targets. The 26-year-old tight end won't need to undergo any sort of offseason surgery, instead focusing on rehab to strengthen his knee for the future. He's positioned to reprise his role as Buffalo's top tight end after the team inked No. 2 man Dawson Knox to a new three-year deal, and the team's passing offense also could take a step forward with the addition of WR DJ Moore via trade.

San Francisco general manager John Lynch told reporters Sunday that he is "hopeful" that Kittle (Achilles) will be available for Week 1 of the 2026 season, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Lynch noted that Kittle is progressing well in his recovery from a torn right Achilles that he suffered in the 49ers' NFC wild-card win over the Eagles in January. Working in Kittle's favor is the fact that he suffered a clear tear near the soleus muscle higher up the Achilles, which typically takes less time to rehab, but whether the veteran tight end is available for the start of the regular season ultimately will come down to his participation in training camp in July and August. Jake Tonges (foot) would be slated to serve as the Niners' TE1 to open the 2026 season if Kittle is not ready to return by then.