NFL Player News

Thomas is expected to replace Greg Olsen as the Panthers' starting tight end, ESPN.com's David Newton reports.

The 2018 fourth-round pick already has seen plenty of playing time in the NFL, thanks in no small part to Olsen's late-career health struggles. Thomas has had his own struggles with drops (three each season) and blocking, but he's an excellent athlete -- 4.74 40-yard dash, 36-inch vertical at 259 pounds -- who will be just 24 years old for the entire 2020 campaign. He's also shown glimpses of fantasy production in his 10 career games with two-thirds or more of offensive snaps, averaging 4.0 catches for 39.4 yards and 0.3 touchdowns (9.7 PPR points) on 5.9 targets. The Panthers may bring in a draft pick and/or veteran to compete for snaps, but Thomas should at least have some chance to secure a three-down role. Meanwhile, Olsen is expected to visit with Buffalo, Washington and Seattle in the coming weeks.

Kittle said Wednesday that he doesn't expect to undergo any offseason surgeries, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Kittle toughed it out through a number of injuries during the past season -- including a torn labrum in his right shoulder that's bothered him since the 2018 preseason -- but he anticipates requiring "just rehab" to get healthy this offseason. Coming off back-to-back years of at least 80 catches, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns, the 26-year-old tight end's priority will be getting back to 100 percent health in time to kick off the 2020 campaign. Kittle is expected to be a full participant in both OTAs and training camp.

Fortson signed a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs on Tuesday, according to the NFL's official transaction report.

Fortson spent time with the Chiefs during the preseason and then spent the season on the practice squad. He'll now get a chance to develop in the Chiefs system this offseason as he looks to crack the 53-man roster in the fall.

Kelce brought in all six of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown during the Chiefs' 31-20 win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday.

Kelce's reception tally was second only to Tyreek Hill on the night, and his one-yard touchdown grab with 6:13 remaining officially began the Chiefs' comeback from a 20-10 deficit. Kelce earned every reception he secured against the 49ers' stingy defense, and even though he was largely held in check over the final two postseason wins, the multi-time Pro Bowler was spectacular during the regular season with a 97-1,229-5 line across 16 games. Signed through the 2021 campaign, Kelce will look to help Kansas City defend its title next season.

Kittle caught four of seven targets for 36 yards during Sunday's 31-20 Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs.

Kittle, who has played through a torn labrum in his right shoulder since the 2018 preseason, was held to a modest receiving line for the third time in as many playoff games. Over the 49ers' last three contests, the star tight end compiled just eight catches for 71 yards without a touchdown -- a shocking contrast compared to his regular-season production, as Kittle logged 85 catches for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns across 14 such games. The 26-year-old will benefit from a full offseason to get healthy, and he remains a virtual lock to enter the 2020 season among the coveted top tier of fantasy tight ends despite coming off a quiet postseason stretch.

Drew Brees said he'd be fine with Hill taking more snaps in 2020, Chris Simms of NBC Sports reports.

Brees hasn't officially decided on playing another season but seems to be leaning in that direction. A few recent reports have suggested the Saints view Hill as Brees' eventual replacement at quarterback, which hints at Teddy Bridgewater finding a new team when he becomes a free agent this offseason. An expanded role for Hill in 2020 could involve more snaps at quarterback, or it could just mean more playing time as a wide receiver, tight end or running back.

Hamlett (leg) has signed with the Seattle Dragons of the XFL.

Hamlett broke his leg in the 2017 preseason and hasn't played in the NFL since. He has just one career reception -- a 17-yard touchdown catch -- and he'll look to revitalize his career in the XFL.

Tomlinson caught his only target for one yard in eight games between the Giants, Patriots and Raiders this season.

The 27-year-old actually entered training camp with the Jets, but he was let go at roster cutdowns and subsequently joined the Giants for a few weeks. Tomlinson was again let go, only to join the Patriots and start two games before being released and eventually signing with the Raiders in December. He has yet to be a significant producer in the passing game, totaling 17 catches for 194 yards and one touchdown over the first four seasons of his career. Tomlinson will become an unrestricted free agent in March and will continue to be viewed as a reserve option at tight end.

Hockenson (ankle) was still using a scooter to get around in late December, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

There hasn't been any substantiative update on Hockenson's recovery from the season-ending ankle injury he suffered in late November. His continued use of a scooter a full month later suggests he had surgery, but neither player nor team has provided confirmation. The eighth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft finished his rookie season with 32 catches for 367 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games, struggling to make an impact after his 6-131-1 explosion Week 1 at Arizona. Hockenson was limited to 4.7 yards per target after the opener, including 3.4 YPT in his four games without Matthew Stafford (back) in the lineup. Stafford and Hockenson should both have time to get healthy before Week 1 of 2020.

Kittle relayed during a recent podcast that he's played the past two seasons with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com reports.

Kittle opened preseason 2018 by separating his shoulder, which sidelined him for the rest of that exhibition season. However, he's avoided being listed on the injury report with 'shoulder' next to his name in the meantime and doesn't intend to have surgery to address it. Instead, Kittle tended to a myriad of other health concerns in the 2019 campaign, namely a lingering ankle issue that sidelined him Weeks 10 and 11. Despite the compromised health, he's totaled 173 catches (on 243 targets) for 2,430 yards and 10 TDs in his last 30 regular-season games, but only a 4-35-0 line on six targets in two playoff contests to date. He'll look to reverse the recent trend in the Super Bowl against a Chiefs defense that gave up the second-most receptions (98) to tight ends in 2019.