Witten has decided to end his NFL playing career, ESPN's Todd Archer reports.
Analysis: Once his current deal with the Raiders officially expires in March, Witten plans to sign a one-day contract with the Cowboys in order to retire as a member of the team that he spent 16 seasons with prior to his lone season with Las Vegas. The 38-year-old tight end thus finishes up his highly-productive NFL career with 1,228 catches for 13,046 yards and 74 TDs in 271 games.
Jan 27, 2021 1:40 PM EST
Witten totaled 13 receptions (on 17 targets) for 69 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games during the 2020 season, though he was not targeted in the Raiders' Week 17 finale against the Broncos.
Analysis: Witten set the NFL record for career games played by a tight end as a 38-year-old to close out his one-year deal in Las Vegas, but he was rather unproductive in 404 offensive snaps this season while fellow TE Foster Moreau's development likely suffered as a result. A second retirement announcement could be on the horizon for Witten, though he's not yet made a decision on his future in football.
Jan 10, 2021 11:15 AM EST
Witten caught two of five targets for 12 yards in Saturday's 26-25 loss to the Dolphins.
Analysis: Witten's five targets more than doubled his previous season high, but his 2.4 yards per target made for a forgettable performance while No. 1 tight end Darren Waller caught five passes for 112 yards. Having been eliminated from the playoff race, the Raiders might finally decide to give a handful of Witten's ineffective reps to Foster Moreau behind Waller in Week 17 against the Broncos.
Dec 28, 2020 7:59 AM EST
Witten failed to haul in his only target during Sunday's 31-28 win over the Jets.
Analysis: Witten's involvement in the Raiders' aerial attack has been nearly non-existent lately with just three total targets throughout the Raiders' past five games, while also logging less than 20 offensive snaps in back-to-back contests. Fellow tight end Darren Waller erupted for 200 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns on 13 receptions Sunday, combating the offense's struggles on the ground. Witten may be tasked with providing additional run-block support Week 14 after the Raiders averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on 25 rush attempts against the Jets.
Dec 8, 2020 4:49 AM EST
Witten was not targeted during Sunday's 43-6 loss to the Falcons.
Analysis: Witten has been targeted no more than twice in a single contest all season, so his lack of involvement on a day the Raiders needed to air it out came as no surprise. The veteran tight end should factor back into the mix primarily as a run blocker Week 13 against the Jets.
Nov 30, 2020 10:39 PM EST
Witten caught a one-yard touchdown pass on his only target in Sunday's 35-31 loss to the Chiefs.
Analysis: Witten's clutch touchdown reception put the Raiders ahead with less than two minutes left in the contest, but Las Vegas was ultimately unable to keep Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes from constructing a game-winning drive. Witten's offensive snap share surpassed the 50-percent mark Sunday, but fellow tight end Darren Waller led the unit in receiving again with seven catches on as many targets for 88 yards and a score. Witten figures to provide a run-blocking presence again in Week 12 against the Falcons.
Nov 23, 2020 7:59 AM EST
Witten caught two passes on as many targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 16-6 win over the Browns.
Analysis: Witten was the Raiders' third-leading receiver Sunday as windy conditions limited all of Las Vegas' pass-catchers under 30 yards each. Fellow tight end Darren Waller led the way with five catches for 28 yards on six targets, though Witten tied his season high with 38 offensive snaps while providing additional support as a run blocker.
Nov 3, 2020 4:30 AM EST
Witten caught both of his targets for six yards in Sunday's 40-32 win over the Chiefs.
Analysis: Witten logged a season-high 38 offensive snaps, but the veteran was limited to just 3.0 yards per reception. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Darren Waller continued to shine with a team-high five catches on seven targets for 48 yards and a touchdown. Witten remains ahead of 2019 fourth-rounder Foster Moreau in the pecking order, however.
Oct 12, 2020 7:53 AM EST
Witten caught two passes on as many targets for 18 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: Witten hauled in his first touchdown as a Raider with time winding down in the second quarter to make it a one-score game heading into halftime. The 38-year-old would ultimately be overshadowed by fellow tight end Darren Waller, however, as the latter secured nine of 12 targets for 88 yards. Witten has seen the field for at least 25 percent of Las Vegas' offensive snaps in all four games to this point.
Oct 5, 2020 11:33 PM EST
Witten turned his only target into a two-yard reception during the Raiders' Week 1 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: Witten's debut with the Raiders was fairly uneventful despite playing a respectable 28 offensive snaps, while No. 1 tight end Darren Waller continued to shine with a team-high six catches for 45 yards on eight targets. Expect this contrast in output between the two tight ends to continue in Week 2 against the Saints.
Sep 14, 2020 8:21 AM EST
Witten will sign a one-year deal with the Raiders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Per Todd Archer of ESPN.com, Witten can earn up to $4.75 million this coming season. The 37-year-old caught 63 passes for 529 yards and four TDs for Dallas in 2019 and will now join a Raiders' tight end corps still headed by Darren Waller (90 catches last season).
Mar 17, 2020 1:08 PM EST
Witten isn't expected to re-sign with the Cowboys, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Analysis: Meanwhile, fellow tight end Blake Jarwin is getting a second-round restricted free agent tender. Witten wants to continue his football career in 2020, but he acknowledged in February that doing so may require leaving Dallas, the only NFL home he's ever known. He'll turn 38 in May, following a 2019 campaign in which he started all 16 games and caught 63 of 83 targets for 529 yards and four touchdowns.
Mar 3, 2020 7:04 AM EST
Witten wants to play football in 2020 and is open to signing with a new team, ESPN.com's Todd Archer reports.
Analysis: Witten came out of retirement in 2019 to play a 16th season for the Cowboys. He hopes to re-sign in Dallas this offseason but acknowledged that he may need to go elsewhere to continue his NFL career. The tight end will turn 38 in May, coming off a 2019 campaign with 63 catches for 529 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. Witten hasn't produced a gain of more than 36 yards since 2011, but he remains competent as a blocker and short-pass catcher.
Feb 19, 2020 7:49 AM EST
Witten completed the 2019 season with 63 catches on 83 targets for 529 yards and four touchdowns.
Analysis: After a year spent in the broadcast booth, Witten returned to the Cowboys and posted nearly identical numbers to 2017 while providing Dak Prescott with a reliable option for short gains and moving the sticks. The 37-year-old tight end has little upside at this stage of his career, and it's not yet clear whether he even wants to return in 2020 having again come up short in his quest for a Super Bowl ring. The Cowboys may also have second thoughts about another reunion, as least with Witten in a starting role, as Blake Jarwin looks capable of handling No. 1 duties.
Jan 1, 2020 10:13 AM EST
Witten caught two of three targets for 14 yards in Sunday's loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: Witten had at least four catches in each of the previous three contests, but he was only a minor factor in Dallas' Week 16 offense. The veteran tight end has 59 catches for 505 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games.
Dec 24, 2019 8:01 PM EST
Witten caught four of five targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 44-21 win over the Rams.
Analysis: The future Hall of Famer opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a 19-yard grab, but he wasn't much of a factor after that as the Cowboys leaned heavily on their running game. Witten now has four TDs on the year, including two in the last three games, but he hasn't topped 42 receiving yards since Week 9. He'll remain a low-ceiling fantasy option in Week 16 against the Eagles.
Dec 15, 2019 6:47 PM EST
Witten caught six of eight targets for 42 yards and a touchdown, adding a two-point conversion, in Thursday's 26-15 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: Things were looking bright for the Cowboys after Witten hauled in an eight-yard TD from Dak Prescott on the team's first possession, but the Bills' defense stiffened after that and didn't allow another point until the game was well in hand in the fourth quarter. Witten is essentially a TD-dependent fantasy play at this point -- he has yet to top 60 receiving yards in a game this year -- but he continues to see solid target volume as a reliable checkdown option and chain-mover for Prescott.
Nov 28, 2019 5:58 PM EST
Witten caught one of four targets for five yards in Sunday's loss to the Patriots.
Analysis: While the weather and the opponent were both factors, this was still Witten's worst performance of the season in terms of catches and yards. Blake Jarwin has looked consistently more dangerous as a receiver all year, but as yet the Cowboys don't seem inclined to put the 37-year-old Witten in mothballs.
Nov 25, 2019 12:17 PM EST
Witten caught five of seven targets for 33 yards in Sunday's win over the Lions.
Analysis: The veteran tight end has caught multiple passes in every game this season, giving him a decent floor in deep PPR formats, but Witten's field-stretching days are well behind him at 37 years old. Unless he's able to get into the end zone, something he hasn't done since Week 2, he's best left on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.
Nov 18, 2019 9:16 AM EST
Witten caught five of seven targets for 57 yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Jets.
Analysis: The receptions and targets both tied for the team lead on the afternoon, but it was the one Witten couldn't haul in that mattered most -- he was the target of Dak Prescott's two-point conversion attempt in the final minute, but the pass fell short. The five catches and 57 yards were actually season highs for the veteran tight end, and Witten's fantasy ceiling remains limited unless he's able to find the end zone.
Oct 13, 2019 8:41 PM EST
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