NFL Player News

The Patriots waived Fotheringham on Friday, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.

Fotheringham went undrafted out of Utah back in 2022, spent his rookie year on Las Vegas' practice squad, then suited up for two regular-season games with the Raiders in 2023. Since then, he's logged stints with the Texans, Broncos and Patriots, but he didn't get a chance to suit up for regular-season action with any of those clubs and won't make New England's initial 53-man roster.

New England waived Bell on Friday, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.

The Patriots knew Bell was a developmental selection when nabbing him in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so he seems a likely candidate to resurface on the practice squad if he goes unclaimed on waivers. Across 15 regular-season appearances as a rookie, Bell totaled two catches for 20 yards on three targets, and his one game with double-digit offensive snaps came Week 18 against Buffalo.

Dulcich caught each of his four targets for 26 yards and two touchdowns in Thursday's 42-10 preseason win over the Patriots.

It's not a great sign to be playing so much in the second half of the final preseason game, although Dulcich did score the first of his two TDs on New York's first drive. The second came midway through the fourth quarter, at which point most of the players on the field were guys with no real chance at making the Week 1 roster. Dulcich at least has some shot, and the strong showing Thursday night helps his odds to catch on elsewhere or get a practice-squad spot even if he doesn't survive cutdown day.

Freiermuth caught both of his targets for six yards in Thursday's 19-10 preseason win over Carolina.

With Jonnu Smith still sidelined by a knee injury that the Steelers consider minor, Freiermuth didn't have much competition for first-team TE snaps on the first three drives. He suited up along with most other starters, although QB Aaron Rodgers and WR DK Metcalf were held out ahead of a Week 1 matchup with the Jets. The fantasy outlook for Freiermuth was more promising before Pittsburgh traded for Smith this summer, but Freiermuth may still get most of the work in clear passing situations.

Adkins (ankle) won't go on injured reserve to start the 2025 season, Luca Evans of The Denver Post reports.

Adkins has been working his way back from an ankle sprain, but head coach Sean Payton expects him to be able to return to action by Week 3. Payton said Thursday that the tight end is "too good a football player for us," thus stressing the importance of having him available as soon as possible.

The Panthers activated Tremble (back) from the active/PUP list Thursday.

Tremble won't play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Steelers, but he's passed his physical and will be eligible to return to practice immediately. Head coach Dave Canales said Tuesday that Tremble remains on track for Week 1 but that the tight end will need to "get some more physical contact and get that adaptation part, before we can fully clear him," so it sounds like he'll be limited at practice for the time being. Tremble projects as Carolina's official No. 1 tight end but figures to do most of his damage as a blocker, while Ja'Tavion Sanders and rookie fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans offer more pass-catching upside at the position.

Ferguson (groin) will play in Saturday's preseason finale against the Browns, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Ferguson returned to practice Monday after having been forced to sit out the Rams' first two preseason games due to a groin injury, but the rookie second-round pick will get a chance to make his exhibition debut on the road versus Cleveland on Saturday. Prior sustaining his groin injury early August, Ferguson had drawn encouraging early reviews at training camp. He'll work to pick up where he left off and continue building momentum Saturday, with the goal of earning opportunities behind 32-year-old incumbent starting tight end Tyler Higbee.

Waller (undisclosed) is participating in position drills Thursday, Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald reports.

Waller's ramping up the scope of his practice participation one day after being activated from the active/PUP list. His absence from team activities prior to that activation was reportedly due to conditioning reasons, as Waller was getting back up to speed after being away from football in 2024. He's expected to serve as Miami's starting tight end in 2025 after unretiring.

The Texans waived McKitty on Wednesday.

McKitty signed with the Texans on Aug. 13 and played in Saturday's preseason game against the Panthers, when he logged 17 snaps (nine on offense, eight on special teams) without showing up on the box score otherwise. Assuming he clears waivers, McKitty will look to join a team in need of tight end depth.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday that Schoonmaker is in the concussion protocol, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Schoonmaker departed Tuesday's practice early and is now in the concussion protocol, meaning he'll need to gain full clearance before suiting up for a game. That effectively rules the No. 2 tight end out for Friday's preseason finale against the Falcons, though he'll have just over two weeks to return to full health before Week 1 against the Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4. Likely No. 3 tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford (ankle) hasn't practiced since late July, so for the time being John Stephens and Princeton Fant figure to benefit from increased reps behind Jake Ferguson as they each compete to make Dallas' initial 53-man roster.