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Gerald Christian TE | ARI
Cardinals' Gerald Christian: Signs with Cardinals
Christian signed a contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic reports.
Christian was promoted to the Bills' active roster in December of last season and was able to record one catch for 14 yards. He'll now be competing for a backup role in Arizona.
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E.J. Bibbs TE | WAS
Redskins' E.J. Bibbs: Signs with Redskins
Bibbs signed a contract with Washington on Thursday, Stephen Czarda of the Redskins' official site reports.
Bibbs hasn't appeared in a game since he played in seven games with the Browns as a rookie in 2015, recording one catch for seven yards. He spent last season with the Jaguars but was released by the team back in May. Now in Washington, Bibbs will be fighting for a depth tight end and special teams role.
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Cooper Helfet TE | LV
Raiders' Cooper Helfet: Given NFI designation
Helfet (undisclosed) was placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury list Tuesday, Jimmy Durkin of the Mercury News reports.
Helfet needed surgery after breaking his foot in the first week of the 2016 preseason, when he was waived/injured by the Seahawks. His last NFL action came in 2015, when he played 14 games and caught 13 balls on 22 targets for 130 yards and zero touchdowns. The timeline for Helfet's return is murky due to the lack of transparency on the nature of the injury. With tight end Jared Cook ahead of Helfet in the depth chart and receivers like Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree on the field as well, don't expect quarterback Derek Carr to give Helfet much attention when he's healthy.
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Travis Kelce TE | KC
Chiefs' Travis Kelce: Goes through drills on Day 1 of camp
Kelce (shoulder) participated in on-field work at training camp Tuesday, BJ Kissel of Chiefs.com reports.
It was announced Monday that Kelce would avoid going on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp despite undergoing shoulder surgery earlier in the offseason and missing all of Kansas City's Organized Team Activities. The fact that Kelce was participating in drills on the first day of camp further suggests that he'll enter the season without any restrictions. Kelce, who is coming off a career year in 2016, stands to be even more of a focal point in the Chiefs' passing attack this season with Jeremy Maclin signing with Baltimore in June.
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Geoff Swaim TE | CLE
Cowboys' Geoff Swaim: Limited at training camp
Swaim (foot) is limited at the start of Cowboys training camp, Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Swaim spent the offseason recovering from a season-ending pectoral tear as well as a stress fracture in his right foot, the latter of which required surgery in March. While his pectoral muscle has healed, Swaim may still be hampered by the foot. Don't be surprised if the Cowboys take it easy on him throughout the entirety of training camp.
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Travis Kelce TE | KC
Chiefs' Travis Kelce: Avoids PUP list
Kelce (shoulder) won't be placed on the Chiefs' Physically Unable to Perform list to begin training camp, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.
Kelce missed all of Chiefs' Organized Team Activities after undergoing surgery on his shoulder this offseason, but it now looks as though he's healed up. Although Kelce could potentially be limited once he first takes the field, the Chiefs have been consistent in their expectation that he'll be a full go sometime during training camp, and the fact the tight end has avoided the PUP list backs up that sentiment. With former top wideout Jeremy Maclin now out of town, Kelce could serve as more of a focal point in the Chiefs' passing attack this season.
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Tyler Higbee TE | LAR
Rams' Tyler Higbee: Avoids jail time
Higbee will avoid jail time after pleading guilty to assault for a fight outside a bar in Kentucky last year, ESPN.com reports.
Higbee has been sentenced to 250 hours of community service and needs to pay the victim an undisclosed sum of money, among other requirements, as part of the deal. However, since the altercation took place before he was in the NFL, the former Western Kentucky standout won't be subject to the league's personal conduct policy. With this incident now behind him, look for Higbee to open training camp as the Rams' No. 1 tight end in the wake of Lance Kendrick's departure for Green Bay. However, promising second-round tight end Gerald Everett should begin applying pressure in due time.
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Jace Amaro TE | TEN
Titans' Jace Amaro: On roster bubble
Amaro likely will have to compete for a roster spot, Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com reports.
With Delanie Walker and third-round pick Jonnu Smith occupying two roster spots, the Titans probably prefer to keep at least one tight end who specializes in blocking. Amaro doesn't fit the bill and may thus find himself looking for a third NFL team ahead of his fourth professional season. The 2014 second-round pick had 38 receptions as a rookie with the Jets, but he missed all of 2015 with a torn labrum and caught only three passes in three games with Tennessee last season.
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Nick Vannett TE | SEA
Seahawks' Nick Vannett: Slated for No. 3 TE role
Vannett figures to serve as the No. 3 tight end this season, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.
Selected at No. 94 overall in last year's draft, Vannett logged only 84 offensive snaps in nine games as a rookie while stuck behind Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson and Brandon Williams on the depth chart. Graham and Willson are still around and seemingly locked in as the top two options, but with both players in contract seasons, Vannett should at least have an opportunity to push for a significant role in 2018. Vannett is unlikely to ever serve as the team's top receiving threat at tight end, as he caught only 55 passes in 37 games at Ohio State and ran a 4.85 40-yard dash at the 2016 Combine.
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Darren Waller TE | CAR
Ravens' Darren Waller: Suspended for at least one year
Waller has been suspended for at least one year for a second violation of the league's substance-abuse policy, Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com reports.
Waller was suspended for the first four games of last season for his initial violation, and now he faces a year out of the league for his latest. The 24-year-old will be allowed to participate in preseason practices and games, but his punishment will begin once the regular season does. A sixth-round pick in 2015, Waller caught 10 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns last season. His absence -- which follows Dennis Pitta's most recent hip injury and subsequent release -- figures to allow Nick Boyle to see more action behind Ben Watson, Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams at tight end in the buildup to this season.