NFL Player News

Jackson (knee) was placed on injured reserve Monday.

Jackson suffered a torn ACL during Saturday's loss to Dallas, so it's no surprise to see him headed toward injured reserve. The 24-year-old is unlikely to be fully recovered in time for training camp and could miss the start of the 2022 campaign.

Hooper was not targeted in Sunday's 21-16 win over the Bengals.

Hooper took a step back in his second year with Cleveland, but he remains a big target and blocker at tight end. He had fewer targets (61), catches (38), yards (345) and touchdowns (three) relative to 2020. The 27-year-old tight end carries a big contract entering 2022, but the money isn't guaranteed per Zac Jackson of The Athletic, although he would cost the Browns $11 million against the cap if they chose to move on. While the return on investment is not commensurate with his salary, Hooper is a frequent target and a good blocker for a team that earns its wins mostly by running the ball. If the Browns don't re-sign David Njoku -- there's reported interest on both sides -- then Hooper could reclaim all the targets and then some that he lost in 2021.

Thompson signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on Monday.

Thompson was on Carolina's active roster until being waived in mid-December, and he spent the rest of the season on the practice squad. He appeared in 11 games and failed to catch his only target.

Njoku caught both of his targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 21-16 win over the Bengals.

Njoku was questionable due to a shoulder injury but managed to get on the field and finish off his best season since 2018. The fifth-year tight end caught 36 of 53 targets for 475 yards and led all Cleveland receivers with four touchdowns. After some drama the previous two seasons, including trade requests and being out-snapped by rookie Harrison Bryant in 2020, Njoku fell into line in 2021 and was a model contributor, per Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. Following Sunday's win, Njoku expressed his desire to stay in Cleveland, per Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal. Njoku becomes an unrestricted free agent, but it sounds like both sides would like to commit to another term. Austin Hooper and Bryant still are around, but coach Kevin Stefanski uses tight ends as more than just blockers, and Njoku was the best receiver of the bunch.

Ricci agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Panthers on Monday.

Ricci played in 16 games for Carolina in 2021 and saw most of his action on special teams. The fullback should have a similar role for the Panthers in 2022, assumes he retains his roster spot.

Jacobson signed a reserve/future contract with the Colts on Monday.

Jacobson joined the Colts' practice squad in October after opening the season on the Seahawks' practice squad. He didn't see the field in 2021 following his collegiate basketball career at Iowa State.

The Browns signed Forristall (hamstring) to a reserve/future contract Monday.

Forristall made two appearances with the Browns this year but wasn't targeted in either of his two games on the active roster. He was placed on the practice squad injured list with a hamstring issue last week but will now remain with the organization heading into the offseason.

The Eagles activated Goedert (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

Philadelphia returned all of its players on the virus list to the active roster ahead of Sunday's wild-card game in Tampa Bay, including three key skill-position players in Goedert and running backs Boston Scott and Jordan Howard. Along with Goedert, the Eagles also activated fellow tight end Jack Stoll, giving the team its top two options at the position in advance of the postseason. While Goedert and Stoll were sidelined Week 18, Tyree Jackson stepped in as the primary tight end in the Eagles' loss to Dallas, recording three receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown before exiting the contest with what was later revealed as a torn ACL. Goedert, meanwhile, was in isolation during the game and finished the regular season with 56 catches for 830 yards and four touchdowns across 15 appearances.

Wright caught two of two targets for 51 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 37-30 win over Green Bay.

Wright returned from a week off in the COVID-19 protocols and again logged over 70 percent of the offensive snaps while serving as the Lions' top tight end in the absence of T.J. Hockenson (finger). While most of Wright's production came on a flea flicker in the third quarter when the tight end snuck behind the defense for a 36-yard touchdown, the Notre Dame product is continuing to show that he can be a little more than just a blocker at the pro level. In total, he finishes the 2021 campaign with 12 catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets despite not seeing regular action until the second half of the year. Considering he will now be an exclusive-rights free agent, Wright is a strong candidate to return to Detroit in 2022 as a depth option behind Hockenson.

Hill was diagnosed Monday with a Lisfranc injury to his left foot and will require surgery, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Hill exited Sunday's season-ending win over Atlanta and will undergo surgery to repair the issue, followed by a second procedure later in the offseason to remove the hardware from his foot. Head coach Sean Payton said Monday that he didn't yet have a timetable for the quarterback's recovery. The 31-year-old completed 78 of 134 passes for 978 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing 70 times for 374 yards and five touchdowns across 12 appearances in 2021, finishing the season as the team's starter. He was rewarded with a four-year extension in November, but Payton declined to reveal the team's plans at quarterback in 2022 during Monday's press conference.