NFL Player News

Swaim (wrist) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Rob Phillips of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Swaim was slated to miss his fifth straight game Sunday so the Cowboys made the proactive choice by ruling the tight end out for the rest of the season. Blake Jarwin has turned into a viable weapon in Swaim's absence, recording 11 receptions and 101 receiving yards in the last two weeks, and figures to continue to reprise the role as the Cowboys inch towards a playoff berth.

Seals-Jones (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Seals-Jones practiced in a limited fashion Friday, but that wasn't enough for him to avoid a designation for the weekend after the illness prevented him from taking the field Wednesday or Thursday. Assuming he shows continued improvement over the next 48 hours, Seals-Jones should fill his usual duties as the Cardinals' top pass-catching tight end in Week 16. Seals-Jones has hauled in a pass in all but one of the Cardinals' games this season but hasn't been especially efficient, nabbing only 33 of 68 targets for 340 yards (5.0 YPT).

Swaim (wrist) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Swaim failed to practice Wednesday through Friday, making it inevitable that he would be sidelined for a fifth straight week. The tight end has taken longer to recover from wrist surgery than the Cowboys initially predicted, but the team's decision not to place him on injured reserve implies there remains a belief he'll be ready to go by Week 17 or the playoffs. While Swaim has been out, Blake Jarwin has emerged as the Cowboys' top option at tight end, drawing seven targets in back-to-back contests.

Graham (knee/thumb) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game at the Jets, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

As expected, Graham finished out the week with a full practice and shouldn't have any limitations Sunday. He's struggled with drops since suffering a broken thumb Nov. 15, further adding to the disappointment of what had already been a substandard campaign. Graham will now take aim at a Jets defense that's given up a league-low 39 receptions to tight ends.

Paulsen (knee/ankle) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.

Paulsen was limited in practice all week, but he appears on track to play through his lingering knee and ankle issues Week 16. Expect the depth tight end to see most of his offensive usage as a blocker, as per usual.

Hooper (knee/ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game in Carolina, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.

Hooper played through the same pair of injuries in last week's win over the Cardinals, finishing with season-low marks for offensive snaps (34), snap share (51 percent) and targets (one). Another week of limited practice participation creates some concern about the extent of Hooper's role, though the lack of involvement last week was partially a product of the Falcons winning in a blowout. The team will probably need more from its passing game after halftime this week, and there's some chance target-hogging Julio Jones (hip), who is listed as questionable, will be absent or limited.

Seals-Jones (illness) didn't practice Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

A bout with food poisoning is to blame for back-to-back absences for Seals-Jones to kick off Week 16 preparations. He has one practice remaining before the Cardinals will give him an official designation for Sunday's game against the Rams. If the illness follows him into the weekend, it could result in elevated workloads for veteran tight ends Jermaine Gresham and John Phillips.

Ertz (ankle) practiced in full Thursday, Daniel Gallen of The Harrisburg Patriot-News reports.

Limited by an ankle injury at Wednesday's session, Ertz handled every rep presented to him one day later, clearing him for his usual high-volume role in the Eagles' passing attack. He has an exploitable matchup Sunday versus a Texans defense that has given up 84 receiving yards per game and four TDs to tight ends over the last six contests.

Hooper (knee/ankle) was listed as limited at Thursday's practice, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.

While Hooper is still having his reps monitored carefully, the tight end at least seems to be in better place health-wise than he was a week earlier. Hooper sat out practices last Wednesday and Thursday before returning to work Friday, but went on to play a season-low 34 offensive snaps in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. With back-to-back limited practice showings to kick of Week 16, Hooper should reclaim a higher snap share this weekend in Carolina.

Graham (knee/thumb) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Michael Cohen of The Athletic reports.

With his return to drills, Graham is more or less upholding his practice standard from much of his sole season as a Packer. Since he last scored a touchdown Week 9, he's been in a six-game rut, hauling in 17 of his 26 targets for 156 yards. Assuming he's active Sunday versus the Jets, Graham may have a tough time bouncing back against a Jets defense that has allowed the fewest receiving yards (452) to tight ends this season.