NFL Player News

LaPorta (knee) didn't take part in Wednesday's walkthrough practice.

LaPorta is being listed as a non-participant on a Lions injury report for the first time since Jan. 11 due to the hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee that he suffered Week 18 against the Vikings. He's been able to play through the pain in Detroit's first two playoff games, earning at least an 80 percent snap share in both contests on his way to a combined 12 catches (on 14 targets) for 79 yards and one touchdown. LaPorta will have two more chances this week to get back to full participation before the team potentially tags him with a designation ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship Game at San Francisco.

Andrews (ankle) is expected to be activated from injured reserve and play in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Andrews logged two full practice sessions ahead of last Saturday's divisional-round win over the Texans, but he wasn't officially activated from IR in advance of the contest. Now set to take part in full practices for the second week in a row, Andrews appears to be trending toward a return to the lineup Sunday, provided he doesn't experience any setbacks after he required surgery in November to address damage to his left fibula and left ankle. Isaiah Likely has impressed while filling in as Baltimore's top tight end, so the team will have the luxury of easing Andrews into action if he isn't ready for his usual full snap share Sunday.

Strange finished the season with five catches on nine targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in 14 games.

The rookie second-round pick's first year in the NFL wasn't a particularly notable one, as he worked as Jacksonville's No. 3 tight end. Both Evan Engram and Luke Farrell remain under contract in 2024, but the latter is primarily a blocking tight end. Given the draft capital used to acquire Strange, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him move into a larger role next year.

Farrell closed the season with 13 catches on 15 targets for 155 yards in 17 games.

Farrell once again primarily served as a blocking tight end for the Jaguars in 2023, though he did set career highs in both receptions and receiving yards. The 26-year-old should fill a similar role in 2024, which is the final year of his rookie contract.

Taula signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on Tuesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Taula linked up with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State, before he ultimately earned a role on the team's practice squad. The 25-year-old never found his way to the active roster during the season though, but he'll have another opportunity to do so next season.

Bates caught 19 of 28 passes for 151 yards in 17 games during the 2023 season.

The 2021 fourth-round pick has finished each of his three pro seasons with between 22 and 28 targets and 14 and 20 receptions, and around 500 snaps. Bates hasn't shown the pass-catching chops to make a fantasy impact, and he now faces some uncertainty entering the final year of his rookie contract as the Commanders bring in a new coaching staff.

Turner caught 11 of 15 targets for 120 yards in 12 games during the 2023 season.

There was some spring/summer chatter about Turner potentially supplanting Logan Thomas as Washington's top tight end, but it never came to fruition even after the second-year pro caught seven passes over the first three weeks of the season. Turner caught just four balls the rest of the year and was even a healthy scratch at times, so he'll need to compete for a job in 2024 even if Thomas is released to help clear cap space.

Saubert did not suit up for Houston's 34-10 playoff loss to Baltimore last Saturday. He finished the season with three receptions on three targets for 12 yards over nine regular-season games played.

The Texans grabbed Saubert off the Cowboys' practice squad in response to a rash of midseason injuries at tight end. Houston still has Brevin Jordan and Teagan Quitoriano (groin) under contract and will likely make a push to bring back unrestricted free agent Dalton Schultz. As such, Saubert is unlikely to return to Houston for the 2024 season.

Jordan failed to catch his lone target in Houston's 34-10 playoff loss to Baltimore last Saturday. He finished the regular season with 17 receptions on 21 targets for 219 yards and two touchdowns over 14 games.

A gifted athlete at tight end, Jordan has never excelled at the blocking responsibilities of the position, which has put a cap on his playing time over his three seasons in Houston. He opened the year third on the depth chart, before he was elevated when Teagan Quitoriano suffered a season-ending groin injury in October. Jordan can make plays, as evidenced by his 76-yard touchdown catch-and-run during a wild-card win over Cleveland, but there's unlikely to be much change in his usage in 2024, the final year of his rookie contract. This season's starting tight end, Dalton Schultz, becomes an unrestricted free agent, but the Texans likely want him back after a year in which he developed chemistry with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Deguara was targeted eight times and had eight receptions for 65 yards over 15 games in the 2023 regular season.

Deguara suited up for every game he was healthy for, but he was mainly limited to blocking duties and special teams. He will have a chance to return to Green Bay as an unrestricted free agent, but the sides could go in different directions after four years.