NFL Player News

The Bears placed Graham on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.

Per Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times, Graham is vaccinated, so his placement on the list is likely the result of a breakthrough positive test. While he'll theoretically have a chance at playing Sunday in Tampa Bay if he's asymptomatic and submits two negative test results at least 24 hours apart, he's highly unlikely to clear all protocols ahead of the game's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. Instead, the Bears will likely hope to have Graham available for their Week 8 matchup with the 49ers on Oct. 31. Jesse James will slide into the No. 2 tight end role behind Cole Kmet until Graham is cleared to return.

Smith (knee) has cleared the injury report ahead of Sunday's contest against the Panthers, Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

As expected, Smith will once again play through the knee injury that he has dealt with all season. The 24-year-old is firmly supplanted behind Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph on the depth chart and has played a minimal role for the Giants offense this year, catching three passes for 33 yards across six games.

Engram (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Engram got back on the practice field Friday after missing Thursday's practice, which is a good sign for his potential availability for the Week 7 matchup. That being said, fantasy managers will still need to double check Engram's status prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Kyle Rudolph would step in as the Giants' top tight end if Engram can't go.

Seals-Jones (quadriceps) will play in Sunday's game against Green Bay, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

The tight end missed practice Wednesday and was a limited participant Thursday, but he'll avoid an injury designation on Washington's final report. Seals-Jones has topped 90 percent snap share in three straight games, catching 11 of 19 targets for 118 yards and touchdown during that stretch. He's on the TE1 map, at least the bottom half of it, for however long Logan Thomas (hamstring) remains sidelined. To that end, coach Ron Rivera said Friday that the decision on Thomas' return will be strictly medical and won't involve considerations about the team's record or upcoming bye (in Week 9), per Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic. Thomas is eligible to return from IR as soon as Week 8 at Denver, as Sunday in Green Bay will mark his third straight absence.

Ricci (concussion) won't play Sunday against the Giants, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Ricci will still need to clear concussion protocol before he's eligible to return to the field. The rookie fullback and tight end has featured exclusively in a blocking role on offense, though Ricci has also carved out a consistent role on special teams. Given his usage up to this point, Ricci's absence will go unnoticed in fantasy circles.

Goedert (illness), who was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, will play Sunday against the Raiders, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

In his return to the lineup, Goedert, who missed the Eagles' Week 6 loss to the Buccaneers and didn't practice Thursday, won't face any restrictions in terms of snap count. Going forward, with Zach Ertz having been traded to the Cardinals, Goedert should see steady volume on a weekly basis as Philadelphia's clear-cut No. 1 tight end.

Goedert (illness) appears to be practicing Friday, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The 26-year-old was reinstated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday but didn't practice, though he was in attendance for the session. Now that he's back on the field, Goedert appears on track to suit up Sunday in Las Vegas after missing one game following his positive test for COVID-19.

Giants head coach Joe Judge said Engram (calf) will practice Friday, Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Engram was unable to practice Thursday due to the calf injury, but he'll return to the field a day later. The 27-year-old should have a chance to suit up this weekend against Carolina, even if he only ends up practicing in a limited fashion Friday.

Bryant caught one of two targets for 15 yards in Thursday's 17-14 win over Denver.

After two consecutive weeks without being targeted, Bryant made his first catch since Week 4. Other than a burst of activity Week 2 against Houston, the second-year tight end has been quiet. He's had one or fewer catches in six of seven games played and is well off the pace of production he set during his rookie season.

Njoku caught hauled in both of his targets and gained 18 yards in Thursday's 17-14 win over the Broncos.

Njoku managed a knee injury during the short week but was available to play. He was on the field for 59 percent (42 snaps) of the offensive plays, which is right at his season average.