NFL Player News

Jace Amaro is still having some growing pains typical of a rookie moving into a new scheme in the pros, but the Newark Star-Ledger reports that Jets tight ends coach Steve Hagen said Amaro's making progress and is being challenged to play in a number of spots. 

"He's lined up everywhere," Hagen said. "He's lined up flexed out, hand down, out by himself (on the) single-receiver side, on the three-receiver side, on the two-receiver side. We use him everywhere we can use him. So we have asked him to do a lot, and we expect him to do a lot. He's asking that of himself, and he's delivering, too. It's been fun to watch him."

Hagen did warn the media that Amaro has work to do as a blocker, saying he can't just play as a receiver. The coach thinks Amaro can learn that role. 

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Friday that he expects second-year tight end Travis Kelce to be ready for the start of training camp. In fact, Reid thinks they might "be able to get a little bit out of Kelce" next week.

Kelce missed his rookie year after undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee. He'll compete for playing time once he's on the field. 

Cardinals rookie tight end Troy Niklas suffered a broken hand and will be out until training camp, reports the team's official website.

The report said he got his hand caught in a jersey during practice last week.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday that second-year tight end Travis Kelce, who missed his rookie year after having microfracture surgery on his knee, should be ready for training camp.

"Yeah. He's getting close," Reid said. "He's been working his tail off."

Kelce has the chance to push Anthony Fasano for the starting job this season if healthy.

Jets rookie tight end Jace Amaro is learning on the fly during OTA workouts, reports ESPN.

On Wednesday, Amaro had a forgettable practice with three drops and "looked lost at times in the offense." Coach Rex Ryan was watching.

"All you've got to do is look at Jace," Ryan said. "Jace had like three drops today. And I'm like wait a second, he did catch 106 balls right? But, he had three drops and that's where clearly a guy is thinking so much that all of a sudden you lose the focus on what Job 1 is: catch the football."

Amaro was clearly disappointed after practice.

"It’s been fun out there, but I have to make sure I get better," Amaro said. "Today, just have to make sure you're getting better at routes. I'm just overthinking a little too much on the plays and stuff like that."

Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar didn't practice Monday with a sore back. ESPN reports he sat out because of that, not because of a knee issue from last week's practice. 

Bills tight end Scott Chandler hasn't participated in team OTA practices following offseason knee surgery, the official team website reports. Furthermore, the site suggests that Tony Moeaki will push Chandler in training camp. 

Chandler signed a two-year deal in March to stay with the Bills after putting up career highs in receptions (53) and yards (655) a year ago.

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey believes second-year tight end Travis Kelce will emerge this season. Kelce missed most of last season with a microfracture procedure on his knee. 

"[T]he emergence of a Travis Kelce being able to stretch the field as a tight end, hopefully that weapon adds another element to the passing game," Dorsey told TheMMQB.com. "We took some nicks at the tight end position last year."

But he's not the only one. Chiefs coach Andy Reid spotlighted second-year tight end and former hoops player Demetrius Harris as a potential contributor this year. 

"I'll tell you, he's a football player right now," Reid said when asked if he was still a basketball player. "I think this camp was great for him. I thought he played exceptionally well. He's so big and he's worked so stinking hard in the weight room, he's been living in there with Barry (Rubin) this offseason and you can tell. You can see he's gotten stronger."

Harris is 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds -- perhaps more following his offseason workouts. 

Bills tight end Tony Moeaki could see a bigger role this season, reports the radio station WGR 550 AM in Buffalo.

Moeaki signed with the Bills mid-way through the 2013 season, and he did not record a catch. He's had trouble staying healthy in his career, including a fractured shoulder last season.

But if he can stay on the field, he could compete for targets with Scott Chandler, and Moeaki might be the better receiving threat with 80 catches for 1,009 yards and four total touchdowns in 31 career games. The key for him is staying healthy.

Cardinals rookie quarterback Logan Thomas showed off his big arm during rookie minicamp workouts this week, the official team website reported. 

Head coach Bruce Arians said Thomas still needs to get his footwork proper when he drops back. 

"When he knows what he is doing, and the guys around him know what he is doing, he's pretty good," Arians said.

With an outstanding summer of work, Thomas could end up backing up Carson Palmer this season.