NFL Player News

Higbee (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Thursday's game in Seattle, Stu Jackson of the Ram's official site reports.

Higbee was listed as limited on Los Angeles' first two injury reports of Week 5, only to be listed as a full practice participant on the final one released Wednesday. Granted, Wednesday's session was merely a walkthrough, but the tight end has been cleared for action Thursday. Higbee will look to produce against a Seahawks defense that has allowed 10.4 yards per reception to opposing tight ends this season.

Njoku didn't practice Wednesday due to a knee injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku is missing his first practice of the season, though he's one of 11 Browns sitting out Wednesday's session. If Njoku ends up missing a Week 5 matchup with the Chargers, the Browns will have more work for fellow tight ends Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant. The three have been working in a committee all season, limiting Njoku to 10 targets on a 62 percent snap share through four games.

Everett (illness) has a chance to play in Thursday's game against the Rams, but he'll need to test negative for COVID-19 on one more occasion before he's eligible for activation, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Everett was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last Wednesday and missed Sunday's win over the 49ers. In his absence, Will Dissly played 82 percent of the offensive snaps and Colby Parkinson took 68 percent, though neither did much damage in the passing game. The Seahawks are tentatively expecting Everett back for Thursday, though his availability wasn't made official at the conclusion of Wednesday's practice.

Hockenson was held out of Wednesday's practice with a knee injury, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Hockenson is appearing on the injury report for the first time since Week 1, when he was listed as a full participant after recovering from a summer shoulder injury. There were no signs of Hockenson's workload being limited in the Week 4 loss to Chicago; he saw eight targets and played 82 percent of snaps.

Kittle (calf) isn't practicing Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Kittle drew 11 targets and played 92 percent of the 49ers' offensive snaps in the Week 4 loss to Seattle, but he apparently aggravated the calf injury that rendered him questionable heading into the game. He's now considered day-to-day, with the Niners hoping their star tight end can continue to play through the injury this weekend against the division-leading Cardinals.

Smith (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Smith has battled the knee injury all season, but he has been active for all four games. While he will likely be active for the divisional matchup with the Cowboys on Sunday, the 24-year-old will maintain his marginal role behind Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph.

Washington placed Thomas (hamstring) on injured reserve Wednesday.

He's ineligible for the next three games, with Week 8 at Denver being the earliest possible date a for a return. Thomas injured his hamstring in the opening minutes of Sunday's 34-30 win over the Falcons, with his absence thereafter allowing backup Ricky Seals-Jones to play a career-high 62 snaps (93 percent share). Seals-Jones caught only two passes for 29 yards on four targets, and it's possible moving forward that he loses some playing time to youngsters John Bates and Sammis Reyes, or recent signee Jace Sternberger. Still, Seals-Jones is a clear favorite for Washington's tight-end targets with Thomas sidelined through midseason.

Washington signed Sternberger from Seattle's practice squad Wednesday, independent NFL reporter Dov Kleiman reports.

Sternberger spent two weeks on the Seahawks' practice squad after he was waived by the Packers in mid-September, and he'll now serve as depth at tight end for Washington after Logan Thomas (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve. The 25-year-old appeared in 12 games for Green Bay last year and hauled in 12 of his 15 targets for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Kroft won't practice Wednesday due to a back injury, Ethan B. Greenberg of the Jets' official site reports.

Since logging three catches for 26 yards Week 1, Kroft, who played through a rib issue this past Sunday against the Titans, has totaled just three catches for 20 yards over the Jets' subsequent three contests. If Kroft ends up sitting out this weekend against the Falcons, Ryan Griffin would operate as the Jets' clear No. 1 tight end after splitting work with Kroft through the first four contests.

Thomas (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday, Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic reports.

Thomas' absence was fully expected, given that he's reportedly viewed as week-to-week after exiting Sunday's win over Atlanta in the first quarter. Ricky Seals-Jones filled in for Thomas as Washington's primary tight end but caught just two of four targets for 29 yards. Thomas is looking doubtful for the Football Team's Week 5 game against New Orleans.