Tyrone

Wheatley Jr.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Henderson still has to pass his physical. The deal will be official once that happens. Henderson spent a month on the Steelers’ practice squad last year before being called up to the active roster. He did not, however, appear in a single game as a Steeler. His last live reps came with the Panthers in 2023. He made 10 starts, appeared in all 17 games, and broke up six passes with two interceptions. The team correspondingly released OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. with an injury designation.

Strong was buried on the Patriots’ depth chart as a rookie, playing 50 snaps, and wasn’t going to see the field after New England added Ezekiel Elliott. He’ll have a chance at a role in Cleveland, where he projects as the RB2 behind Nick Chubb. Wheatley, 26, is a former college tight end that’s spent the last two years on the practice squad.

Goheen sees this as a testament to Wheatley’s untapped upside. He was a four-star recruiting coming out of high school during the 2015 season. During the past campaign, the 6-foot-6, 276-pounder caught three passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Goheen expects Ian Bunting to work as the team’s Jake Butt replacement for the coming season, with Wheatley a name to watch in August camp.

Wheatley sat out last week’s win over Minnesota with an undisclosed injury. He’s mostly used as a blocking tight end, having caught only three passes for 26 yards on the year.

Wheatley (6'6/276) will be forced to miss the remainder of spring practice while he rehabs from the fractured foot. This past season, the then-junior caught three passes for 26 yards in what was an almost statistically non-existent campaign after he landed -- as something of a surprise -- on the John Mackey Award preseason watch list last summer. Wheatley should be healed up by the start of August camp, but we’ll keep an eye on his status as the weather warms. The rest of the Michigan tight ends room beyond Wheatley consists of Zach Gentry, Sean McKeon and Nick Eubanks.

Confirmed by a Michigan spokesperson, Wheatley has left of his own accord. His father, a former running back at UM, addressed his son’s departure, saying, “He made the decision, and I support him. Nothing more, nothing less.” The 6-foot-6, 276-pounder hasn’t had the cleanest of offseasons, fracturing his foot during spring practice. He had been expected as a healthy contributor for August camp prior to departing from the program. While he’s a known name, Wheatley’s actual production at Michigan has been quite limited and he takes his leave having made a modest six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown for his career. His next move is unclear at this juncture, but if there’s a transfer in the works, time is of the essence. As for the depth chart he leaves behind, UM still has Zach Gentry, Sean McKeon and Nick Eubanks on roster.

Wheatley will be eligible immediately for the upcoming campaign, as he’s dropping down from the FBS to the FCS. Wheatley left Michigan earlier this week on his own accord after totaling just six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown in his career. With only 26 days until Stony Brook’s opener at Air Force, Wheatley has a lot of work to do to learn the offense. The 6-foot-6, 276-pound tight end fractured his foot during spring practice this year while at Michigan but is expected to be healthy for the rest of August. UM’s tight ends room has now been whittled down to Zach Gentry, Sean McKeon and Nick Eubanks.