The Patriots are slated to trade Smith to the Falcons in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The move frees up cap space for the Patriots, while leaving Hunter Henry as the team's clear-cut top tight end ahead of free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Smith is in line to provide the Falcons with an experienced pass-catching option to work behind starting TE Kyle Pitts. This past season -- his second with New England -- Smith recorded 27 catches on 38 targets for 245 yards in 14 games.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Logs 27 catches this season
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Smith (concussion) finished the 2022 season with 27 catches on 38 targets for 245 yards in 14 games.
Since signing a four-year, $50,000,000 deal with the Patriots that runs through the 2024 season, Smith's fantasy impact has been modest while working in a tight end time-share that has tilted in favor of Hunter Henry, whose deal with the team goes through 2023. In that context, Smith's weekly lineup utility next season figures to be limited to deeper leagues, though in the event that Henry is sidelined at any point, Smith -- who missed time down the stretch in 2022 due to a concussion -- could yield dividends as a streaming option.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Downgraded, will not play
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Smith (concussion) was downgraded and will not play Sunday against the Bills.
That's now two consecutive games Smith will miss after suffering a concussion Week 16 against the Bengals. Expect Hunter Henry to see more work with the veteran tight end unavailable. The 28-year-old tallied five receptions and 52 yards in last week's win over the Dolphins with Smith sidelined.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Questionable for Week 18
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Smith (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills after practicing in a limited fashion Thursday and Friday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Smith, who didn't play in the team's Week 17 win over the Dolphins, but he'll have a chance to suit up this weekend. If available, Smith would likely work as the No. 2 option behind fellow tight end Hunter Henry, rendering Smith an unreliable fantasy option. In 14 games to date, Smith has caught 27 of his 38 targets for 245 yards and has yet to record a touchdown.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Returns to limited practice
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Smith (concussion) returned to a limited practice Thursday.
Smith -- who was inactive Week 17 -- didn't practice Wednesday, but his return to Thursday's session suggests that the tight end could be available Sunday against the Bills. Friday's final injury report will provide added context with regard to Smith's availability for the contest.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Back at practice
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Smith (concussion) was present for practice Thursday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Smith didn't practice Wednesday, but his return to the field Thursday suggests that the tight end has a chance to return to action in Sunday's scheduled game against the Bills. The Patriots' upcoming injury report will clarify Smith's official participation level.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Misses practice Wednesday
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Smith (concussion) didn't participate in practice Wednesday.
Smith didn't play in the Week 17 win over the Dolphins, and his continued absence from practice clouds his status for this Sunday's game against the Bills. If Smith remains sidelined, Hunter Henry would once again be in line to log added snaps and targets as New England's clear-cut top tight end.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Ruled out vs. Miami
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Smith (concussion) won't play Sunday against the Dolphins, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.
Fellow tight end Hunter Henry (knee) is listed as questionable, but if Henry's able to suit up, Smith's absence may afford him more playing time against a Dolphins defense that's allowed 10 touchdowns to tight ends, which is tied for the most in the league. Smith's last opportunity to return before the end of the regular season will come in Week 18 against the Bills.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Not practicing Thursday
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Smith (concussion) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Smith has one more chance to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, but if he's out this weekend, then Hunter Henry would be in line for added tight end snaps for the Patriots, assuming he plays through the knee issue that limited him during Wednesday's practice session.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Not practicing Wednesday
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Smith (head) wasn't spotted at Wednesday's practice, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Meanwhile, Hunter Henry (knee) was present for Wednesday's session. In any case, the statuses of both tight ends will be worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's game against the Dolphins. If either Smith or Henry are out this weekend, Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington would be candidates to be elevated from the Patriots' practice squad.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Gets checked for concussion
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Smith exited Saturday's game against the Bengals with a head injury and is questionable to return, Jim McBride of The Boston Globe reports.
After he was initially evaluated in the blue medical tent on the New England sideline, Smith headed to the locker room to presumably undergo further evaluation for a possible concussion. He's the second Patriots tight end to leave Saturday's contest early, as Hunter Henry was already ruled out for the rest of the game with a knee injury. The 6-foot-5, 217-pound Scotty Washington, who is listed as a receiver but has previous experience at tight end, is likely to fill in as the Patriots' tight end the rest of the way if Smith is unable to return.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Two catches Sunday
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Smith caught two of his three targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 30-24 loss to the Raiders.
Smith was out-snapped in the contest by Hunter Henry (52-38), per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com , with both players catching two passes versus Las Vegas. As the stretch run approaches, Smith's fantasy upside remains capped, given the Patriots' tight end timeshare.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Records two catches in Week 13
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Smith logged 17 of a possible 54 snaps on offense in Thursday's 24-10 loss to the Bills en route to catching both of his targets for six yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Smith, who was out-snapped by fellow tight end Hunter Henry (47 to 17) Thursday, is averaging two catches for 18.2 yards through 11 games thus far. Given that he hasn't scored a TD in that span while working in a time-share with Henry, Smith heads into the Patriots' stretch run with modest fantasy upside.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Blanked against Vikings
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Smith went without a target during Thursday's 33-26 loss to the Vikings.
Smith played only 16 offensive snaps, matching his lowest total of the season. He was overshadowed by position mate Hunter Henry (three catches for 63 yards and a touchdown), and Smith has now failed to record a reception on three occasions this season. Prior to Thursday's matchup, Smith's involvement on offense appeared to be trending up, as he had tallied at least three catches in each of his last three games.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Catches three passes Sunday
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Smith caught three of his four targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 26-3 win over the Colts.
Smith, who was on the field for 34 of a possible 63 snaps on offense in the contest, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, has logged three catches and four targets in each of his last two outings, but while working in a timeshare with fellow TE Hunter Henry, the 27-year-old remains a hit-or-miss fantasy option as the Patriots' next contest against the Jets approaches on Sunday, Nov. 20.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Catches one pass against Bears
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Smith played 17 of a possible 52 snaps on offense in Monday's loss to the Bears, catching one of three targets for four yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The tight end was well behind Hunter Henry (44 snaps, one catch on two targets) in usage. With a 10-123-0 stat line on 16 targets through six games, Smith has little fantasy value in his current role.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Practices fully Friday
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Smith (ankle) returned to a full practice Friday.
With that, Smith is line to suit up Monday night against the Bears, though the tight end's weekly fantasy upside continues to be impacted by working in a timeshare with Hunter Henry. In five games to date, Smith has logged a total of nine catches on 13 targets for 119 yards.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Limited practice Thursday
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Smith (ankle) was limited at practice Thursday.
Following a one-game absence, Smith logged 30 of a possible 70 snaps on offense in this past Sunday's win over the Browns, while catching both of his targets for 61 yards. With no reported setbacks in that contest, we'd expect Smith to be available Monday night against the Bears, but the tight end's fantasy upside is hampered by working in a timeshare with Hunter Henry.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Catches two passes Sunday
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Smith was on the field for 30 of a possible 70 snaps on offense in Sunday's 38-15 win over the Browns en route to catching both of his targets for 61 yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Meanwhile fellow tight end Hunter Henry logged 68 snaps, while catching four of his seven targets for 61 yards and a TD. Smith's Week 6 fantasy line was bolstered by a 53-yard catch, but looking ahead to next Monday's game against the Bears, he's a hit-or-miss lineup option, given that he continues to work in a timeshare with Henry.
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Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Listed as active Sunday
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Smith (ankle) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Browns.
Smith, who was inactive for last weekend's win over the Lions, will give it a go Sunday and is thus slated to step back into a time share with fellow TE Hunter Henry. In that ongoing arrangement, Smith -- who has caught seven of his 11 targets for 58 yards in four games to date -- is a hit-or-miss fantasy option
