NFL Player News

Hopkins caught his lone target for nine yards during Tuesday's 20-10 win over Seattle.

The rookie has played only 55 offensive snaps this season, with 22 of them coming Tuesday. He's unlikely to get a chance to build on this outing, as the Rams are expected to get top tight end Tyler Higbee back from the reserve/COVID-19 list for this weekend's game in Minnesota. Kendall Blanton will serve as Higbee's top backup, relegating Hopkins to the No. 3 role.

Blanton started at tight end and played 43 of 66 offensive snaps but failed to secure his only target during Tuesday's 20-10 win over Seattle.

Blanton started for the second week in a row while Tyler Higbee had two separate stints on the reserve/COVID-19 list. When Higbee returns, Blanton's already minuscule fantasy value will take a notable hit. He hauled in two of four targets for 29 yards across his two turns as a starter.

The Browns activated Hooper (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.

Hooper was unable to gain clearance to play in Monday's loss to the Raiders, but he's now poised to return to action for this Saturday's game against the Packers. In his last contest Dec. 12 versus the Ravens, Hooper played every snap on offense and caught five of his six targets for 30 yards and a touchdown. His return will bolster the Browns' tight end corps, which also includes David Njoku (knee) and Harrison Bryant (ankle). He may not see a 100-percent snap share like he did Week 14, but Hooper could be in store for a solid dose of targets against Green Bay, especially if wideout Jarvis Landry (illness) isn't activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list in advance of the contest.

Engram caught four of five targets for 33 yards in Sunday's 21-6 loss to the Cowboys.

Engram's underwhelming season continued Week 15, as he failed to see the end zone for the fifth straight week, despite averaging 5.0 targets per game during that stretch. Though Engram is seeing consistent involvement in New York's passing attack, it hasn't yielded much meaningful fantasy production. Engram looks like a low-upside fantasy play heading into the Giants' Week 16 game against the Eagles.

The Jaguars designated Arnold (knee) for return from injured reserve Wednesday, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

Jacksonville will now have a 21-day window to evaluate Arnold for a return to the active roster, with the tight end eligible to practice during that time. A sprained MCL has caused Arnold to miss the last three games, but he could be able to play as soon as Sunday's contest against the Jets if he checks out well in practices Wednesday through Friday. Once deemed fully healthy, Arnold will likely overtake James O'Shaughnessy as the No. 1 option on the depth chart.

Seals-Jones (illness) brought in four of seven targets for 29 yards in Washington's 27-17 loss to the Eagles on Tuesday night.

The veteran tight end co-led the team in targets alongside Antonio Gibson and was also second in receptions to his teammate. Seals-Jones is in possession of the top tight end job the rest of the way with Logan Thomas (knee) on injured reserve, so he'll have some utility in a Week 16 road matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday night, especially if Taylor Heinicke is able to clear COVID-19 protocols in time for that contest.

Goedert brought in seven of nine targets for 135 yards in the Eagles' 27-17 win over Washington on Tuesday night.

Goedert's reception, receiving yardage and target tallies were all team highs for the night and season highs for the tight end, as was his spectacular 45-yard catch early in the second quarter between two defenders. The tight end's rapport with spot starter Gardner Minshew in a Week 13 win over the Jets certainly stood out, but his chemistry with Jalen Hurts on Tuesday was even more encouraging considering that it hadn't always been evident this season. Goedert heads into a very favorable Week 16 home date against the Giants with plenty of momentum afforded by his back-to-back 100-yard efforts.

The Saints placed Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Kyle Mosley of SI.com reports.

Johnson reportedly tested positive for the virus. Assuming he's vaccinated, Johnson will have a chance to gain clearance for Sunday's game against the Dolphins if he's asymptomatic. Adam Trautman and Nick Vannett would be the team's only healthy tight ends if Johnson is ultimately unable to play.

Keene (knee) shifted back to IR from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.

Keene underwent season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus injury in August and was ruled out for the season. Now that he's cleared COVID protocols, he can return to rehabbing his knee at the Patriots' facilities to prepare for a return for the 2022 season.

Wells was cut by the Cardinals on Tuesday.

Wells only appeared in one game for the Cardinals this season, in Week 9 against the 49ers, playing just one snap before suffering a hand injury that placed him on injured reserve. Wells was activated from IR on Monday, but with Zach Ertz, Demetrius Harris and Darrell Daniels all ahead of Wells on the tight end positional depth chart, there was no longer room for Wells on the roster. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals signed linebacker Joe Walker to the active roster, a position at which the Cardinals are currently dealing with injuries.