NFL Player News

Kittle spent part of his record-breaking season playing with a cracked rib, an injury he initially suffered Week 9 against the Raiders, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

The 49ers listed Kittle with a chest injury the following week, limiting him to non-contact work in practice before he posted a 9-83-0 receiving line against the Giants. He returned to full participation after a Week 11 bye and ultimately finished his second pro season with an NFL record for receiving yards (1,377) by a tight end. Kittle only scored five times on 88 catches, but his marks of 15.6 yards per catch and 10.1 per target were remarkable by positional standards. It's possible his best work is still to come, as Kittle is only 25 years old and should get to play with Jimmy Garoppolo (knee) in 2019. It won't come as any surprise if Kittle and/or Travis Kelce make(s) another run at the TE yardage record. There hasn't been any indication that the cracked rib is still an issue.

James was not targeted in Sunday's 16-13 win over Cincinnati.

For the second straight game, Ben Roethlisberger failed to throw a pass to James, whose playing time dwindled as the season progressed. He finishes 2018 with 30 catches (on 39 targets) for 423 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games and is a clear second choice at tight end behind Vance McDonald. James is an unrestricted free agent worth keeping an eye on this offseason.

Paulsen recorded a 19-yard reception during Sunday's 34-32 win against the Buccaneers.

Paulsen fought through knee and ankle injuries that kept him limited in Wednesday's practice, snapping a three-game catchless streak with his 19-yard reception against the Buccaneers' putrid pass defense. The 31-year-old tight end doesn't offer much in the way of receiving production with just 12 receptions for 106 yards over his past 31 appearances, but he's a proficient run blocker for a unit that needs all the help it can get in that category after finishing as the sixth-worst rush offense in 2018 (98.3 yards per game). With his contract set to expire in the coming months, it remains to be seen if Paulsen will be back in Atlanta for the 2019 season.

Bell failed to catch his lone target in Sunday's loss to the Texans.

Bell played only 14 offensive snaps, totaling eight catches for 67 yards in 10 games with the Jaguars. The 27-year-old saw a minimal offensive role after signing with the team in October, but he was involved on special teams. Bell is not under contract for 2019 and will return to the open market.

Firkser hauled in his lone target for eight yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Colts.

Firkser turned in another disappointing effort to close the season, with his lone catch coming late in the fourth quarter. After emerging in the middle portion of the season -- he hauled in at least three catches from Weeks 11-14 -- he ended the season with only three catches across his last three games. He's likely to end up on the periphery again in 2019 with both Jonnu Smith (knee) and Delanie Walker (ankle) expected to retake their roles as the top receiving options at the position.

Hollister finished the 2018 season with four catches on five targets for 52 yards in eight games.

Injuries marred Hollister's campaign, but he's under contract with the Patriots through 2019 and is thus poised to have an opportunity to secure a role as a depth tight end with the team next season. The 25-year-old has some pass-catching upside, but he'll need to find a way to stay on the field more going forward in order for that to translate into any degree of fantasy utility.

Allen finished the 2018 season with three catches on four targets for 27 yards in 13 games.

In his two seasons with the Patriots, Allen has seen limited action in the team's passing game. The tight end's blocking ability is how he earns his keep, but looking ahead, Allen's cap hit is slated to rise to $7.4 million in 2019. That figure will need to be reduced in order for the Patriots to consider retaining the 28-year-old.

Lewis did not catch a pass in the Packers' Week 17 loss to the Lions and finished the season with three receptions for 39 yards over 16 games.

Lewis scored the second-most touchdowns of his career when he found paydirt five times in 2017, but he did almost nothing in his first season with the Packers. A return to Green Bay in 2019 should not be ruled out for the veteran, but given his 2018 role and a new coaching staff on the way, it seems unlikely.

Tonyan caught one pass for seven yards in the Packers' Week 17 loss to the Lions.

Tonyan suited up for all 16 games in 2018 and finished with four receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, the bulk of which game on a 54-yard score in Week 11. The Packers clearly saw something they liked in order to activate him for every game, but he remains more project than prospect, and it remains to be seen if the next coaching staff in Green Bay views him the same way.

Graham had three receptions for 21 yards in Sunday's loss to the Lions.

Graham played all 16 games in his first year in Green Bay, but -- partly because of a broken thumb -- he topped 34 yards just once in the team's final eight games and didn't find paydirt after Week 9. His 636 total receiving yards were over 100 more than he tallied in 2017, but he was far less a threat in the red zone, as his touchdowns fell from 10 to just two. Graham is under contract with the Packers for next year, and there is at least a small chance he is not brought back if the team thinks his production will not warrant his salary. However, heading into the offseason, he is the favorite to start at tight end for Green Bay in 2019.