The Buccaneers released Niklas (leg) with an injury settlement Tuesday, per the NFL's official transaction report.

EDGE Analysis

Niklas suffered tough luck this offseason, when he sustained a leg injury in the first training camp practice July 29. The 26-year-old was already placed on injured reserve by the Buccaneers and is now free to sign with any team.

Niklas (leg) cleared waivers and reverted to injured reserve Monday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM Radio reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niklas was waived with an injury designation by Tampa Bay on Sunday, but he ends up on IR after going unclaimed on waivers. The 26-year-old will remain there for the rest of the season unless he reaches an injury settlement.

The Buccaneers waived Niklas (leg) with an injury designation Sunday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran tight end reunited with former Cards coach Bruce Arians on the eve of training camp, but he sustained a leg injury in Friday's opening practice. After he was unable to return to the field over the weekend, Niklas was a natural candidate for release when the team needed a roster spot to ink Vincent Testaverde as an extra training camp arm. Injuries contained Niklas to just 19 receptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns in Arizona between 2014 and 2017.

Niklas signed a contract with the Buccaneers on Wednesday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niklas did not stick to an NFL roster during the 2018 campaign but played a depth role in Arizona from 2014 to 2017. Across those four seasons, he appeared in 41 games, recording 19 catches for 203 yards and one touchdown. With Cameron Brate entrenched as the top backup to O.J. Howard in Tampa Bay, Niklas will compete for a depth role.

The Patriots cut Niklas on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niklas signed a one-year deal with the Patriots in April, but the team elected to let him walk Friday to open a roster spot of the signing of wide receiver Paul Turner. Given New England's depth at the position, it was going to be a long shot for him to find a 53-man roster spot, but he will now be free to look into a deal with another club.

Niklas agreed Wednesday to sign a one-year contract with the Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

A 2014 second-round pick, Niklas was limited by a variety of injuries during his four seasons in Arizona, catching 19 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns in only 41 games. Listed at 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, he's one of the larger tight ends in the NFL, so he should at least be useful as a goal-line blocker if he stays healthy. Niklas will provide depth behind Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen, though the latter could end up as a cap casualty before Week 1. Regardless, it's hard to envision a scenario in which Niklas is a major part of the New England passing attack.

Niklas visited the Patriots on Monday, WEEI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niklas logged 11 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown in 15 games for the Cardinals in 2017. If the 2014 second-rounder does join the Patriots, he'd provide the team with added depth at tight end behind Rob Gronkowski, who is expected back for the 2018 season after having reportedly mulled retirement.

Niklas posted 11 receptions (on 23 targets) for 132 yards and one touchdown in 15 games during the 2017 season.

EDGE Analysis

Selected in the second round of the 2014 draft, Niklas has been snake-bitten throughout four years in the NFL, almost entirely on the injury front. Entering this season, he was active in just 26 of a possible 48 games, but relative health (for him) resulted in 15 more appearances in 2017. Niklas rarely made an impact as a pass catcher, though, so whoever heads the new coaching staff may decided to move on, especially with tight ends Jermaine Gresham and Ricky Seals-Jones, a 2017 undrafted rookie, under contract through at least the upcoming campaign.

Niklas (ankle) is listed as active Sunday in Seattle, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

One week removed from his first absence of the season, Niklas increased his practice participation enough to earn a full designation at Friday's practice. With his health intact heading into the final game of the campaign, he likely will earn the second-most offensive snaps among Cardinals tight ends behind Jermaine Gresham.

The Cardinals have listed Niklas (ankle) as questionable for Sunday's season finale versus the Seahawks, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

NIklas was sidelined for last week's win over the Giants. He has seen his workload increase every day at practice throughout the week, so he appears to be trending in the right direction. Still, final confirmation on his status is unlikely to be determined until he tests his ankle out in warmups.