NFL Player News

The Chiefs placed Kelce on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Kelce is vaccinated, which means his placement on the list is the result of a positive test. Due the NFL's new COVID-19 return-to-play protocols, Kelce could be cleared in advance of Sunday's game against the Steelers if he's asymptomatic of the virus. For the time being, however, Kansas City's available tight ends are Blake Bell and Noah Gray.

Pruitt recorded one catch on one target for one yard in Sunday's 19-13 loss to Pittsburgh.

Pruitt was on the field for 34 percent of offensive snaps, good for second among the team's tight ends. However, his involvement in the passing game was minimal, and he has now been limited to one or fewer receptions in his last six contests.

Swaim recorded one catch on two targets for five yards in Sunday's 19-13 loss to Pittsburgh.

Swaim led Tennessee's tight ends with 59 (74 percent) offensive snaps. However, he wasn't utilized heavily in the passing game and had to split targets with both Anthony Firkser and MyCole Pruitt. Swaim has been limited to only one catch in three of his last four games.

Cager (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the Raiders, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.

Cager was signed to the Browns' active roster ahead of Week 15, but he'll be a healthy scratch against Las Vegas. Since Jarvis Landry (illness) will be sidelined, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins and Anthony Schwartz are in line to serve as the team's top receivers.

Bryant (ankle) is listed as active for Monday's game against the Raiders, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

With Austin Hooper on the reserve/COVID-19 list, look for David Njoku to head the Browns' tight ends corps Monday. However, as long as his ankle holds up, Bryant -- who was inactive Week 14 -- is a candidate to see targets from fill-in QB Nick Mullens, with Miller Forristall in reserve. In that context, Bryant profiles as a lineup option for those scrambling for a plug-in at this stage of the week.

Seals-Jones (illness) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Eagles.

A non-COVID-19-related illness kept Seals-Jones from practicing Sunday, but he returned to the field as a full participant Monday. Though he'll still carry a designation into the Week 15 contest, Seals-Jones' ability to put in a full practice bodes well for his chances of gaining clearance for Tuesday's game. If active, Seals-Jones presumably will start at tight end, but he'll likely have to split work at tight end with rookie John Bates, who has made a push for more playing time in the second half of the season.

Njoku is in line to serve as Cleveland's top tight end for Monday's game against Las Vegas after Austin Hooper (illness) wasn't reinstated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.

After missing Cleveland's Week 14 win over Baltimore while he resided on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Njoku was restored to the roster Thursday, two days after Hooper tested positive for the virus Tuesday. Even with the NFL pushing back the Browns' Week 15 game an extra two days, Hooper wasn't able to clear the necessary protocols, which should leave Njoku in store for one of his larger snap shares and target counts of the season. Cleveland could have No. 3 tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) available Monday, but expect Njoku to see the bulk of the work at the position as the healthier option. Njoku will be working with third-string quarterback Nick Mullens, who will pick up the start with both Baker Mayfield (illness) and Case Keenum (illness) still stuck on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Bowers (neck) has been activated from IR in advance of Monday's game against the Browns.

With Darren Waller (knee/back) unavailable for the contest, Bowers will give the Raiders some added Week 15 tight end depth behind Foster Moreau and Daniel Helm. Prior to landing on IR in October, Bowers had seen most of his snaps on special teams.

Hurst caught both of his targets for six yards during Sunday's 31-13 loss to the 49ers.

Hurst battled an illness in practice leading up to Week 15, but he was able to play 25 of the Falcons' 60 offensive snaps. However, his role in the passing attack remained minimal. With Kyle Pitts and Russell Gage absorbing the majority of Matt Ryan's attention, it will be difficult for another viable fantasy to emerge from the Falcons' struggling offense.

Hooper (illness) wasn't activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list and won't be available for Monday's game against the Raiders, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Even with the NFL pushing back Cleveland's Week 15 game an extra two days in addition to relaxing the return-to-play protocols for vaccinated individuals who test positive for COVID-19, Hooper and several other key Browns players weren't able to clear the necessary protocols prior to Monday's 5 p.m. ET kickoff. With Hooper and wideout Jarvis Landry (illness) both set to miss Monday's contest, fill-in starting quarterback Nick Mullens will likely have to make do with Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz (concussion), Rashard Higgins and David Njoku as his top targets in the passing game.