The Chiefs signed Blanton to their practice squad Wednesday.
Analysis: Blanton was cut by the Rams on Tuesday, but it didn't take long for him to find a home with a new organization. The fourth-year tight end played in four contests with Los Angeles prior to being let go, catching both of his targets for 35 yards. Kansas City currently has three healthy tight ends, so it would likely take an injury or two for Blanton to have any sort of significant role on the active roster.
Nov 23, 2022 4:27 PM EST
Blanton was cut from the Rams' practice squad Tuesday.
Analysis: Blanton has bounced around this season after being waived by the Rams during training camp. However, the 27-year-old ultimately ended up back with the team when he was signed off the Chiefs' practice squad Sept. 22. He'll now work to find a new opportunity elsewhere, if the Rams don't come calling again.
Nov 22, 2022 1:09 PM EST
The Rams signed Blanton to the practice squad Thursday.
Analysis: Blanton started the season on Kansas City's practice squad before signing with the Rams' active roster in late September. The 27-year-old then played 25 offensive snaps from Weeks 3 through 6, catching two passes (on two targets) for 35 yards, but he was then waived Tuesday after fellow tight end Brycen Hopkins returned from a suspension. Blanton should serve as a potential game-day elevation if Hopkins or Tyler Higbee are forced to miss time with injury at any point this season.
Nov 10, 2022 3:25 PM EST
The Rams waived Blanton on Tuesday.
Analysis: Blanton signed with the Rams back in late-September, while fellow tight end Brycen Hopkins served a three-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. However, Hopkins' suspension was lifted Monday, and Los Angeles has since parted ways with the 262-pounder after he played just 25 offensive snaps across the team's last four games. Blanton will now hope to earn another opportunity for playing time elsewhere.
Nov 8, 2022 2:08 PM EST
Blanton brought in his only target for seven yards in Monday's 24-9 loss to the 49ers.
Analysis: Blanton's usage creeped up slightly in his second week working in place of Brycen Hopkins (suspension), taking the field for eight offensive snaps and catching his lone target. Tyler Higbee saw a whopping 14 targets and was on the field for 69 offensive snaps, leaving Blanton's usage at a minimum, a trend that will likely continue with just one more week before Hopkins returns.
Oct 4, 2022 10:42 AM EST
Blanton caught his only target for 28 yards in Sunday's 20-12 win against the Cardinals.
Analysis: Blanton, who was signed on Thursday off the Chiefs' practice squad, only saw the field for five offensive snaps, but made the most of it with a lengthy 28-yard reception near the end of the first quarter, flashing some of the receiving chops he showed off during last year's NFC Championship game where he had a solid five-reception, 57-yard game in place of an injured Tyler Higbee. Blanton will continue to fill in at tight end for at least the next two games while Brycen Hopkins (suspension) serves the remainder of his three-game ban for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Sep 26, 2022 8:25 AM EST
Blanton was signed off of the Chiefs' practice squad by the Rams on Thursday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.
Analysis: Blanton was waived by the Rams on Aug. 20, then found his way onto Kansas City's practice squad after a short stint with the Commanders. The addition of the 26-year-old comes a day after the news that fellow tight end Brycen Hopkins would be serving a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Blanton should be able to slide right into the team's offense after having been with the franchise recently, including appearing in 11 games last season. He'll likely operate as the team's No. 2 tight end Sunday in a divisional matchup with the Cardinals.
Sep 22, 2022 10:48 AM EST
The Chiefs signed Blanton to their practice squad Thursday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Analysis: Blanton was waived by the Commanders ahead of Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline but has found a new home in Kansas City via the practice squad. The 26-year-old tight end appeared in 11 games for the Rams last year and caught four of seven targets for 37 yards across 144 offensive snaps.
Sep 2, 2022 9:51 AM EST
Blanton was cut by the Commanders on Tuesday.
Analysis: Blanton seemed likely to make the team after being claimed on waivers during preseason, but the former Rams tight end failed to make the 53-man roster. Washington's willingness to part ways with Blanton could be a positive indicator regarding the health of top tight ends Logan Thomas (knee) and John Bates (calf).
Aug 30, 2022 10:32 AM EST
Blanton was claimed off waivers by the Commanders on Sunday, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Blanton's departure from the Rams was a bit of a surprise, as he was initially expected to be the No. 2 tight end for the Rams this season. However, the 26-year-old will find new opportunity in Washington, where he'll likely be competing for the same No. 2 role behind Logan Thomas (knee).
Aug 21, 2022 2:00 PM EST
The Rams waived Blanton on Saturday, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: It was a quick slide for Blanton, as the Rams had him listed as the No. 2 tight end on their depth chart less than two weeks ago. He has suited up for 12 games during his first three seaons in the league, all with Los Angeles. He will now look for a new opportunity.
Aug 20, 2022 11:32 AM EST
Blanton is listed as the No. 2 tight end for the Rams on their first unofficial depth chart, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Analysis: Tyler Higbee's return from an MCL injury suffered during the playoffs meant that Blanton and fellow tight end Brycen Hopkins would be relegated to backup duty, but Blanton will start the preseason as the primary backup, thanks to his more robust skill set as both a blocker and a receiver. Blanton will find plenty of work in two-tight end sets, but will likely struggle to improve on his 2021 stats (4-37-0 line in 11 regular season games) with numerous target hogs surrounding him on the field.
Aug 10, 2022 3:11 PM EST
Following the recent NFL Draft, Blanton and Brycen Hopkins continue to follow Tyler Higbee on the Rams' tight end depth chart, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Meanwhile, 2021 fourth-rounder Jacob Harris is bouncing back from a knee injury, but at this stage Blanton -- who is presumably past a shoulder issue that slowed him in Super Bowl LVI -- and Hopkins remain next up for tight end targets in the event that Higbee misses time this season.
May 6, 2022 3:05 PM EST
Blanton (shoulder) didn't record any counting stats across 30 offensive snaps during Sunday's 23-20 Super Bowl win over the Bengals.
Analysis: Blanton stepped up during the NFC Championship Game in place of Tyler Higbee, who tore his ACL during the first half, and caught all five of his targets for 57 yards. However, he 6-foot-6 tight end was limited during the Super Bowl after suffering a shoulder injury, according to Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In Blanton's absence, Brycen Hopkins stepped up as the primary tight end and caught all four of his targets for 47 yards across 39 offensive snaps.
Feb 14, 2022 11:23 AM EST
With Tyler Higbee (knee) having been placed on IR by the Rams, Blanton is in line to lead the team's tight end corps in Sunday's Super Bowl against the Bengals, Brady Henderson of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Higbee was forced out of the NFC Championship Game versus the 49ers on Jan. 30 after playing just 14 snaps and as was the case in that contest, Blanton will be counted on to step in as the Rams' top tight end this Sunday. In relief of Higbee in the team's win over San Francisco, Blanton logged 61 snaps en route to catching all five of his targets for 57 yards. While Blanton is poised for a starting assignment and in turn his share of targets this weekend, Brycen Hopkins is available to back him up, with Kyle Markway currently a member of Los Angeles' practice squad.
Feb 11, 2022 2:32 PM EST
Blanton brought in all five targets for 57 yards during the Rams' 20-17 win over the 49ers in their NFC Championship Game matchup Sunday.
Analysis: Tyler Higbee exited the game for good due to a knee injury in the first half, thrusting Blanton into the top role at tight end just a week after scoring his first career touchdown. Blanton performed admirably, making some key grabs and ultimately checking in third in receptions, receiving yards and targets behind Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham. If Higbee's injury is serious enough to keep him out of the Super Bowl LVI matchup versus the Bengals, Blanton, despite having just 11 career catches to his name, will presumably log starting duty in the contest.
Jan 30, 2022 8:19 PM EST
Blanton caught both his targets for 18 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 30-27 win over Tampa Bay. He played just eight of 71 offensive snaps.
Analysis: This was the first career touchdown for Blanton, as the backup tight end has played sparingly all season. He's unlikely to see an uptick in playing time as long as fellow tight end Tyler Higbee is healthy, but Blanton could receive a target or two next week against the 49ers.
Jan 24, 2022 7:50 AM EST
Blanton failed to see a single target in Sunday's 30-23 win over the Vikings.
Analysis: Blanton reverted back to his role as the Rams' No. 2 tight end with starter Tyler Higbee activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Week 16. The 26-year-old played on just eight of the team's 70 offensive snaps. With Higbee and the Rams' pass catchers healthy, Blanton will likely continue to be a non-factor on offense.
Dec 29, 2021 9:13 AM EST
Blanton is expected to move into a reserve role Sunday in Minnesota after the Rams activated Tyler Higbee from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, Nicholas Cothrel of SI.com reports.
Analysis: While COVID-19-related protocols kept Higbee out the past two weeks, Blanton picked up his first pair of NFL starts. Though he logged 79.3 percent of the Rams' offensive snaps between those contests, Blanton didn't see much involvement as a pass catcher, producing a 2-29-0 receiving line across four targets. Look for Higbee to dominate the playing time at the position over the final three games, with Blanton's opportunities mostly coming when the Rams want to get an extra blocker on the field.
Dec 24, 2021 2:31 PM EST
Blanton started and played 43 of 66 offensive snaps but failed to secure his only target during Tuesday's 20-10 win over Seattle.
Analysis: This was the second consecutive start for Blanton with Tyler Higbee on the reserve/COVID-19 list the past two weeks. When Higbee returns, Blanton's fantasy value will take a notable hit. Furthermore, Blanton did little with his increased opportunity the past two weeks. He caught two of four targets for 29 yards. There aren't many fantasy formats where Blanton warrants a roster spot.
Dec 22, 2021 9:08 AM EST
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