NFL Player News

Waller is questionable to return to Sunday's game versus the Browns due to a pectoral injury.

Waller did not record a reception before he was ruled questionable to return just before halftime, and it's unclear exactly when or how he was forced to exit. In the 33-year-old's absence, Julian Hill should fill in as Miami's TE1 for the time being.

Higbee had three receptions on six targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 35-7 win over Jacksonville.

Higbee wound up finishing second in team targets behind WR Davante Adams due to Puka Nacua (ankle) sitting out the overseas contest in London. That's where the good news ends, as rookie TE Terrance Ferguson cashed in a 31-yard touchdown with his only reception Sunday. Higbee will carry a 13-121-1 receiving line into the Rams' upcoming bye week, numbers that should keep him off the fantasy radar when the team resumes play against the Saints on Nov. 2.

Mayer is expected to remain a focal point of the Las Vegas passing attack Sunday against the Chiefs with top tight end Brock Bowers (knee) and top receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee/toe) inactive for the contest, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site reports.

Bowers is missing his third straight game, but Mayer will be stepping in as the No. 1 tight end for just the second consecutive contest, after the Notre Dame product had previously sat out losses to the Bears in Week 4 and the Colts in Week 5 due to a concussion. In his return to action for this past Sunday's 20-10 win over the Titans, Mayer played 56 of 61 snaps on offense on his way to amassing a 5-50-1 receiving line on seven targets. The Raiders had Meyers available for that contest, but his absence for Week 7 along with Bowers' could free up even more volume for Mayer. The 24-year-old thus projects as a solid lineup option this week for fantasy managers looking for a Bowers replacement or otherwise in need of an alternative at the position.

Bowers (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

After going down as a non-participant on seven consecutive Raiders practice reports, Bowers returned to the field Friday as a limited participant. The increase in activity prompted the Raiders to list Bowers as doubtful rather than ruling him out heading into the Week 7 game in Kansas City, but he'll still wind up missing a third consecutive game. With a bye on tap for Week 8, the Raiders have early optimism that Bowers will have made enough progress in his recovery from a lingering PCL injury and bone bruise in his knee to return to action Week 9 versus the Jaguars on Nov. 2. Michael Mayer is expected to serve as the Raiders' top tight end Sunday while Bowers sits out another game.

Sample didn't draw a target or run a route while playing 39 of the Bengals' 76 offensive snaps in Thursday's 33-31 win over the Steelers.

Sample has always been deployed mainly as a blocker when he's taken the field, but the Bengals took that to an extreme in Week 7. Cincinnati didn't have Tanner Hudson (concussion) available as a depth option at tight end, which may have motivated the decision to scale back Sample's route running and use him exclusively as a blocker behind starter Noah Fant, who moved atop the depth chart due to Mike Gesicki (pectoral) hitting injured reserve.

Ertz (shoulder), who is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Dallas, is expected to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Ertz appears positioned for a significant role in the receiving game this weekend, as Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Deebo Samuel (heel) have both been ruled out, and Noah Brown (groin/knee) was recently placed on injured reserve. After logging six targets while the Commanders had Samuel available for this past Monday's loss to the Bears, Ertz could see his target share grow versus a Dallas defense that's surrendered the most passing yards to opponents in the league through six weeks. His status may not be made official until Washington releases its inactive list roughly 90 minutes prior to kickoff at 4:25 p.m. ET, but Ertz is on track to take the field Sunday.

The Eagles elevated Jenkins from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Chris McPherson of the team's official site reports.

Jenkins has been on the Eagles' practice squad all season with Saturday's elevation marking his first of the campaign. He's likely to serve primarily on special teams, if he is active Sunday against the Vikings.

Bowers (knee), who is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, is not expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Bowers returned to practice as a limited participant Friday after having sat out Wednesday and Thursday, but the second-year tight end is expected to miss a third straight contest due to his lingering PCL injury. The Raiders will then benefit from a Week 8 bye, which Bowers will use to rest up and target a return to action Week 9 against the Jaguars on Sunday, Nov. 2. Michael Mayer will operate as Las Vegas' top tight end if Bowers is indeed inactive, confirmation of which will arrive no later than 90 minutes ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Meanwhile, top wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee/toe) appears a true game-time decision.

The 49ers waived Willis on Saturday.

Willis was signed to the active roster in mid-September to give the 49ers added depth at tight end after George Kittle was placed on injured reserve due to a torn hamstring he sustained against the Seahawks in Week 1. With Kittle activated from IR on Saturday, Willis is no longer needed on the 49ers' active roster, though the latter could remain in San Francisco and sign with the team's practice squad.

The 49ers activated Kittle (hamstring) from injured reserve Saturday, and he has no designation for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Kittle thus is set for his first game action since San Francisco's Week 1 win at Seattle, when he suffered a torn hamstring. The state of the 49ers offense is much different six weeks later, with QB Brock Purdy sidelined again due to a lingering turf toe injury and multiple injuries impacting the receiving corps. Kittle will be in the mix for passes from fill-in signal-caller Mac Jones, and the former will be joined by WRs Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson, RB Christian McCaffrey and fellow TE Jake Tonges.