NFL Player News

Johnson spent time working at tight end this offseason, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Johnson was mostly asked to block when active on game days during his rookie year. The Saints have since talked about moving him from receiver to tight end, and Johnson practicing at that position during spring workouts all but confirms that notion. At 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds, Johnson will probably need to put on a little weight in order to excel as an in-line blocker, but the second-year Oregon product could potentially carve out a significant role as a pass catcher considering the Saints have little receiving talent at tight end behind Adam Trautman.

Asiasi, who caught just two passes in nine games as a rookie last season, "quietly put together a solid spring," according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

That said, the 2020 third-rounder sits no higher than third on the Patriots' tight end depth chart following the team's offseason additions of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry in free agency. Asiasi thus profiles as a depth option as the coming season approaches and is off the fantasy radar as long as Smith and Henry are available. Also in the team's TE mix behind the top duo are Dalton Keene, Matt LaCosse and Troy Fumagalli.

Conklin drew praise in spring workouts from head coach Mike Zimmer, the team's official website reports. "It's a bigger role for Tyler Conklin [this season]. He's kind of emerged as a guy that's moving upward, and with those two guys (Conklin and Irv Smith), we have a lot of weapons there," said Zimmer.

With the departure of Kyle Rudolph, Conklin looks set to move up the depth chart and be used next to Irv Smith in two-tight end sets. Conklin had 15 receptions for 168 yards and a score over the last four games when Rudolph was out with an injury, supporting the notion he could carve out a role in the passing offense this season. Still, Conklin may be used more as a blocker with Smith likely to command most of the targets to the position.

Coach Pete Carroll singled Everett out as a potential breakout candiate when asked on Thursday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Per Liz Matthews of USA Today, Carroll indicated that Everett has brought some added speed and route-running ability to the position the Seahawks have been lacking. Everett will have to contend with Will Dissly for reps, but he'll likely be the favorite to stay on the field in single-tight-end sets given the team's investment in him this offseason.

Henry turned in a good performance during the Patriots' three-day minicamp, which concluded Wednesday, Mike Dussault of the team's official site reports.

Per the report, Henry, who joined the Patriots as a free agent in March, was "catching everything thrown his way" throughout the team's recent mandatory minicamp. Meanwhile, fellow newcomer Jonnu Smith appeared to tweak a hamstring and was "mostly a spectator," but both players should be available the next time the Patriots practice. By signing each of the duo to lucrative contracts, the team seems destined to employ plenty of multi-TE formations this coming season, a context that should allow both Henry and Smith to carve out fantasy value, though their target distribution figures to vary from week to week.

Smith (hamstring) won't participate in Tuesday's minicamp practice, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

Smith's absence doesn't come as a surprise after he sustained a left hamstring strain in the Patriots' first minicamp session Monday. The Patriots will wrap up their camp Wednesday, so it may be a challenge for Smith to gain clearance for that workout, too. He should be back to full health ahead of training camp in late July, however.

Smith departed Monday's practice early due to an apparent hamstring injury and did not return, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com reports.

It was Smith's first time on the practice field in front of reporters this offseason, and he dropped a couple of passes prior to his departure. It doesn't sound as though the hamstring issue is believed to be very serious, so he could be back in practice relatively soon. Of course, it's possible the team will take the cautious route and hold him out of the remainder of this week's minicamp, which then would push his return to training camp in July.

Sternberger was suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season Thursday for violating the league's substance abuse policy, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

According to Sternberger's personal twitter account, the suspension stems from an incident in 2020. The Texas A&M product recorded just 12 catches last year, and he's destined for a depth role again in 2021 behind Robert Tonyan. Sternberger will be eligible to return to the team following Week 2's Monday night clash with Detroit.

Henry departed Thursday's OTA with an apparent left ankle or foot injury and had to get it retaped by the trainer, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com reports. He didn't return to the session.

Given that Henry didn't leave the field for testing, it seems likely the issue is relatively minor in nature. Barring word to the contrary, Henry's next opportunity to retake the field arrives Friday in the team's last OTA before the start of mandatory minicamp next week.

Pitts should work as Atlanta's No. 2 pass catcher from the get-go now that the team has traded Julio Jones to the Titans, ESPN.com reports.

There was some concern about Pitts' target volume when he was selected fourth overall in the 2021 draft to join an offense that was expected to feature two of the league's top receivers in Jones and Calvin Ridley. But Jones' departure should help Pitts immediately carve out a role as the top complement to Ridley. The highly skilled tight end figures to be among the top receiving threats at his position right away. Pitts often was split out wide near the goal line to catch fade routes in the end zone at Florida, and such usage could now be an option as well with no established No. 2 wide receiver on Atlanta's roster.