NFL Player News

Higgins gathered in 14 of 19 targets for 163 yards and one touchdown in 11 regular-season games in 2023.

A sixth-round pick of the Dolphins in April, Higgins transitioned from oversized wide receiver to undersized tight end in the move to the pros. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder didn't survive cut-down day in Miami in late August and subsequently was claimed off waivers by Arizona. He eventually became a regular in the Cardinals offense after veteran Zach Ertz went down with a quad strain Week 7 and even recorded at least one catch in each of the team's final seven contests. That said, Higgins played second fiddle by a large margin to 2022 second-round pick Trey McBride, a role that likely will continue for him next season barring further additions at the position.

Sample played in all 17 games for the Bengals in 2023, recording 22 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

The tight end finished the season second on the depth chart behind Tanner Hudson. Sample will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Cincinnati does not yet have any tight ends under contract for 2024.

Hudson finished with 39 catches for 352 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for the Bengals in 2023.

All those numbers were career highs as Hudson finished the season as Cincinnati's top tight end. The fifth-year pro will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Bengals do not yet have any tight ends under contract for 2024.

Hendershot (ankle) had surgery after the Cowboys' season ended, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

The depth tight end should be available once the team's offseason program begins in the spring, per Archer. Hendershot caught four passes for 38 yards and no touchdowns in eight games this season.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle (toe) was limited in practice Thursday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

When speaking to the media Wednesday, Shanahan relayed to David Lombardi of The Athletic that he was hopeful Kittle would log a full session one day later. However, Kittle continues to have practice restrictions due to the toe injury he sustained in the NFC Championship Game against the Lions. Shanahan also noted Thursday that Kittle is "good to go" ahead of Super Bowl LVIII versus the Chiefs on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if the tight end avoids a designation when the 49ers post their final injury report of the week Friday.

Kmet said Thursday on media row before Super Bowl LVIII that he sustained a broken right forearm in the Bears' Week 18 loss at Green Bay, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Kmet was donning a brace due to the hit he took at the end of a 27-yard catch in the season finale, which caused him to sit out most of the fourth quarter. The timing of the injury likely allowed the 2020 second-round pick to keep his games played streak (67 of 67) to begin his career intact, and his career-high 73 catches (seventh among tight ends) translated to 719 yards (ninth) and six touchdowns (tied for second). Kmet expects to gain medical clearance in the near future, meaning it won't impact his work in the offseason.

Kittle (toe) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he's hopeful Kittle will put in a full practice Thursday, which would clear up any remaining concern about the star tight end's availability for Sunday's Super Bowl matchup with the Chiefs. Kittle missed some practice reps last week but was ultimately estimated as having no injury designation if the 49ers and Chiefs had played the game last Sunday.

Ertz's practice-squad contract with the Lions expired Monday, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

Ertz's 2023 campaign effectively ended after Week 7, when he sustained a strained quadriceps that forced a stint on injured reserve. On Nov. 30, the Cardinals waived him so he could pursue another opportunity, and he eventually landed with Detroit's practice squad in the week leading up to the NFC Championship Game. The Lions' tight end group was incredibly banged up at the time, with Brock Wright (forearm) and James Mitchell (hand) landing on IR during the playoffs, but the team didn't elevate Ertz for the aforementioned contest. The ensuing 34-31 loss at San Francisco thus brought any chance of a return for Ertz this season to a close, and it remains to be seen if the 33-year-old garners any interest in free agency once the new league year kicks off March 13.

Kittle (toe) didn't practice Friday but doesn't have an injury designation after the first week of prep for Super Bowl LVIII against the Chiefs, Josh Dubow of The Associated Press reports.

In the wake of this past Sunday's win against the Lions in the NFC Championship Game, coach Kyle Shanahan relayed Monday that Kittle was day-to-day due to a toe injury. After being listed as a non-participant on all three practice reports this week, Kittle told David Lombardi of The Athletic on Friday that there aren't any concerns about the issue, and the tight end's lack of designation on Friday's report implies as much. The 49ers still have one more week to get ready for this year's Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 11, but Kittle appears as if he'll be available for that contest.

Fant recorded 32 receptions for 414 yards and no touchdowns across 17 games during the 2023 regular season.

Fant played out the fifth year of his rookie contract, en route to posting career lows in receptions, yards and touchdowns. The 26-year-old tight end, who surpassed 50 yards just twice this season, suffered a hand injury in the Seahawks' season finale. It shouldn't be a long-term issue or affect his value as a free agent in March, but the market may be softened for Fant based on his downturn in production in 2023.