With Logan Thomas possibly back healthy it may not make sense, but the Lions just waived TE Darren Fells...

Washington hasn’t exactly struggled with TE depth while Logan Thomas has been out with Ricky Seals-Jones stepping up, but until Logan Thomas is reactivated from IR, Washington is one hit away from relying on John Bates and Sammis Reyes as the team’s tight ends.

While he’s no superstar, Darren Fells has been a solid tight end in the NFL for quite a while, and he was waived by the Lions this week.

After two seasons in Houston with a combined 653 yards and 11 touchdowns, Fells was released by the Texans, who drafted Jordan Brevin in the 5th round of April’s draft, and signed with the Lions in May.

Washington currently sits near the top of the waiver wire, with the Lions in the poll position, so the team would likely be successful if they put a claim in on the veteran tight end.

Source: Pro Football Reference

Fells is 35 years old and at the tail end of his career. He is also on a veteran minimum contract of just about $1m per year, but his cap hit is only $850,000 for the 2021 season. With only about half the season left, any team that grabs Fells off of waivers would likely be on the hook for less than $450,000 cap hit for the remainder of the season.

Fells has been averaging about 22 snaps per game with the Lions, but was on the field an average of 33 snaps per game in 2020 with the Texans. Over the course of his career, Fells has traditionally been a good blocker and an occasional pass-catcher; he is probably the type of player that the coaches hope John Bates to develop into.

Darren Fells is a solid if unspectacular tight end on a very cheap contract. He is also pretty old for a tight end. He could add depth to a position group that is in...okay shape in Washington IF Logan Thomas is healthy and ready to play. He might be a good teacher for guys like Bates and Reyes as they attempt to develop into NFL tight ends.

I’m not sure if the team really needs another tight end, but I thought I’d raise the question.