NFL Player News

Akins was on the field for Cleveland's organized team activities this week, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.

Akins signed with the Browns during the offseason and acknowledged that reuniting with quarterback Deshaun Watson as a primary reason. The two played three seasons together in Houston. The Browns placed plenty of offseason focus on improving targets for Watson, and the 6-foot-6 Akins brings familiarity and serves as a red-zone threat. Akins is expected to back up David Njoku at tight end.

The Broncos waived Thedford (undisclosed) with an injury settlement Wednesday, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

Thedford was previously waived by the Lions in August of 2021, and he did not ink another contract elsewhere until signing with Denver in January. The exact nature of the 26-year-old's injury is still unknown, leaving it unclear when or if he'll be healthy enough to earn a new contract this offseason.

Pitts (knee) isn't practicing this week, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

Pitts spent the winter rehabbing from November surgery on a Grade 2 MCL sprain, and given the typical return timeline it's possible he's already back to full strength and is just absent from voluntary OTAs or being brought along cautiously. Earlier reports had him on schedule in the recovery process, and Falcons coach Arthur Smith said this week that he expects all the players absent from practice this week to be ready for training camp. The knee is probably less of a concern than how Pitts fits in Smith's run-heavy offense, after he dropped from 60.4 yards per game and 9.4 per target as a rookie to 35.6 YPG and 6.0 YPT last season. The Falcons will continue running often after using the eighth overall pick on RB Bijan Robinson, but it's at least a safe assumption that whatever passing volume they have will largely go to Pitts and WR Drake London. It's harder to say if the trio of top-10 picks -- one from each of the past three drafts -- can help second-year QB Desmond Ridder become an efficient passer.

Woods is dealing with a hamstring injury, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.

Gardner Minshew and Anthony Richardson are without some of their pass catchers Thursday for 7-on-7s, as Woods and WR Josh Downs (knee) are injured while WR Michael Pittman is absent for the birth of his child. A 2022 third-round pick, Woods did well with his limited chances in a timeshare last season and could take over more snaps from Mo Alie-Cox and/or Kylen Granson in 2013. The Colts did add blocking specialist Pharaoh Brown and fifth-round pick Will Mallory, but they probably pose more of a threat to Alie-Cox and Granson, respectively.

Firkser signed a contract with the Patriots on Thursday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Firkser appeared in 11 games for the Falcons last season after spending the first four years of his career with the Titans. The 28-year-old finished his 2022 campaign with nine catches on 13 targets for 100 yards. With the Patriots, Firkser will seek to secure a depth tight end role behind the team's top two options at the position, Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki.

Rogers was diagnosed Wednesday with a torn Achilles' tendon is slated to undergo surgery next week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per Rapoport, an MRI confirmed that Rogers suffered damage to his Achilles during Tuesday's OTA practice.The 25-year-old tight end, who caught five balls on six targets for 64 yards in 11 games last season, was expected to compete for a depth spot in a position group that also includes Logan Thomas, John Bates, Cole Turner and Curtis Hodges. While Rogers is expected to make a full recovery from his upcoming surgery, he'll likely miss the entire 2023 season.

Rogers suffered a non-contact Achilles injury during Tuesday's OTA practice, Pete Hailey of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Rogers will presumably be sent in for an MRI before the Commanders provided an updated diagnosis as well as a timeline for the tight end's return to the field. The 25-year-old played in 11 games for the Commanders last season, recording five catches on six targets for 64 yards.

Smith (knee) agreed to a contract with the Colts on Wednesday, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Smith was out of football for the 2022 season after the Giants waived him last March with a failed physical designation. Now presumably fully healed from the knee injury he suffered in 2021, the 26-year-old will work to secure a spot on the Colts' Week 1 roster as a depth tight end.

Moreau (illness) participated in Tuesday's practice, Ross Jackson of Saints News Network reports.

The veteran tight end was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma earlier in the offseason but is already a full participant at practice, per Jackson, running routes and catching passes at Tuesday's session. Moreau should be a fixture in New Orleans' offense after inking a three-year, $12.234 million deal to compete with Juwan Johnson for No. 1 tight end duties. Moreau already has familiarity with new Saints QB Derek Carr from their time together with the Raiders.

Goedert has been spending more time with the Eagles wide receivers this spring to work on his routes and releases, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports reports.

The tight end said he started spending more time with the WRs last season and has continued with it during/after spring workouts. Goedert caught 79.7 percent of his targets last year and had career highs for catches and yards per game -- 4.6 for 58.5 -- but he missed five straight weeks with a shoulder injury and finished at 55/702/3, down from 56/830/4 in 15 games the year before. He could have a career year in 2023 without a significant increase in target share if the Philadelphia offense remains elite and Goedert simply has better luck with TDs and/or injuries. He remains the third option in the passing game, behind WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and potentially facing a bit more competition for short passes following the trade for RB D'Andre Swift.