Tag: Peyton Hendershot

Chiefs Dave Toub sees potential in a recently elevated tight end: ‘A three-phase player for us’

Kansas City #Chiefs Dave Toub sees potential in tight end Peyton Hendershot: ‘A three-phase player for us’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ special teams unit has played well this season, as players rotate often due to injury and needs in the offensive and defensive gameplans. Coordinator Dave Toub is proud of his group but acknowledged the work and potential of former practice squad tight end Peyton Hendershot.

“Yeah, he (Peyton Hendershot) was a good player in Dallas. I talked to (Cowboys Special Teams Coordinator John) Fassel down there, and he called me immediately as soon as we traded for him, and he said, ‘You got my guy.’ He does a good job.” said Toub. “He can run and does a good job; he’s real physical. He understands, has good instincts, and helped us in that game. He was able to step in on a short – you know, obviously, when he (Jared Wiley) got hurt – he got (called up)on short notice and was able to be a three-phase player for us in that game, so it helped.”

Hendershot made his season debut for the Chiefs in last Monday’s overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will likely play prominently on special teams, but, as Toub said, he should see time on offense filling in for injured tight ends Jody Fortson and Jared Wiley. He had 15 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown during his career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Chiefs rookie tight end suffered a torn ACL during Friday’s practice

Kansas City #Chiefs rookie tight end Jared Wiley suffered a torn ACL during Friday’s practice | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Saturday, revealing another potential season-ending injury to a player on the roster. The latest player to go down is rookie tight end Jared Wiley, which took place during Friday’s practice.

“(Jared) Wiley at practice tore his ACL, non-contact, and it’s one of those freak things,” said Reid. “So he’ll go through that whole process. (Peyton) Hendershot will be brought up, and he’ll work in there, and he’s been taking reps, and he’s played before, so he’ll be okay.”

Peyton Hendershot, acquired from the Dallas Cowboys before the start of the season, was announced as the immediate replacement, elevated from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. During his brief career in Dallas, Hendershot had 15 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Wiley began his college career at the University of Texas in 2019 and started 12 games in his three years there, recording 19 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns. In the 2023 season, he had 47 receptions for 520 yards and eight touchdowns for TCU.

The 24-year-old recorded one reception for seven yards this season, spending most of his time on special teams for Kansas City.

Chiefs make key roster moves ahead of Week 3 matchup vs. Falcons

The Kansas City #Chiefs made several roster moves on Wednesday ahead of their Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta #Falcons.

The Kansas City Chiefs made a handful of roster moves on Wednesday ahead of their Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football.

In a post to Twitter, the Chiefs’ official account announced that the team had signed running back Keaontay Ingram and linebacker Cole Christiansen, who played for Kansas City in the preseason.

In addition to the acquisitions of Ingram and Christiansen, the Chiefs also announced that they had signed tight end Peyton Hendershot and running back Kareem Hunt to their practice squad.

Finally, the team announced that they placed star running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve.

https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1836446190361010546

The addition of Hunt was the most surprising move of the bunch and has a chance to mix up Kansas City’s backfield after Pacheco’s injury against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Stay tuned to see where all these players fit in Andy Reid’s game plan for the Chiefs’ matchup against the Falcons.

Report: Chiefs to waive TE Peyton Hendershot

According to a report, the Kansas City #Chiefs intend to waive TE Peyton Hendershot, who they acquired in a trade with the Dallas #Cowboys.

According to a report on Monday by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Kansas City Chiefs are waiving tight end Peyton Hendershot after trading for him just three weeks ago.

Hendershot was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Indiana. In two years with the Cowboys, the former Hoosier posted 15 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown.

The tight end’s most notable moment with the Chiefs fans involved a sideline altercation with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, who roughly pushed quarterback Patrick Mahomes out of bounds in Week 1.

Hendershot retaliated and shoved Smith, which resulted in a $100,000 fine for the Chiefs and a $5,000 fine for Hendershot.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1835765083307196495

It is unknown whether Kansas City intends to sign Hendershot to its practice squad if he clears waivers. After the extension of veteran Noah Gray and the addition of Jared Wiley in the 2024 NFL draft, the Chiefs don’t have a pressing need at the tight end position.

Ravens LB Roquan Smith to Chiefs TE: ‘He’d better watch himself’

#Ravens LB Roquan Smith had some feelings about Chiefs TE Peyton Hendershot’s conduct in Baltimore’s loss to the #Chiefs on Thursday night.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens was a chippy affair, especially after linebacker Roquan Smith got away with a late hit on Patrick Mahomes in the second half.

During the Ravens’ postgame press conference, Smith had some words for Mahomes’ teammates who retaliated to his late hit on the sideline and referenced Kansas City’s newly acquired tight end Peyton Hendershot in his comments.

“He [Mahomes] flopped,” Smith told reporters. “He flopped. That’s why the referees didn’t call [it]… That was a great no-call by the ref, but whoever 88 [Chiefs TE Peyton Hendershot] is, I don’t know who he is, but he’d better watch himself.”

When asked what happened, Smith gave his account of the post-play scrum that ensued after his hit on Mahomes.

“He did a little slick push,” the linebacker said of Hendershot. “Whoever number 88 is, I have no idea who he is, but I’ll see him when I see him.”

Though Smith had every right to lodge his complaint after the game, his protests and tough talk won’t change the outcome of the matchup, which saw Mahomes and the Chiefs emerge as victors.

Waving Goodbye: Cowboys trading TE to champion Chiefs instead of waiving him

Dallas continues churning their roster by trading tight end Peyton Hendershot to the World Champion Kansas City Chiefs. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The Cowboys continue to churn their roster and their latest reported move has them sending tight end Peyton Hendershot to the Chiefs for a conditional 2026 late-round draft pick.It was reported earlier on Tuesday the Cowboys intended to release the young tight end but instead flip him for a draft asset.

Hendershot was once viewed as a potential key contributor to the Dallas offense, alongside teammate Jake Ferguson. Both players weren’t particularly fond of each other but the relationship grew as their rookie season went on.

The undrafted free agent out of Indiana played in all 17 games back in 2022 recording 11 catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Hendershot even started two games as a rookie.

In a room full of potential, but limited on experience, expectations rose which may have been heightened by the “four horsemen” moniker attached to a tight end room by position coach Lunda Wells.

2023 wasn’t kind to Hendershot as an ankle injury limited him to just eight games in 2023 although he did start once. His four catches for 38 yards last season were far below the expectations many had for him when he arrived in Dallas.

The ascension of Ferguson allowed Dallas to move on from the Hendershot who was dealing with a shoulder injury throughout training camp.  Dallas also used a 2023 second-round pick on Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker allowing for the Cowboys to move on from Henderson.

Backup roles are likely going to be assigned to roster hopefuls Brevyn Spann-Ford and John Stephens, Jr.

Chiefs acquire TE Peyton Hendershot in trade with the Cowboys

The Kansas City #Chiefs acquired TE Peyton Hendershot in a trade with the Dallas #Cowboys on Tuesday. | @EdEastonJr

According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired tight end Peyton Hendershot in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday afternoon.

The details of what the Chiefs gave up to acquire Hendershot have yet to be revealed. Pelissero believed that the Cowboys would have the young tight end on their list of releases before the roster cuts deadline.

“The Cowboys are finalizing a trade sending TE Peyton Hendershot to the #Chiefs for a late-round conditional pick, per source,” posted Pelissero to his X account. “Dallas planned to cut Hendershot, who appeared in 25 games with Dallas. Instead, he lands as one of Travis Kelce’s understudies in Kansas City.”

Hendershot had 15 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown during his brief career in Dallas. In college, he appeared in 32 games for the Indiana Hoosiers, finishing as the school’s career leader for tight ends with 136 receptions for 1,479 yards and ranking second with 14 receiving touchdowns.

The Chiefs decided to cut veteran Irv Smith Jr. earlier on Tuesday, opening the roster space and deal to acquire Hendershot to proceed.

Report: Cowboys to waive TE Peyton Hendershot

From @ToddBrock24f7: The colorful tight end impressed as a rookie and helped deliver a memorable TD celebration, but an ankle injury derailed his second season.

Fifteen left the locker room on Monday. Another long list of prospective Cowboys will be turning in their playbooks by the end of the day. One of them had become quite familiar to fans over the past two seasons.

Tight end Peyton Hendershot will be waived by the team, according to Tuesday morning X post from NFL insider Tom Pelissero, who cited a source.

[Update: The team ended up working out a late-afternoon trade, sending Hendershot to the Kansas City Chiefs for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2026, according to Nick Harris of the team website.]

The 25-year-old signed with Dallas in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana University. The offense’s third-string option, he nevertheless appeared in all 17 games during his rookie season, catching 11 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-foot-4-inch 254-pounder quickly became a solid complementary piece alongside fellow rookie Jake Ferguson in backing up starter Dalton Schultz; the two were often referred to collectively as “Fergushot.”

But even after Schultz moved on, Hendershot found himself in the TE3 role once again after the Cowboys used a second-round draft pick on Luke Schoonmaker in 2023. An ankle injury suffered in Week 3 eventually landed him on injured reserve. He ended up making just eight game appearances last season, recording four catches for 38 yards. He had surgery this past offseason to further repair his ankle.

The colorful Hendershot will likely be best remembered by Cowboys fans, though, for his starring role in one of the most imaginative end zone celebrations in recent memory.

It was Thanksgiving Day 2022 when Hendershot scored a two-yard rushing touchdown in the team’s holiday win over the rival Giants. After the whistle, Schultz, Ferguson, and fourth tight end Sean McKeon raced to the oversized Salvation Army kettle behind the end zone and jumped in. Hendershot stood outside the pot and used the ball as a make-believe mallet as his positionmates bobbed up and down in a giant game of Whac-A-Mole that quickly went viral and drew fines for all involved.

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Hendershot could now be an interesting pickup for another team, and his release by Dallas likely confirms the staff’s devotion to Schoonmaker as the primary backup to Ferguson. The Cowboys also have breakout candidate John Stephens Jr. and Princeton Fant returning to the TE room from last season; undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford was added in the offseason as well.

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Peyton Hendershot facing battle of his career in Cowboys camp

With so many intriguing TEs coming to Cowboys camp, Peyton Hendershot may be on the outside looking in. | From @ReidDHanson

A case can be made no incumbent Dallas player faces a more difficult situation than third-year tight end Peyton Hendershot. The undrafted free agent out of Indiana wowed onlookers as a rookie, not only winning a roster spot but contributing 103 yards and two touchdowns over the course of 298 snaps in 2022.

Hendershot’s second season looked like a step back in his young career. After the Cowboys added TE Luke Schoonmaker in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft, Hendershot’s pathway to a more prominent role appeared blocked. Hendershot was only able to post four receptions for 38 yards in Year 2. Now in Year 3, if Hendershot wants to hold off the competition at TE, he’s going to need a fast start to camp where he shows consistency as a pass catcher and improvement as a blocker.

With so many intriguing talents in the TE room in 2024, the status quo just won’t cut it.

His ability to create yards after the catch made him a valuable weapon in screen and red zone situations for the Cowboys. Not much of a blocker, Hendershot thrived flexed out in more of a “big slot” role as a rookie. It paired perfectly with fellow rookie Jake Ferguson, who was well-versed in inline play and the various blocking assignments that accompany such a role.

Hia 2023 was a campaign highlighted by two drops on just seven targets and some rather ineffective contributions in the blocking game.

Hendershot’s objective in his third season is not only to reclaim the magic from his rookie season, but to show his game has matured enough to hold off some high potential competition who are challenging for roster spots.

Had it not been for a preseason ACL tear, John Stephens, an undrafted free agent in 2023, would have likely beaten Hendershot out last year. Stephens routinely flashed in training camp, showing elite balls skills and a natural understanding of routes and how they play off certain coverages. He wasn’t any more polished than Hendershot in the blocking game but his sky-high potential as a pass catcher almost made it irrelevant. Since Hendershot likely can’t outdo Stephens as a pass catcher, his best course of action is to show he’s more versatile as a blocker.

Speaking of blocking, the Cowboys signed arguably the best blocking TE in the 2024 draft class when they added Brevyn Spann-Ford to the mix following the draft. The 24-year-old’s enormous 6-foot-7, 270-pound frame makes him a natural fit for inline roles, giving him the inside track on jumbo packages and other short yardage situations common for reserve tight ends.

Hendershot’s inconsistent play and one dimensionality makes him a hard sell for this Cowboys roster. Dallas is already tied to Schoonmaker as a second-round pick and can’t afford to invest another valuable roster spot on another inconsistent TE prospect.

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Follow the Money: Breakdown of Cowboys TE salaries, cap hits

A breakdown of the cap spending at the tight end position and how Dallas has set themselves up to keep costs low with solid production. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Imagine a scenario where a young, bonafide starter who just made his first Pro Bowl leads a position group of other young talented players, all threats to make the team. Now imagine the entire collection doesn’t take up much salary cap space.

The tight end room in Dallas has a long list of potential contributors and might be the closest to fitting this description. The Cowboys have done the ground work, laying the platform for this to come to fruition. Now the players not named Jake Ferguson have to come through on the promise.

When churning the bottom of the roster, a player’s salary often contributes to his fate but the money aspect probably won’t be coming into play for these guys. With very little capital spent, this is where Dallas has managed to save a few dollars without sacrificing much.