NFL Player News
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Brevyn Spann-Ford TE | DAL
Cowboys' Brevyn Spann-Ford: All set for Week 1
Spann-Ford (ankle) won't carry an injury designation into Thursday's contest against the Eagles.
Spann-Ford returned to be a full participant at practice this week after suffering an ankle injury in late July. The tight end will now be all set to operate as a depth option behind Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker in the team's regular-season opener in Philadelphia.
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Tommy Tremble TE | CAR
Panthers' Tommy Tremble: Cleared for Week 1
Tremble (back) isn't listed on the injury report for Sunday's season opener at Jacksonville.
The Panthers activated Tremble from the PUP list Aug. 21, giving him two-and-a-half weeks to ramp up for Week 1. He's ready and may even be a nominal starter, but Ja'Tavion Sanders figures to run more routes and get more playing time in passing situations.
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Theo Johnson TE | NYG
Giants' Theo Johnson: Good to go
Johnson isn't listed on the injury report for Sunday's season opener at Washington, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Giants coach Brian Daboll confirmed Johnson is "good to go" after making it through training camp and the preseason without any setbacks. It's been a smooth process, at least from a distance, which is perhaps surprising given Johnson's worrisome diagnosis back in December -- a Lisfranc injury that required surgery. The Giants didn't add much competition at tight end this offseason, potentially allowing Johnson to pick up where he left off in a near-every-down role (before the foot injury ended his rookie year).
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Jonnu Smith TE | PIT
Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Ready for Week 1
Smith (knee) is not listed on Wednesday's injury report, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Smith missed time early August due to a knee injury, but he returned to practice Aug. 20 and is now at full health as Sunday's regular-season opener against the Jets approaches. Fresh off a career-best campaign in which he tallied an 88-884-8 receiving line across 17 regular-season appearances with the Dolphins, Smith is now positioned to work alongside Pat Freiermuth as one of the Steelers' top tight ends. While the Steelers don't have much in the way of proven pass-catches for quarterback Aaron Rodgers behind WR DK Metcalf, the fact that Smith and Freiermuth will split snaps is a notable barrier to either tight end surfacing as a consistent weekly fantasy option.
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Cade Otton TE | TB
Buccaneers' Cade Otton: Limited by groin issue
Otton (groin) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Otton sustained a hamstring injury early in training camp, got back on the practice field as of Aug. 11 and played in preseason Week 2, when he didn't gather in either of his two targets. He then came down with a leg issue last Wednesday that now has been confirmed as a groin concern. Otton's status thus bears monitoring as the week goes on to get a sense of his chances to suit up Sunday in Atlanta.
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Mike Gesicki TE | CIN
Bengals' Mike Gesicki: No longer dealing with injury
Gesicki (hamstring) is not listed on Wednesday's injury report, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Gesicki missed much of August due to a hamstring injury, which gave Noah Fant an opportunity to handle expanded first-team reps at tight end, but he's back to full health ahead of Sunday's regular-season opener on the road against Cleveland. With premier target hogs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins atop the wide receiver depth chart and backfield mates Chase Brown and Samaje Perine both boasting a three-down skillset, Gesicki has a difficult path to earning consistent target volume on a weekly basis, especially with Fant now offering competition. He is still, however, the favorite to lead the Bengals' tight end position in targets after having inked a three-year, $25.5 million extension with the team this offseason.
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Darren Waller TE | MIA
Dolphins' Darren Waller: Listed as non-participant Wednesday
Waller (hip) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
Waller is officially listed with a hip injury, though coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that the veteran tight end hasn't had any injury setbacks and is simply on a ramp-up schedule, per Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site. McDaniel said Waller, who missed time early in training camp while working on his conditioning, will retake the practice field Thursday. Waller still appears on track for Sunday's regular-season opener on the road at Indianapolis, but how extensive a snap share he'll be ready for Week 1 remains to be seen.
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Sam LaPorta TE | DET
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Back to full strength
LaPorta (undisclosed) wasn't listed on the Lions' practice estimate Wednesday.
Like most of the Lions' key players, LaPorta didn't play in the preseason, but he also tended to an undisclosed injury in mid-August. He's been back on the practice field since Aug. 19, though, and now is poised to resume his standing as the team's No. 1 TE, which equated to 60 catches (on 83 targets) for 726 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 regular-season games in 2024.
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Isaiah Likely TE | BAL
Ravens' Isaiah Likely: Misses another practice
Likely (foot) is not practicing Wednesday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Likely has yet to resume practicing since undergoing surgery to address a small fracture in his left foot suffered late July, and though the Ravens still anticipate him returning early in the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that he isn't expected to suit up Sunday night on the road against Buffalo. Still, Baltimore's decision not to place Likely on short-term IR, which would rule him out the first four games of the year, is a strong indication that he remains on track to return in September. For at least Week 1, however, Charlie Kolar projects to work as the No. 2 tight end behind Mark Andrews.
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Isaiah Likely TE | BAL
Ravens' Isaiah Likely: Still expected to return early
Likely (foot) is not expected to suit up for his targeted return date of Week 1 on the road against Buffalo on Sunday, but his recovery is proceeding on track and the Ravens still expect him to be available early in the regular season, Jeremy Brener of SI.com reports.
Likely dodged IR to begin the regular season, confirming that Baltimore expects him to miss less than four games before he retakes the field. For at least Week 1, though, Mark Andrews appears in line to handle increased reps as the Ravens' clear top tight end, while Charlie Kolar steps into an expanded backup role. New No. 3 receiver DeAndre Hopkins will also figure to benefit from a slight uptick in target opportunities as long as Likely remains sidelined. Likely didn't practice Monday, but if he can return as at least a limited participant ahead of Sunday's regular-season opener, suiting up Week 2 against the Browns may be in play.