NFL Player News

Ertz hauled in 12 of his 14 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown in the team's Week 12 loss to the Seahawks.

Ertz was one of Carson Wentz's few healthy receivers and took advantage by drawing 14 targets -- his second-highest total of the season. Nearly all of that production came in second half, as he registered just three catches for 19 yards in the first two quarters. Nevertheless, Ertz now has at least nine catches and 90 yards in three consecutive contests. Though it appears Alshon Jeffery (ankle) and Nelson Agholor (knee) have the potential to return next week against the Dolphins, their continued absence would ensure that Ertz continues to see plenty of targets.

Smith is slated to serve as the No. 1 tight end for the fourth consecutive game in Sunday's Week 12 tilt against the Jaguars with Delanie Walker (ankle) declared inactive for the contest.

Smith has been solid in his extended opportunity of late, bringing in 13 of 18 targets for 126 yards and a touchdown over that three-game period that Walker has missed. The athletic third-year pro also recorded three receptions for 64 yards in the Week 7 game in which Walker was hurt after just five snaps, so he offers some reasonable upside versus a Jaguars defense that's allowed five touchdowns to tight ends this season.

Arnold (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's clash with the Panthers.

It will be the third consecutive game in which Arnold is a healthy scratch. The Saints will instead roll with Jared Cook, Josh Hill and Jason Vander Laan as their tight ends for Week 12.

Smith will enter the starting lineup for Evan Engram (foot) for Sunday's game in Chicago, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Sans Engram and Rhett Ellison (concussion) in Week 12, the Giants will be forced to roll with Smith and veteran Scott Simonson at tight end. A 2019 sixth-round pick of the 49ers, Smith received the first target of his career in the Giants' last game Nov. 10 versus the Jets, hauling it in for a one-yard grab. It remains to be seen what he can do with a larger snap share.

Hockenson (shoulder) is listed as active Sunday at Washington.

In the same game in which he suffered a concussion Week 4 against the Chiefs, Hockenson fell hard on his right shoulder while attempting to hurdle a defender. He didn't miss any game action due to the Lions' ensuing bye, but his status for Sunday's game came into question Saturday, when he curiously was added to the injury report with a shoulder injury. Hockenson will be available to the offense but may yield reps to fellow tight ends Jesse James and Logan Thomas.

Kittle (knee) feels healthy enough to play Sunday night versus the Packers, despite recovering from a broken bone in his ankle, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

All the talk has been about Kittle's left knee since he got injured Oct. 31 at Arizona and missed the next 49ers' two games, but the ankle issue lingered on the injury report without any mention. After practicing Thursday and Friday, albeit in a blue no-contact jersey, he was given a 'questionable' designation for Week 12 by coach Kyle Shanahan, who told Eric Branch of the San Francisco, "This week, I think with a normal person, I'd probably make him doubtful. But Kittle is different than most people." The 49ers will determine whether or not Kittle is active about 90 minutes before Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. If he does not go, it'll throw a wrench into fantasy lineups, with San Fran teammate Ross Dwelley, Packers TE Jimmy Graham and Rams TE Gerald Everett the potential top available options at the position.

Hockenson has a shoulder injury and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Redskins.

The shoulder injury is a recent development as Hockenson wasn't present on the injury report all week, leaving his status for Sunday firmly up in the air. Jesse James and Logan Thomas would see increased work at tight end should Hockenson be unable to face Washington.

Kittle (knee/ankle) has a good shot to return for Sunday's game against the Packers, though he's still dealing with significant pain, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "This week, I think with a normal person, I'd probably make him doubtful," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "But Kittle is different than most people."

The quote from Shanahan is interesting, as it creates optimism for Kittle's availability while also acknowledging that he still isn't healthy. The tight end was a limited practice participant Thursday and Friday, earning a 'questionable' designation on the final injury report after he was 'doubtful' (and didn't end up playing) the past two weeks. An 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff may be nerve-racking for fantasy managers, leaving just two games to choose a tight end from if Kittle is declared inactive. The list of potential replacements is led by 49ers teammate Ross Dwelley, Packers TE Jimmy Graham and Rams TE Gerald Everett, while lower-end options include Nick Boyle and Hayden Hurst from the Ravens or Tyler Higbee from the Rams.

Tonyan (hip) is questionable for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Olivia Reiner of the Journal Sentinel reports.

Tonyan is expected to play but is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's highly anticipated game against the 49ers. The 25-year-old has been targeted only six times in five games, but Aaron Rodgers likes to spread the ball around, so Tonyan could sneak his way into the box score if he's able to take the field. If he plays, expect the depth tight end to see a 15-25 snap workload.

Hollister and Tyrone Swoopes are the only healthy tight ends on the Seattle roster for Sunday's game in Philadelphia, Brent Stecker of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Swoopes was promoted Friday from the practice squad after Ed Dickson (knee) was sent back to injured reserve. A few hours later, the Seahawks listed Luke Willson (hamstring) as doubtful on their final injury report, setting up a situation where Hollister's snap share could stretch even higher than the 80 and 78 percent he saw in his past two games. He took full advantage of those opportunities to the tune of 12 catches for 99 yards and three touchdowns on 16 targets, picking up where Will Dissly (Achilles) had left off in earning Russell Wilson's favor near the goal line. The Eagles have given up the seventh-fewest receiving yards per game to tight ends (41.9) and generally have played well on defense in recent weeks, but there's a lot to be said for simply take a large number of snaps in an offense with Wilson at the helm.