NFL Player News

Akins brought in both of his targets for 20 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans' 17-10 preseason win over the Chiefs on Thursday.

The 2018 third-round pick made quite the splash in his NFL debut, connecting with backup quarterback Brandon Weeden for both of Houston's touchdowns. Akins is the rare 26-year-old rookie, having played minor-league baseball for several years. Despite the advanced age for a first-year player, he has an opportunity for a solid amount of playing time in the coming season if he can continue generating the caliber of performance he provided Thursday -- the team doesn't have any locks at the position behind starter Ryan Griffin. Akins will look to prove his opening act was no fluke when the Texans face off with the 49ers a week from Saturday in their second exhibition game.

Gesicki failed to come up with either of his two targets during the Dolphins' 26-24 preseason loss to the Buccaneers on Thursday.

The heralded second-round pick had been coming on all throughout camp, progressively earning himself more first-team snaps in the process. That made Thursday's empty stat line both surprising and disappointing, the usual applicable caveats about preseason notwithstanding. Despite the underwhelming debut, the Dolphins clearly have plans for the talented Penn State product to play a significant role in the offense during the coming season, and he has all of the measurables to create plenty of mismatches. He'll look to bounce back when Miami takes on the Panthers a week from Friday in their second exhibition contest.

Goedert nabbed four of five targets for 66 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's 31-14 loss to Pittsburgh.

The rookie settled into a soft spot in Pittsburgh's coverage on a scramble drill early in the second quarter, leading to a 15-yard Eagles touchdown. The second-round pick looks like a smooth receiver on a roster that knows how to get the ball to the tight end. If all goes as planned, he can slide nicely into Trey Burton's old role opposite starter Zach Ertz.

Kittle injured his shoulder and will not return to Thursday's preseason opener against the Cowboys, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Kittle came up holding his right shoulder after running downfield for a deep ball. The exact nature of his injury isn't clear. In Kittle's absence, Garret Celek will take over as the 49ers' No. 1 tight end.

Njoku caught two of his three targets for 46 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Thursday's 20-10 win over the Giants to open the preseason.

There have been rumors of Njoku struggling with drops in camp, but he had no problem holding on to a 36-yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor on Cleveland's second possession. The athletic tight end found the end zone again two possessions later, this time on a 10-yard pass from Baker Mayfield. Njoku's prospective fantasy owners have to be ecstatic with this performance, especially since he showed a rapport with both of the team's potential starters at quarterback.

Engram wasn't targeted during Thursday's 20-10 loss to the Browns in the preseason opener.

Engram emerged as New York's top receiving threat after Odell Beckham went down with a season-ending ankle injury last year, but the young tight end failed to make an impact in two drives of work here even with Beckham absent. New York did split Engram out wide on a few occasions, so he appears primed to play a versatile role similar to the one he was used in as a rookie.

Hurst caught his only target for a 12-yard gain in Thursday's preseason game against the Rams.

Hurst caught his pass on the first snap of the game, after hauling in three of four targets for 14 yards and a touchdown in last week's Hall of Fame Game against Chicago. The rookie first-round pick is making a push to usurp incumbent starter Nick Boyle, a block-first tight end with 52 catches in 32 career games. Even if he doesn't win the starting job, Hurst is shaping up as a clear favorite to lead Baltimore tight ends in targets. Fellow rookie Mark Andrews, a third-round selection, has struggled to stay healthy during training camp.

Wimann (undisclosed) agreed to an injury settlement with the Patriots and has been waived from injured reserve, according to the league's official transaction log.

Wimann landed on IR this past week after suffering an unspecified injury in training camp. After agreeing to the injury settlement, he's now immediately free to sign with any team outside of New England.

Graham (knee) isn't in uniform for Thursday's preseason game against the Titans, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.

Graham didn't take the practice field Tuesday due to a minor knee injury, which presumably is the reason for his absence. Lance Kendricks and Marcedes Lewis will thus handle TE reps with the first-team offense, but less experienced hands like Emanuel Byrd and Robert Tonyan are poised to receive the most run at the position Thursday. Graham's next chance to make his first impact as a Packer arrives next Thursday, Aug. 16 versus the Steelers.

Allen will skip the preseason opener Thursday due to an abdominal injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealerreports.

Allen hopes to remain on the roster through training camp with a strong showing in the preseason, but he's gotten off on the wrong foot with a DNP in the opener. The undrafted rookie's next opportunity to suit up for the Browns arrives a week from Friday against the Bills.