Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Ricky Seals-Jones

Wednesday, March 13, 12:18 AM

Las Vegas Raiders free-agent tight end Austin Hooper is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million with the New England Patriots on Wednesday. The veteran tight end will reunite with new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who was with Hooper with the Cleveland Browns. Hooper made the Pro Bowl two straight years from 2018-19 while with the Atlanta Falcons, but he hasn't been nearly as involved as he was then in the last four seasons with the Browns, Titans and Raiders. In 17 games (nine starts) last year in Vegas, the 29-year-old caught just 25 of 31 targets for 234 yards and no touchdowns. With both Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown now gone, Hooper figures to serve as New England's No. 2 TE behind Hunter Henry in 2024. Unless Henry gets hurt, Hooper is unlikely to have a significant enough role to warrant fantasy consideration in standard-sized leagues.

Thursday, August 17, 8:43 PM

Indianapolis Colts tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (foot) was carted off the field during practice on Thursday. The 28-year-old appears to have suffered a right foot injury, but the severity of the injury is unknown right now. Seals-Jones signed with the Colts earlier this month and is fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster. He didn't play at all last season and was released with an injury settlement before the beginning of the 2022 campaign. The team should give an update on his status shortly.