NFL Player News

Smythe failed to secure his lone target during Miami's 32-20 loss to the Jets on Sunday.

Smythe's production totals declined notably due to the ascension of tight end Jonnu Smith in 2024, but to see him finish with just nine catches for 57 yards (on 17 targets) while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games was a more significant step back than anticipated. Though Smythe has one year remaining on his contract, the Dolphins have a potential 'out' this offseason for only $2.7 million in dead cap, a route that the team could realistically opt to take.

Hill secured 12 of 19 targets for 100 yards across 16 regular-season appearances with the Dolphins in 2024.

Hill managed to improve upon his rookie year receiving line of 6-48-0 (on nine targets) despite being held without a catch in Miami's final four games of the regular season. He'll work to continue his development during the 2025 campaign, the final year of his contract with the team.

Adkins finished the 2024 campaign with 14 catches on 15 targets for 115 yards and three touchdowns.

Adkins appeared in all 17 games of the 2024 campaign after playing in just 10 games as a rookie in 2023. The 25-year-old tight end's three trips to the end zone ranked him third in receiving touchdowns for the Broncos, behind wide receivers Courtland Sutton (eight) and Marvin Mims (six) and tied with wideout Devaughn Vele. Adkins did not have a major role in the offense throughout the season, failing to catch more than one pass in all but two games. The South Carolina product remains under contract for the 2025 season before coming a restricted free agent in 2026.

Krull finished the 2024 season with 19 catches on 23 targets for 152 yards and no touchdowns.

Krull played 13 games in the 2024 campaign after appearing in just seven games in 2023. The 26-year-old tight end recorded career highs in catches, targets and yards this season while splitting playing time with fellow tight ends Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins. Krull paced the group in receptions and targets, as he became more involved in Denver's offense in his second season with the Broncos. The Pittsburgh product will enter this offseason as an exclusive-rights free agent, giving the Broncos the ability to retain Krull as long as they offer him at least a one-year, league-minimum contract. Either way, Krull will look to take a step forward after gaining more experience this season.

Trautman finished the 2024 season with 13 receptions on 22 targets for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Trautman's 13 grabs this season marked a career low for the veteran tight end, while his 22 targets, 188 yards and two touchdowns were his lowest totals as a Bronco. Despite being the Broncos No. 1 tight end, the 27-year-old found himself in a timeshare with Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins for most of the season. Trautman will enter 2025 in the second year of the two-year contract he signed last March before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2026. The 6-foot-5, 253-pounder will likely continue to play a similar role in head coach Sean Payton's system during the upcoming postseason and next season, limiting his fantasy potential once again.

Bates played the final two games of the season for the Browns, garnering one target over 15 snaps on offense.

After appearing in five games for the Jets from Weeks 2 through 6 while getting most of his playing time on special teams, Bates was waived in October. The Jets then re-signed Bates to their practice squad before the Browns signed him to a two-year deal in December. He'll remain in Cleveland in 2025 but will likely have to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster throughout training camp and the preseason.

Whiteheart caught six of nine targets for 51 yards and a touchdown over 11 games for Cleveland in 2024.

Whiteheart typically served as the Browns' No. 2 or 3 tight end when he was active this season, moving up a rung on the depth chart on the occasions starter David Njoku missed time due to injury. The 24-year-old is an exclusive rights free agent this offseason but is likely to be tendered a contract for 2025.

Knox did not play a single snap in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Patriots.

With the Bills locking in the No. 2 seed in the AFC after Week 17, Knox and several other players missed all or most of the Week 18 contest to rest for the playoffs. The 28-year-old Knox and fellow tight end Dalton Kincaid watched from the sideline as teammate Quintin Morris handled every tight end snap in the game. Knox will return to his role as the Bills' primary backup at the position in the team's next game, when the Bills host the Broncos in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Pruitt (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

Pruitt was limited in practice Tuesday due to a knee issue, and he appears to have now taken a step backward in his recovery. If the veteran No. 3 tight end is unable to play during Saturday's wild-card road game against the Ravens, his absence will deplete Pittsburgh's depth behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Otton (knee) is "trending in the right direction" and would have been a limited participant Wednesday if the team had held a normal practice, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

The Buccaneers held a walk-through session rather than a more strenuous practice, and they'll presumably list Otton as a limited participant on their first official injury report of the week. He missed the final three games of the regular season due to the knee injury, allowing Payne Durham to step in as the starter while Devin Culp took on some of the passing-down snaps. An every-down player when healthy throughout his NFL career, Otton might have a somewhat lesser role if he makes it back for Sunday's wild-card matchup with Washington.