NFL Player News

Mallory (hamstring) participated in OTAs last week.

Mallory finished the 2023 campaign sidelined by an injury, but it appears the 2023 fifth-round selection has fully recovered. Although he was able to contribute 18 receptions and 207 yards in 12 regular-season games during his rookie campaign, he faces a crowded tight end room in Indianapolis with the return of Jelani Woods from a Hamstring injury, as well as holdovers Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree.

Okwuegbunam (hamstring) has been participating in the Eagles' team OTAs, Fran Duffy of Big News Network reports.

Okwuegbunam was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury in late December, but he looks to be 100 percent ahead the 2024 season, his second campaign with the Eagles. The tight end appeared in four games with Philadelphia last year, failing to catch his only target. Okwuegbunam will likely operate in a depth role this season behind the likes of Dallas Goedert and newly-acquired C.J. Uzomah (knee).

Cager (groin) has been an active participant at the Giants' OTAs, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Cager finished the 2023 season on injured reserve with a groin injury, which he has now fully recovered from. The tight end appeared in 11 games with the Giants last season, catching four passes for 36 yards and a touchdown while operating primarily as a special-teams player, a role he'll likely remain in if he cracks the active roster in 2024.

Long (knee) has been a participant at the Rams' OTA sessions, Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire reports.

Long finished the 2023 campaign on injured reserve following MCL surgery, but he now looks to be fully healthy heading into the 2024. The tight end appeared in four games last season, failing to garner a target while playing 54 offensive snaps and he projects to be a depth option behind Tyler Higbee (knee), Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen this year.

Fotheringham (hamstring) has been participating in the Raiders' OTA sessions.

Fotheringham suffered a hamstring injury in the team's Week 17 matchup with the Colts before signing a reserve/future contract with the Raiders in January. He now looks to be a full go ahead of the 2024 campaign after he appeared in two contests with Las Vegas last season, reeling in his only target for six yards while playing 21 offensive snaps. The 26-year-old will attempt to carve out a reserve tight end role this season behind Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers.

Dulcich (hamstring/foot) worked on a side field during Thursday's OTA, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.

On the plus side, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com relays via coach Sean Payton that Dulcich is "close" to practicing and should be doing so "sooner than later." Dulcich, who was limited to just two regular-season appearances in 2023, thus is expected to be ready before training camp, per Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site. At that stage, the 2022 third-rounder will have an opportunity to claim a key role in Denver's passing offense, while operating in a TE corps that also includes Adam Trautmanand Lucas Krull.

Coach Brian Daboll relayed Thursday that Waller remains absent from the Giants' OTAs, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

Waller's absence isn't surprising given that he's considering retirement, but Daboll indicated that the Giants plan to give the 31-year-old tight end the time he needs to make a call on his plans for 2024."[We will] let Darren take what [time] he needs to take, and once the decision is made, we'll go from there," Daboll noted Thursday. If Waller elects not to play this season, Daniel Bellingerwould be the next man up in a TE corps that also currently includes Theo Johnson, Jack Stoll, Chris Manhertz, Lawrence Cager and Tyree Jackson.

Kmet (forearm) is building chemistry with new rookie quarterback Caleb Williams at OTAs, Alyssa Barbieri of USA Today reports.

Kmet suffered a broken right forearm during Chicago's season-ending loss to the Packers in Week 18, but he looks fully healthy at OTAs. The starting tight end could have some extra opportunities to establish a rapport with Williams, given that Rome Odunze is managing a hamstring issue, while Keenan Allen has stayed away from the voluntary activities. Still, the likeliest scenario in this passing game could be that Kmet takes a back seat to all of DJ Moore, Allen and Odunze, and even with his pedigree as the No. 1 overall pick, it seems a long shot that Williams can support four solid fantasy options as a rookie. Kmet will be a sleeper option at the tight end position in 2024 fantasy drafts.

Barner won't participate in OTAs this week due to a hamstring injury, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

Barner missed all of rookie minicamp with the injury and still hasn't made a full recovery. Though Barner will lose out on some valuable reps prior to training camp, the Seahawks haven't indicated that the injury is anything that will affect the fourth-round rookie's availability heading into the 2024 season. Barner will look to push for playing time behind veteran tight ends Noah Fant and Pharaoh Brown after the Seahawks let Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson walk in free agency.

Stephens (knee) will be working on the side as the Cowboys open OTAs on Wednesday, as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered last August, Nick Harris of the team's official site reports.

Last May, Stephens signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana, but he lost any chance he had at making the team due to the season-ending injury suffered in a preseason contest. Though still not 100 percent healthy, the 24-year-old tight end is getting closer to full strength.