NFL Player News

Pitts (ankle) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Pitts has been operating with a cap on his practice reps this week due to an ankle injury, which also can said for QB Michael Penix (knee) and WR Drake London (hip). With both Penix and London sidelined this past Sunday against the Dolphins, Pitts connected with fill-in signal-caller Kirk Cousins nine times on as many targets for 59 yards and no touchdowns. The statuses of Penix and London will be key for where Pitts stands in Atlanta's passing game Week 9, but if the tight end is available, he again could be the team's top option.

Freiermuth (quadricep) was a full participant at Thursday's practice.

Freiermuth returned Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's practice. He's poised to suit up and play his usual role Sunday against the Colts as part of a crowded Steelers tight end room that also devotes significant playing time to Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington.

Bellinger (neck) didn't participate in Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

With a pair of absences from practice to begin game Week 9 prep, Bellinger looks to be in danger of missing Sunday's against the 49ers. If Bellinger is unable to play this weekend, Chris Manhertz (illness) and Thomas Fidone would be the available depth options at tight end behind Theo Johnson, who played a season-high 98 percent of the offensive snaps in the Giants' Week 8 loss to the Eagles.

Okonkwo (foot) didn't participate in practice Thursday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

This is a downgrade for Okonkwo after he logged a limited practice session Wednesday. The severity of his foot issue isn't clear, but it's concerning that the fourth-year tight end was held out entirely in the penultimate practice of the week. If Okonkwo can't play Sunday versus the Chargers, Gunnar Helm could start at tight end for Tennessee.

Kmet (back) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

After missing the first game of his career in this past Sunday's loss to the Ravens, Kmet has opened Week 9 prep with a pair of limited sessions. If he can upgrade to full participation Friday, Kmet should be in good position to reclaim his usual duties as the Bears' starting tight end. While Kmet was sidelined this past weekend, rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland played a season-high 81 percent of the snaps on offense and finished with three catches for 38 yards on five targets.

Swinson signed a deal to join the Cardinals' practice squad Thursday.

Swinson spent training camp with the Packers before being let go in late August. He subsequently joined the 49ers' practice squad before being cut last week. The Arizona State product will now try to impress the Cardinals while part of the practice squad, though he has a tricky path to the active roster since the team has three healthy tight ends on the 53-man roster in Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins and Josiah Deguara.

Bryant is the lone healthy tight end on the 53-man roster after Houston announced that Dalton Schultz (knee, shoulder) did not practice Wednesday, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Schultz's injury coupled with the health of wide receivers Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) -- both of whom were limited participants Wednesday -- raises Bryant's profile leading up to Week 9's home game against Denver. Of course, there's still time for Schultz to get on the practice field, and he didn't appear to be hurt last week, when he played to the final snap in Week 8's win over San Francisco. Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans didn't sound too concerned, indicating that he expects to get Schultz back as the week goes on. Bryant has one reception on four targets for five yards while playing 26 percent of the offensive snaps in the six games he's played this season.

Dissly did not practice Wednesday due to an illness.

Dissly will have two more opportunities to recover enough to return to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans. He was a healthy scratch for Week 8 against the Vikings, so there's no guarantee that he would be active for Week 9 even if he recovered enough to avoid an injury designation. Dissly appears to have been phased out of the Chargers' offensive gameplan due to the emergence of rookie fifth-rounder Oronde Gadsden, while Tucker Fisk and Tyler Conklin provide depth at tight end.

Adkins (knee) did not practice Wednesday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.

Adkins suffered the knee injury in Sunday's win over the Cowboys and did not return. His status for Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Texans is likely in doubt, though he'll still have two days to increase his practice activity.

Morris (groin) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.

Morris missed the Jaguars' last game before their Week 8 bye versus the Rams with a groin injury, and it's still bothering him even after the extra week of rest. He'll probably have to practice in full Thursday or Friday to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.