NFL Player News
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Cade Otton TE | TB
Buccaneers' Cade Otton: Team-high catch total in loss
Otton brought in four of seven targets for 21 yards in the Buccaneers' 34-7 loss to the Rams on Sunday night.
Otton led the Buccaneers in receptions while tying for second in receiving yards for the Buccaneers on the night. Otton logged his usual hefty snap share -- 86 percent (60 snaps) -- but with Baker Mayfield exiting the game early due to a shoulder injury and Teddy Bridgewater similarly struggling to get much going through the air, the tight end's yardage total was his lowest since Week 4. Given Otton's usual shorter-area role, the tight end shouldn't see much of a downgrade in outlook if Bridgewater is forced to make a spot start Week 13 against the Cardinals.
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George Kittle TE | SF
49ers' George Kittle: Leading receiver on MNF
Kittle finished with six receptions (on 10 targets) for 78 yards in Monday's 20-9 victory over the Panthers.
Kittle finished Monday's primetime tilt as the game's leading receiver off a season-high 10 targets. The 31-year-old has really found his groove since going catchless in his return from a hamstring injury Week 7, providing fantasy managers with a 29-304-4 receiving line over his last five starts. Kittle may be asked to utilize his elite blocking skills more than usual Week 13 in order to help the offensive line deal with the unstoppable force that is DE Myles Garrett when the 49ers visit the Browns on Sunday.
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Anthony Firkser TE | DET
Anthony Firkser: Back with practice squad
Firkser reverted to the Lions' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Firkser was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday's 34-27 overtime win against the Giants, failing to record any stats while playing three snaps on offense and seven snaps with the special-teams unit. The tight end finished as a distant second option at his position with Brock Wright logging 60 snaps on offense, but he did finish ahead of Ross Dwelley (2). With Sam LaPorta (IR, back) likely sidelined for the rest of the regular season, Firkser should have another opportunity to be elevated in the near future.
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Pharaoh Brown TE | ARI
Pharaoh Brown: Returns to practice squad
Brown reverted to the Cardinals' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Brown made his second appearance of the regular season during Sundays' 27-24 overtime loss to the Jaguars, when he played 20 snaps (eight on offense, 12 on special teams) while recording a tackle on punt coverage. He's eligible to be elevated from the practice squad once more by the Cardinals this season, which could come as soon as Week 13 against the Buccaneers this Sunday.
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Noah Gray TE | KC
Chiefs' Noah Gray: Unavailable for walkthrough
Gray (concussion) was estimated to be a non-participant at the Chiefs' walkthrough Monday.
Gray suffered a concussion in the team's 23-20 overtime win against the Colts on Sunday, so his inability to participate Monday comes as no surprise. The tight end will have to clear concussion protocol in order to play in Thursday's contest against the Cowboys, which feels like a long shot. If Gray is unable to go in Week 13, Robert Tonyan would stand to operate in the top reserve spot at tight end behind Travis Kelce in Dallas.
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Nikola Kalinic TE | CHI
Nikola Kalinic: Joins practice squad injured list
Kalinic (undisclosed) was placed on the Bears' practice-squad injured list Monday, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Kalinic was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday's 31-28 win over the Steelers, recording a tackle and a forced fumble while playing 15 snaps on special teams. The tight end suffered an apparent injury in the game, leaving the team's Week 12 win in a cast. Kalinic reverted to the team's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log, and he will now be forced to miss some time moving forward.
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John FitzPatrick TE | GB
Packers' John FitzPatrick: Makes another start
FitzPatrick was targeted once and caught one pass for 11 yards in Sunday's 23-6 victory over the Vikings.
FitzPatrick was credited with a start for the second time in as many weeks, and he led Packers tight ends in snaps just like he did in Week 11. He's spending far more time on the field than he did before fellow tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) went down, but with two catches for 16 yards over the last two contests it has not been indicated in the box score.
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Luke Musgrave TE | GB
Packers' Luke Musgrave: Remains in limited role
Musgrave was targeted twice and caught one pass for seven yards in Sunday's 23-6 victory over the Vikings.
The Packers used their tight ends in almost the exact same fashion as they did in Week 11, with John FitzPatrick playing the most snaps and Josh Whyle and Musgrave sharing the work behind him. As also was the case in Week 11, none of them -- including Musgrave -- made a noticeable fantasy impact.
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Noah Fant TE | NO
Bengals' Noah Fant: Volume declines with Gesicki back
Fant secured his only target for nine yards during Cincinnati's 26-20 loss to the Patriots in Week 12.
Fant saw his offensive snap share drop to just 27 percent versus New England, a decline in usage that coincides with the return of Mike Gesicki (four catches for 35 yards on six targets) from IR. Now back in a familiar role as the No. 2 tight end in Cincinnati, Fant can safely be dropped in the majority of fantasy formats, even if quarterback Joe Burrow (toe) manages to be back in the starting lineup Thursday night versus the Ravens.
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Brock Wright TE | DET
Lions' Brock Wright: Misses walkthrough Monday
Wright (neck) listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimate.
Wright played 88 percent of offensive snaps during Detroit's overtime win over the Giants in Week 12, securing three of four targets for 29 yards, but his status for Thursday's matchup against the Packers now appears uncertain due to a neck injury. It's possible the Lions are simply being cautious with Wright's health on a short week, given his position as the team's de facto starting tight end with Sam LaPorta (back) looking unlikely to return this season. Wright will have two more chances to get on the practice field ahead of a Thanksgiving divisional matchup.