Waller (rest/hip) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

It sounds like it was more of a rest day than anything else for the veteran tight end, who missed all of training camp and the preseason with the hip injury. After playing 27 percent of the offensive snaps in his Week 4 debut, Waller's playing time skyrocketed to 58 percent in Week 5. Through two games, Waller has a productive 8-105-3 receiving line on nine targets and has put himself in the fantasy TE1 conversation moving forward due to Tyreek Hill (knee) being done for the season.

Jacksonville signed Ismail to its practice squad Wednesday.

After the Jaguars sent regular starting tight end Brenton Strange to their injured reserve list with a quadriceps injury Tuesday, it made some sense for them to add some organizational depth at that position. Ismail spent most of the 2024 season on Baltimore's practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Samford.

Dissly (knee) isn't listed on the Chargers' Week 6 injury report.

Dissly is thus set to return for Sunday's game at Miami after missing each of the past three contests. Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden took advantage initially, but he saw just one target in the Week 5 loss to Washington despite handling a season-high 61 percent route share. That number likely will drop with Dissly back in the lineup, although it's also possible Dissly mostly takes the snaps that went to Tyler Conklin and Tucker Fisk in recent weeks. Either way, it'll be some form of rotation, with long odds for any one TE to draw more than a handful of targets.

Sample did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Sample played 41 snaps (27 on offense, 14 on special teams) and logged one catch for minus-one yard during the Bengals' 37-24 loss to the Lions in Week 5. He has come out of that contest worse for wear with an ankle injury, and he'll have two more opportunities to return to practice and avoid an injury designation heading into Sunday's contest against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Tanner Hudson and Cam Grandy would be in line to step up as the TE3 behind Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant if Sample is not cleared to play against Green Bay.

Higbee (hip) isn't practicing Wednesday, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.

Higbee missed last Thursday's loss to the 49ers, opening up more playing time for Davis Allen and Colby Parkinson -- a duo that combined for three targets while each handling route shares below 50 percent. Rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson had a 21-yard reception in the game, but he played just two other snaps.

Johnson (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Johnson also tended to an ankle injury last week, but he was able to suit up for this past Sunday's win against the Giants and logged a typical 85 percent snap share on his way to two catches (on four targets) for 17 yards. He'll have a pair of practices to get back to full this week or else risk entering the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game versus the Patriots.

Bowers (knee) isn't practicing Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

Bowers, who was inactive for this past Sunday's 40-6 loss to the Colts after logging DNPs last Thursday and Friday, now has two more chances to practice before the Raiders submit their Week 6 injury designations. If he's limited or out this weekend, Michael Mayer -- who has cleared concussion protocol -- would be in line to see an expanded role this weekend versus the Titans.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that Kittle (hamstring) won't be available to play Sunday against the Buccaneers but could return from injured reserve for the 49ers' Week 7 game against the Falcons, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.

Kittle is eligible to have his 21-day practice window at any point, but Shanahan hinted that the 49ers' preference may be to wait until Week 7 to clear the tight end to resume on-field work. While Kittle has been sidelined, Jake Tonges has handled the majority of pass-catching opportunities at tight end while splitting time at the position with blocking specialist Luke Farrell. The duo should continue to share snaps at tight end against Tampa Bay.

Sanders (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday.

This marks Sanders' first on-field activity since he sustained a high right-ankle sprain Week 3 against the Falcons. He may need to practice fully by Friday in order to enter the weekend without a designation for Sunday's game versus the Cowboys. In three games this season, Sanders has hauled in 11 of 14 targets for 92 yards and no touchdowns.

Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Mayer has cleared the concussion protocol and is on track to practice in full, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

Mayer has missed back-to-back games but now appears on track to return for Sunday's matchup against the Titans, while starting tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is considered week-to-week and could be rested in advance of the Raiders' upcoming bye in Week 7. With that context, Mayer could be positioned for a start at home against Tennessee, while Ian Thomas and Carter Runyon should handle reserve reps at the position.