NFL Player News

Saubert was cleared from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

It appears Saubert never tested positive for COVID-19, but was rather potentially exposed to it. Now that he's been cleared, he'll enter camp looking to make an impression, as the Bears are already relatively deep at tight end.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday that Dissly (Achilles) passed his physical, but the tight end is still expected to be eased along carefully during training camp, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

Though Carroll has been encouraged by how Dissly has fared in his recovery from the torn Achilles' tendon he suffered nine months earlier, the Seahawks aren't inclined to rush the 24-year-old while he returns from his second major lower-body injury in as many years. Perhaps due to a lack of confidence in how Dissly's comeback effort might play out, the Seahawks pumped significant resources into their tight-end room this offseason by signing veteran Greg Olsen, re-signing Cody Hollister and Luke Willson, and spending a fourth-round pick on Colby Parkinson. Even if Dissly gains clearance for Week 1, he's probably looking at a timeshare at the position with Olsen in a best-case scenario.

Moreau (knee) has been a full participant throughout the early portion of training camp, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Moreau is coming off a season-ending knee injury that limited him to 13 games as a rookie, but he looks on track to kick off Week 1 of the 2020 campaign unimpeded. The LSU product managed to put together an impressive rookie season despite operating as a depth option for the Raiders, hauling in 21 catches for 174 yards and five scores. The added veteran presence of Jason Witten, however, now means that Moreau's sophomore opportunities will be limited to what snaps he's able to earn in a No. 3 capacity.

Njoku rescinded his trade request Saturday tweeting, "I'm all in Cleveland. Time to work," Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

It hardly made sense, at least from the Browns' perspective, to give into the 2017 first-round pick's demands, particularly heading into a 2020 campaign with an offense that is expected to heavily feature two tight-end sets. While Njoku will be hard-pressed to see the same sort of playing time he received in both 2017 and 2018 sitting behind star offseason acquisition Austin Hooper, the expected reliance on multiple tight ends comes from head coach Kevin Stefanski, who operated with that same sort of system in Minnesota last season. Irv Smith, who operated as the No. 2 TE with the Vikings in 2019 behind Kyle Rudolph, managed to total 36 receptions and 311 yards off 620 offensive snaps, numbers that would easily set up Njoku for a favorable offseason market if he opted not to re-sign with the Browns following the conclusion of this season.

The Broncos have parted ways Jeff Heuerman, Brandon Krisztal of KOA News Radio reports. The move leaves Vannett as the veteran in the Broncos' tight-end room.

Heuerman's exit seemed inevitable back in March as Vannett's signing tied up a fair amount of money in two reserve tight ends. Cutting Heuerman had less cap repercussions. Vannett is a good bet to make the roster as a TE2 or TE3, but he is unlikely to be a big factor fantasy-wise. Both 2019 first-round pick Noah Fant and 2020 fourth-rounder Albert Okwuegbunam figure to be more involved in the passing game than the veteran, who is the superior blocker.

Engram (foot) has been out on the field doing work, but coach Joe Judge suggested he isn't sure if the tight end will be a full go at the start of training camp, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

Engram downplayed the severity of his Lisfranc injury back in December after surgery, and he's been doing full-speed agility work since at least last June. Judge's uncertainty about the situation doesn't necessarily mean the tight end will have any limitations, but it will be worth keeping an eye on once the Giants start for practicing for real in mid-August. The Giants chose to keep Engram off the PUP list, making him eligible for all activities.

Sternberger has been placed on the Packers' reserve/COVID-19 list, Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin reports.

That means that Sternberger either tested positive for the virus or has been in close contact with someone who did. With Jimmy Graham having departed in free agency, Sternberger is candidate to see expanded duties at tight end for the Packers this coming season.

The Bears placed Saubert (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The transaction indicates that Saubert has either tested positive for COVID-19 or is quarantining after coming into close contact with someone who has. He's fighting for a roster spot in Chicago's overflowing tight-end room.

The Brownss" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" data-league-abbreviation="NFL" data-team-abbreviation="CLE">Browns placed Brown (foot) on the active/PUP list Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The nature and severity of Brown's foot injury remains unknown, but he'll now need to gain medical clearance before joining teammates at practice. He's competing for a depth roster spot in Cleveland's crowded tight-end room behind Austin Hooper, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant.

Hockenson (ankle) was placed on the Lions' reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Hockenson's placement on the list mans that he has either tested positive for COVID-19 or has been in close contact with an infected person. The 2019 first-round pick -- who is also bouncing back from an ankle injury -- is in line to serve as the Lions' top tight end in 2020.