NFL Player News
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Thomas Fidone II TE | NYG
Giants' Thomas Fidone: Healthy scratch Week 1
Fidone (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's NFC East clash against the Commanders, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
The rookie seventh-rounder managed to crack the Giants' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. However, he'll have to wait at least one more week to make his NFL regular-season debut as the Giants roll with Daniel Bellinger and Chris Manhertz as the backup tight ends behind Theo Johnson for Week 1. Fidone's next chance to play is Week 2 against the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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Jelani Woods TE | NYJ
Jets' Jelani Woods: Won't make team debut Week 1
Woods (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Steelers, Randy Lange of the Jets' official site reports.
Woods was claimed off waivers by the Jets in late August after failing to make the Colts' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. The 2022 third-rounder will have to wait to make his Jets debut as the team goes with three active tight ends in Stone Smartt, Jeremy Ruckert and rookie second-rounder Mason Taylor. Woods' next chance to play is Week 2 against the Bills on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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Will Mallory TE | IND
Colts' Will Mallory: Healthy inactive
Mallory is inactive for Sunday's season opener against Miami due to a coach's decision, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Mallory had a good showing in training camp by all accounts, but he enters the season fourth on the depth chart at tight end and may not be active most game days. Mallory has receiving skills, but no tight end other than Tyler Warren may be a significant factor in the passing game.
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Devin Culp TE | TB
Buccaneers' Devin Culp: Healthy scratch Week 1
Culp (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
With Cade Otton overcoming a lingering groin injury to play Week 1, Culp will observe Sunday's game in street clothes while Payne Durham and Ko Kieft serve in backup roles at tight end. Culp managed to make the Bucs' 53-man roster after a strong training camp, but the 2024 seventh-rounder is unlikely to see much playing time unless Otton, Durham or Kieft were to miss time. Culp's next chance to play is Week 2 against Houston on Monday, Sept. 15.
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Zaire Mitchell-Paden TE | NO
Ravens' Zaire Mitchell-Paden: Elevated for Week 1
The Ravens elevated Mitchell-Paden from the practice squad Saturday.
With Isaiah Likely (foot) still working his way back from injury, Mitchell-Paden will serve as the Ravens' third tight end behind Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar on Sunday night against the Bills.
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Jack Stoll TE | NO
Saints' Jack Stoll: Elevated from practice squad
The Saints elevated Stoll from the practice squad Saturday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Stoll will provide depth at the position behind Juwan Johnson and Moliki Matavao. Never much of a pass catcher, Stoll has 22 career catches for 193 scoreless yards across 61 career regular-season appearances.
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Will Dissly TE | LAC
Chargers' Will Dissly: Outproduced by Conklin
Dissly secured his only target for 18 yards during Los Angeles' 27-21 win over the Chiefs on Friday.
Dissly played more offensive snaps (37) than Conklin (28), but the former was outproduced in the receiving game. Dissly's lone target, which he turned into an 18-yard reception, came in the fourth quarter, while Conklin managed 50 yards on two targets, both of which he secured. Dissly and Conklin will again split reps at tight end in Week 2 on the road against Las Vegas on Monday night, but the Chargers' passing attack appears intent on funneling through starting wideouts Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston.
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Tyler Conklin TE | LAC
Chargers' Tyler Conklin: Productive on two targets
Conklin secured both of his targets for 50 yards during the Chargers' 27-21 win over the Chiefs on Friday night. He also rushed once for two yards.
Conklin made the most of his limited opportunities in the receiving game Friday, while top wideouts Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston combined for a total of 26 of 34 possible targets. Conklin also played just 43 percent of offensive snaps, while fellow tight end Will Dissly (targeted once for an 18-yard gain) played 57 percent of snaps. Even in what preliminarily looks like a more pass-friendly offense led by Justin Herbert, Conklin and Dissly likely won't be major factors in the receiving game given Los Angeles' depth at wide receiver. They project to again split reps at tight end versus the Raiders on Monday night in Week 2.
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Noah Gray TE | KC
Chiefs' Noah Gray: Secures only target in Week 1 loss
Gray brought in his lone target for three yards during the Chiefs' 27-21 loss to the Chargers on Friday night.
Gray played 41 percent of offensive snaps behind top tight end Travis Kelce, but even with Xavier Worthy (shoulder) being forced off the field after three snaps and Rashee Rice (suspension) unavailable, Gray's target share didn't notably increase. He'll again contribute behind Kelce as Kansas City prepares for a Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles in Week 2.
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Travis Kelce TE | KC
Chiefs' Travis Kelce: Finds end zone in Week 1 loss
Kelce secured two of four targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' 27-21 loss to the Chargers on Friday night.
It was shaping up as an utterly forgettable night for Kelce until his early fourth-quarter 37-yard touchdown grab, as he had just one catch for 10 yards until that point and had collided with teammate Xavier Worthy on the third play from scrimmage, causing a shoulder injury that forced the latter's exit from the game. Kelce's score therefore served as the only highlight of his night, and with Worthy out, both Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster outpaced the talented tight end in targets. Kelce could well see an increase in opportunity during a Week 2 home Super Bowl LIX rematch against the Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 14, especially if Worthy remains sidelined for that marquee contest.