Bills signed WR Dante Pettis

Pettis reunites with the 49ers, who add him for receiver depth given the rash of pass-catcher injuries to open the season. He began his career as a second-round pick for San Francisco, bouncing around as a depth receiver and special teamer with the Giants, Bears, and Saints as well. Pettis may see some game day action soon given his familiarity with Kyle Shanahan, but he should be nowhere near fantasy rosters.

Hardman’s release was first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. A seven-year NFL veteran, Hardman spent most of his career with the Chiefs, where he helped Kansas City win three Super Bowls. Last year he appeared in only two games with the Bills and dropped passes were an issue in training camp and preseason this year. Hardman will head to the open market where he could be a fit for another team looking for wide receiver depth. Also released/waived were OLB Cade Denhoff, CB Jordan Dunbar, G Bruno Fina, ILB Theron Gaines, C Sincere Haynesworth, DL Zion Logue, CB D.J. Miller, S Wande Owens, WR Dante Pettis, LB Otis Reese IV, WR Quentin Skinner, and TE Shane Zylstra.

Moore caught 11 passes with the Commanders last season. He initially entered the NFL as a 2016 fourth-round pick with the Ravens, and spent five seasons in Baltimore. The Ravens brought him aboard today after a workout that also included free agent WRs Sterling Shepard and Dante Pettis.

Buechele, 28, has spent his NFL career bouncing between the Chiefs and Bills quarterback rooms, now returning to Buffalo for the offseason. The Bills also signed WR Jalen Virgil to a reserve-future deal; he spent the 2024 season with the team. Familiar faces return to Buffalo with reserve-future deals at the start of the offseason.

Tipton is now on the wrong side of questionable, which is unfortunate. The Saints will be without WR Chris Olave, who is in the hospital, recovering from a blood clot in his lung. This likely leaves WRs Kevin Austin and Dante Pettis atop the depth chart against the Panthers.

Tipton missed the Saints’ last two practices. Players typically play through illnesses, but he appears to be truly questionable. Were he to sit out, it would leave the Saints with only WRs Chris Olave, Kevin Austin Jr. and Dante Pettis on the active roster. Olave should handle a significant target share, per usual.

Ceaser logged zero snaps in his 2024 rookie season. The Bills correspondingly waived WR Jalen Virgil and DE Justin Hollins with injury designations. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia writes, “Virgil was quite limited during Wednesday’s practice, while Hollins was not on the field for the session.”

Pettis saw late playing time for the lowly Saints because of playing time, but the former second-round pick will make his living with New Orleans as a special teams contributor.

The touchdown gives Pettis Jr. his only score of 2024, and his first receiving touchdown since 2022. Pettis will get a chance to make rosters because he’s able to contribute on special teams, but that’s all he is at this point.

Pettis’ 27 yards led the Saints wide receivers, and his four targets tied Cedrick Wilson Jr. for the team-high amongst receivers. Pettis wasn’t able to do much with it, and it’s hard to feel confident about receivers catching passes from Spencer Rattler, but if you’re in a super deep league playing in Week 18 it does seem like Pettis is emerging as the team’s top receiver with Marquez Valdes-Scantling banged up.