Who Should I Start? Giovanni Ricci or Brevin Jordan

Monday, February 3, 7:02 PM

The New England Patriots signed free-agent tight end Giovanni Ricci (knee) to a Reserve/Futures deal on Monday. Ricci was on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad in 2024 but never was active for a regular-season game and was cut in August due to a knee injury. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan made his NFL debut in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers, with all 36 of his career games coming with Carolina. In three NFL seasons, Ricci has caught only nine of 12 targets for 102 yards and no touchdowns with the Panthers. Ricci is more of a blocker than a pass-catcher and will now represent tight end depth for the Patriots throughout the offseason and into training camp this summer. The most likely scenario is that he'll effective serve as a fullback for new Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Thursday, December 5, 12:03 PM

The Houston Texans signed tight end Brevin Jordan (knee) to an undisclosed one-year contract extension on Thursday morning, according to a source. Jordan was poised for a breakout season in 2024 but tore his ACL in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears. With the extension in place, the Texans will look forward to having him back in 2025. The 24-year-old served as mostly a lead blocker in the first two games of the season behind pass-catching tight end Dalton Schultz, catching only two of his three targets for seven yards. His injury vaulted Cade Stover into a bigger role behind Schultz this year, but the rookie only has 14 receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown in 13 games played. Jordan has never had more than 20 catches, 219 receiving yards or three touchdowns in any of his four NFL seasons and won't be on the fantasy map in 2025 coming off his serious knee injury.