NFL Player News
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Ross Dwelley TE | CAR
49ers' Ross Dwelley: Serves backup role in 2022
Dwelley had three receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown across 12 active regular-season games in 2022.
Dwelley was able to produce a couple of big plays while George Kittle recovered from an injury to start the season, but he ultimately was limited to special teams for the majority of the year. The 27-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but he is unlikely to land in a situation that warrants fantasy consideration after posting forgettable totals through the first five years of his pro career.
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Nick Vannett TE | SEA
Giants' Nick Vannett: Sees production decline
Vannett played in nine regular-season games between the Saints and the Giants, finishing with four receptions on seven targets for 42 yards and no touchdowns.
Vannett began the campaign with New Orleans before latching on with New York's practice squad in late November. He eventually joined the team's active roster but saw limited action behind rookie starter Daniel Bellinger. Vannett's overall catch and yardage totals during the campaign were his lowest since his rookie season in 2016 with Seattle. Bellinger is the Giants' clear tight end of the future, so the team isn't likely to prioritize bringing back Vannett, who will be an unrestricted free agent.
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Daniel Bellinger TE | TEN
Giants' Daniel Bellinger: Cements starting role as rookie
Bellinger totaled 30 catches on 35 targets for 268 yards and two receiving touchdowns during the regular season in his rookie campaign. He added one rush for a two-yard touchdown.
Bellinger saw his snap count rise steadily from Week 1 to Week 6 before suffering an eye injury against Jacksonville in Week 7. The issue required surgery and cost him four contests, but Bellinger immediately slotted back into a starting role upon his return and received the lion's share of New York's tight end snaps the rest of the way, including in two postseason contests during which he tallied three catches on five targets for 21 yards. While the rookie out of San Diego State didn't record more than five receptions or 42 yards in any game during the campaign, he made at least one catch in every contest after Week 1 and solidified his place as the Giants' tight end of the future. New York has a bevy of pass catchers along with quarterback Daniel Jones slated for free agency this offseason, so Bellinger's outlook for next year could be impacted by who the team adds, retains and parts ways with.
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Mike Gesicki TE | CIN
Dolphins' Mike Gesicki: Likely to depart as free agent
Gesicki is expected to part ways with the Dolphins as a free agent this offseason, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.
Gesicki secured 32 of 52 targets for 362 yards and five touchdowns across 17 regular-season appearances with the Dolphins in 2022, and general manager Chris Grier said he has "earned the right to be a free agent" after a year playing on the franchise tag. The tight end appeared a questionable fit in coach Mike McDaniel's scheme even ahead of this past campaign, and despite Miami's coaching staff relaying continued optimism that the athletic tight end would keep a key role on offense, he ended up with his lowest receiving marks since his rookie season. Though Gesicki continued to flash occasional playmaking ability when called upon, his underwhelming utilization in McDaniel's scheme makes it seem unlikely he re-signs with the Dolphins. Other franchises in the league may be more willing to feature Gesicki's receiving skill set.
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Drew Sample TE | CIN
Bengals' Drew Sample: Ends season on IR
Sample recorded two catches for minus-2 yards over two appearances before missing the rest of the regular season and postseason while recovering from surgery to address MCL and PCL damage to his right knee.
A second-round pick in 2019, Sample never developed into a major receiving option over the four years of his rookie deal. Though Sample could be at or near full health by the spring, the impending free agent isn't a lock to be retained by Cincinnati.
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Hayden Hurst TE | LAC
Bengals' Hayden Hurst: Future uncertain
Hurst had four catches on five targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.
Signed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal this offseason, Hurst enjoyed a nice bounce-back campaign in Cincinnati despite missing three games due to a calf injury. After generating a 52-414-2 receiving line on 68 targets over his 13 appearances during the regular season, Hurst likely won't be keen on settling for a one-year deal as he heads back into free agency this spring. Even if the 29-year-old tight end does end up signing another one-year contract, he should at least be in store for a slight bump in pay whether he returns to Cincinnati or heads elsewhere.
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Peyton Hendershot TE | KC
Cowboys' Peyton Hendershot: Three TDs in first NFL season
Hendershot (hamstring) caught 11 of 16 targets for 103 yards and two touchdowns over 17 regular-season games in 2022. He also added a two-yard rushing TD on his only carry.
An undrafted rookie out of Indiana, Hendershot impressed in training camp and won the No. 3 spot on the tight end depth chart to begin the season, a role that wound up leading to some fantasy value thanks to his nose for the end zone, even if he didn't see more than one target in any game after the Cowboys' Week 9 bye. Dalton Schultz is a free agent this offseason, and if he heads elsewhere, Hendershot could see a much more significant role in the Dallas offense in 2023, though he'd likely still be behind 2022 fourth-round pick Jake Ferguson.
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Jake Ferguson TE | DAL
Cowboys' Jake Ferguson: Flashes potential as rookie
Ferguson caught 19 of 22 targets for 174 yards and a touchdown over 16 regular-season games in 2022.
A fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ferguson most productive performance came Week 6 when he caught four of six targets for 40 yards and a TD. Stuck behind Dalton Schultz when the veteran tight end was healthy, Ferguson got only occasional chances to flash his upside and athleticism as a pass catcher, but he tended to make the most of them. Ferguson landed on highlight reels during a Thanksgiving Day win over the Giants with a 30-year catch-and-run that featured both a leaping grab and a hurdle over safety Jason Pinnock. Schultz is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and if Dallas elects not to bring him back, Ferguson could head into 2023 as the team's No. 1 tight end.
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Tanner Hudson TE | CIN
Bengals' Tanner Hudson: Signs future deal
The Bengals signed Hudson to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Hudson joined the Bengals' practice squad at the beginning of December after being waived by the Giants. He made 11 straight appearances for New York to start the season, totaling 10 receptions on 15 targets for 132 yards across 244 offensive snaps, but he was never elevated to Cincinnati's active roster. With his new contract, the fourth-year tight end will get to stick around the Bengals' organization and compete for a roster spot next season.
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Nick Bowers TE | MIA
Bengals' Nick Bowers: Earns future deal
The Bengals signed Bowers to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Bowers spent the entire regular season on the Bengals' practice squad. He was elevated for the first time during Cincinnati's divisional-round win over Buffalo, but he didn't play any snaps. With his new contract, the undrafted tight end out of Penn State will get to stick around the organization and have a chance to compete for a larger role next season.