Tag: Tight End

Notre Dame guard Julian Roper II (1) shoots the ball as Western Carolina forward Colin Granger (32) defends during the Western Carolina-Notre Dame NCAA Men s basketball game on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana.

Panthers sign college basketball player to play TE

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colin Granger doesn’t have any football experience, but the Carolina Panthers are taking a chance that the former Division I basketball player could play tight end in the NFL.

The Panthers announced the signing of the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Granger on Monday.

With this move, Carolina is trying to strike gold like the then-San Diego Chargers did when they signed Antonio Gates to play tight end in 2003. An undersized power forward at Kent State, Gates played football in high school but not in college.

Granger, a Georgia native, started his basketball career at Ohio University in 2020 and spent two seasons there. In 2022-23, he played at Western Carolina before moving on to Central Carolina for the past two seasons.

Gates will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, this summer after a 16-year NFL career, all with the Chargers.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) attempts to catch a pass against the Denver Broncos in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Reports: Cincinnati re-signing TE Mike Gesicki to 3-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cincinnati Bengals are re-signing tight end Mike Gesicki to a three-year, $25.5 million contract, multiple outlets reported Saturday.

In his first season in Cincinnati in 2024, he caught 65 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns — the most receptions by a Cincinnati tight end since Dan Ross caught 71 passes in 1981.

Gesicki, 29, played last season on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.

The Penn State alum was a second-round draft pick by the Dolphins in 2018 and spent his first five seasons in Miami, then played with the New England Patriots in 2023.

In 115 career games (44 starts), Gesicki has 325 catches for 3,526 yards with 22 touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) and linebacker Demario Davis (56) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Raiders’ Brock Bowers sets record for receiving yards by rookie TE

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders moved past Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka on Sunday to set the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in his rookie season.

Bowers’ third catch on Sunday — a 13-yard grab late in the second quarter against the host New Orleans Saints — pushed his season total to 1,087 yards. Ditka totaled 1,076 receiving yards in 14 games with the Chicago Bears in 1961.

Bowers, 22, set the record for receptions by a rookie tight end earlier this season by eclipsing the total of 86 reeled in by Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions in 2023. Bowers had 101 catches entering Sunday’s game.

Bowers was selected by the Raiders with the 13th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

While with Georgia, Bowers was the first back-to-back winner of the Mackey Award (2022, 2023), which is given to the top tight end in college football.

–Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) greets Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) during Super Bowl LIV Opening Night at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Fantasy football: 2023 TE rankings; Travis Kelce alone at the top

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Not getting Travis Kelce in your fantasy football draft comes with permission to wait for the right tight end.

We’re ready to endorse a slight reach for Mark Andrews given his consistent production for the Ravens, and we might be able to buy into your affinity for George Kittle despite a string of injuries.

But waiting stands as the more likely strategy for a strong return than reaching with fingers crossed that this is the year T.J. Hockenson gets it done.

Here are our top 15 fantasy tight ends for the 2023 season:

1. Travis Kelce, Chiefs

A seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season came in a season in which Kelce had 152 targets. The Chiefs continue to feed Kelce in the red zone and scheme to spring him for big plays. Do it, and don’t look back.

2. Mark Andrews, Ravens

Andrews likely won’t put up another 100-reception season as he did in 2021 now that Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers are on the scene, but his targets aren’t likely to decrease as much as some anticipate.

3. George Kittle, 49ers

Kittle was on the receiving end of seven of QB Brock Purdy’s 13 touchdown passes during the regular season and the only reason to doubt that connection will thrive again is injury woes for both players.

4. Dallas Goedert, Eagles

With Miles Sanders gone, Goedert healthy and teams consistently shading help toward A.J. Brown, Goedert has breakout potential as Jalen Hurts’ security blanket.

5. Darren Waller, Giants

Many moons ago — ok, 2020 — Waller had 107 receptions for 1,196 yards and nine TDs with the Raiders. We’re betting he’ll be a threat for the Giants, who want to bring balance to a run-heavy offense.

6. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings

Traded from the Lions, Hockenson amassed 60 receptions on 86 targets while racking up 519 yards in 10 games with the Vikings last season. It wouldn’t be shocking for Minnesota to increase its percentage of play calls higher than 64.4 percent passes last season.

7. Evan Engram, Jaguars

The third-most targeted pass-catcher on the roster last season, Engram might see his total target share drop but the Jaguars should continue to look his way in the red zone.

8. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers

Too much is asked of Freirmuth to expect 100-yard games every week, but he’ll be one of the primary options when the Steelers get inside the 20.

9. David Njoku, Browns

Njoku had 164 yards and two scores on 17 catches in five games with Deshaun Watson at quarterback. If he gets Watson for 17 games this season, 50-600-7 isn’t a reach.

10. Kyle Pitts, Falcons

Pitts returns from a season-ending knee injury with a mixed bag of results. That includes 68 catches and some signs of a breakout during his 2021 rookie season. If he puts it all together, he has Kelce-type production potential.

11. Cole Kmet, Bears

12. Dalton Kincaid, Bills

13. Dalton Schultz, Texans

14. Greg Dulcich, Broncos

15. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans

16. Tyler Higbee, Rams

17. Dawson Knox, Bills

18. Juwan Johnson, Saints

19. Gerald Everett, Chargers

20. Irv Smith, Bengals

–Field Level Media

Greer s Jaleel Skinner (5) picks up yards after a catch against Byrnes Friday, August 23, 2019, at Greer's Dooley Field. Greer Byrnes Football

Top 2022 tight end Jaleel Skinner commits to Alabama

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jaleel Skinner, the No. 1 tight end in the Class of 2022, will play his college football at Alabama, he announced Friday.

A South Carolina native, he plays at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Skinner chose the Crimson Tide over Florida State, Texas, Miami and Clemson. He said while his parents would support whatever decision he made, he knew he didn’t want to venture too far from home.

“I want to be the best,” he said as he made his announcement via the CBS Sports website. “That’s why I’m coming to the University of Alabama.”

This is a weaker-than-usual tight end class. Skinner, a four-star-prospect, ranks as the No. 74 overall player in the class by the 247Sports composite despite being the top tight end.

The No. 3 tight end prospect in 2022, Oscar Delp of Cumming, Ga., hasn’t announced his decision yet. Georgia is believed to be the frontrunner for Delp’s commitment, though Michigan reportedly is in contention.

–Field Level Media

Jan 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tim Tebow before the College Football Playoff national championship game between the Clemson Tigers and the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Tim Tebow works out for Jaguars at tight end

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tim Tebow wants to get back into professional football.

The former Denver Broncos and New York Jets quarterback worked out for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a tight end, NFL Network and ESPN reported Thursday.

Tebow, 33, starred at the University of Florida under coach Urban Meyer, who’s entering his first season as the Jaguars’ head coach. Tebow grew up in Jacksonville before enrolling at Florida.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted that “there has been at least some discussion” of Jacksonville signing him.

Denver selected Tebow in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. After only lasting three seasons in the NFL with the Broncos and Jets, Tebow changed focus to professional baseball. He played in the New York Mets’ organization from 2016 to 2019, reaching as high as Triple-A in 2019, but announced his retirement from baseball in February.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was a dual-threat quarterback who ran for 57 touchdowns over four seasons at Florida, while also passing for 88 TDs.

At 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, Tebow has a frame that could translate to the tight-end position despite not playing there at any point since high school. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is 6-5, 260, while San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is 6-4, 250.

–Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2020; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass against Atlanta Falcons defensive back Kendall Sheffield (20) in the fourth quarter of a NFL game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kelce sets single-season mark for yardage by a tight end

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce had 98 receiving yards on Sunday to set a new single-season record for a tight end with 1,416 yards.

He surpassed the mark set by San Francisco’s George Kittle, who had 1,377 in 2018.

Kelce also caught seven passes in the 17-14 win over the Atlanta Falcons to raise his season total to a career-best 105 and become the first tight end to have 100 or more catches twice in a career. He also recorded his career-best 11th touchdown reception.

Kelce, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, was more impressed that the Chiefs (14-1) earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the postseason and landed the first-round bye than his individual accomplishments.

“To get a week of preparation, a week of really locking in and getting the body right that late in the season is so key, and it’s much needed if you want to make that playoff push,” Kelce said after the contest. “That’s what you work your tail off for all season. I’m just proud to be a part of this team and be able to do it again this year.”

One player impressed with Kelce’s season accomplishments is Kittle.

“Raising the bar all year!!! Congrats @tkelce,” Kittle said on Twitter.

Kelce, 31, also topped 100 receptions when he had 103 in 2018. He is the only tight end in NFL history to post five seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

–Field Level Media

Saints on top of latest Pro32 poll; KC, Pats tied for 2nd

NFL Week 9 Stat Recap Table: QB, RB and WR

Posted on | by Martin Chandler

Six straight wins for the Houston Texans. New Orleans ruins the the Rams perfect season. Tom Brady and the Patriots prove to be too much for Aaron Rodgers.

Notable Performances

  • Jared Goff, Patrick Mahomes, Matt Ryan and Drew Brees all tossed for 300+ yards and 3+ touchdowns
  • Michael Thomas made 12 receptions for 211 yards and 1 touchdown
  • Travis Kelce, Adam Humphries, and OJ Howard all caught for 2 touchdowns
  • Melvin Gordon and James Conner both rush for 100+ yards
  • 5 Players with 2 rushing touchdowns

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NFL Week 4 Stat Recap Table: QB, RB and WR

NFL Week 4 Stat Recap Table: QB, RB and WR

Posted on | by Martin Chandler

It would appear that the Fitzmagic is gone. Following a dismal first-half performance in Chicago, he was replaced by Jameis Winston. While neither quarterback was able to get much going, Winston will be the starter following Tampa Bay’s bye week. On the other side of the field, Mitchell Trubisky had the game of his life, tossing for 6 touchdowns and 354 yards. On Thursday night, Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins combined for just under 900 passing yards and 8 touchdowns. The receivers also had a field day, with Cooper Kupp recording 2 Touchdowns on 162 yards, and Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen both having strong performances for the Vikings.

Notable performances:

  • Jared Goff, Andrew Luck, Derek Carr, Kirk Cousins, Matt Ryan all toss for 400+ yards
  • 23 players recorded 100+ receiving yards
  • Alvin Kamara rushes for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns
  • Nick Chubb and Mike Davis rush for 100+ yards and score 2 touchdowns
  • Jared Cook caught for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns

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