NFL Player News

Conklin did not have a target in Sunday's 43-34 loss to Green Bay. He played just eight snaps on offense.

With both Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith healthy, Conklin is going to have a minimal role on offense and will get most of his snaps (12 on Sunday) on special teams.

Njoku (knee) was placed on injured reserve Monday due to a sprained MCL, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Njoku suffered the injury during Sunday's divisional loss to the Ravens. He's been handed a three-week recovery timetable, a span which coincides with the date he'll be eligible for activation from IR. For the time being, Harrison Bryant and Stephen Carlson will pick up the slack behind starting tight end Austin Hooper.

The Browns placed Njoku (knee) on injured reserve Monday.

Njoku will miss at least three weeks on IR after suffering a knee injury during Sunday's loss to the Ravens. As long as he remains sidelined, Harrison Bryant and Stephen Carlson stand to see increased opportunities behind Austin Hooper. Njoku got off to a promising start Week 1 before suffering his knee injury, hauling in all three of his targets for 50 yards and a score.

Bell is in line for an increased workload with Blake Jarwin (knee) having suffered a season-ending ACL tear, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Bell wasn't targeted during Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Rams, even after Jarwin was forced off the field, while Dalton Schultz received four looks in the passing game. As such, Bell's increased workload looks like it will primarily consist of blocking assignments. Undrafted rookie Sean McKeon could see increased reps as well.

Cowboys VP Stephen Jones said McKeon will need to step up following news that Blake Jarwin tore his ACL in Sunday's loss to the Rams, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Jones also admitted that the team would check out the tight end market to find a potential replacement for Jarwin. Nevertheless, Dalton Schultz figures to be the main beneficiary while McKeon and Blake Bell rotate in. McKeon -- an undrafted rookie out of Michigan -- was a healthy scratch in the season opener, and he'll likely stick to a run-blocking role if he gets the call.

Smith had one reception for 11 yards on his only target in Sunday's 43-34 loss to Green Bay.

With the trade of Stefon Diggs to Buffalo, there was some thought that Smith could emerge as the second or third option in the Minnesota passing game. After one game, that doesn't appear to be the case, but Smith did at least play 31 of 54 snaps on offense, played one fewer snap than Kyle Rudolph and went out for a pass on 16 of 19 passing plays, according to Pro Football Focus.

Graham caught three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in Chicago's 27-23 win over the Lions on Sunday.

Graham was second on the team with seven targets, and he could've had a second score had Mitchell Trubisky thrown the ball on target. It's clear that despite the low yardage total, Graham will be an important part of the offense, making him a volume-based second tight end for fantasy managers.

Sternberger was targeted once but did not catch a pass in Sunday's 43-34 victory over the Vikings.

Sternberger drew one of only two passes Aaron Rodgers threw to his tight ends in Sunday's game, but he played only a bit role Week 1, finishing a distant fourth among Packers tight ends in snaps. The team thought enough of Sternberger to draft him in the third round in 2019, but he missed most of his rookie season with an ankle injury and still has not found his niche in the offense.

Lewis was credited with the start in Sunday's victory over the Vikings but was not targeted in the game.

Lewis sits atop his position on the Packers' depth chart, but he finished second to Robert Tonyan in snaps played and was limited to blocking duty in the season opener. The veteran should continue drawing starts but presumably will remain a complementary player in the offense.

Tonyan led Packers tight ends in snaps but was not targeted in Sunday's 43-34 victory over the Vikings.

Tonyan was on the field for 48 of the 78 plays the Packers offense ran Sunday -- 16 more than any of the team's other tight ends -- but did not draw a pass in his direction. The snap count is encouraging, but the Packers utilized all four of their tight ends to some degree and figure to continue doing so, which will make it difficult for Tonyan or any of the others to make much of a fantasy impact.