NFL Player News

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew has hardly been a factor on offense through the first two weeks. However, coach Jim Schwartz hinted Monday Pettigrew's role won't be changing moving forward.

"There's some tough catches in traffic that he's made in the past that he needs to get back to making some of those," Schwartz said. "(With) tight ends, there's always going to be contact and a lot of those balls, there was contact. Our guy has got to be stronger than their guy when it comes to that."

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen, who missed the game Sunday with a hip injury, remains day-to-day, Chuck Pagano told the Terre Haute Tribune-Star.

Coby Fleener filled in admirably for Allen against the Dolphins with four catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.

The Giants got five catches from their backup tight ends against the Broncos. Larry Donnell caught three passes for 31 yards, and Bear Pascoe added two catches for 12 yards.

New York vists the Panthers in Week 3.

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham enjoyed another monster performance as found the end zone and he set the franchise record for most receiving yards by a tight end at Tampa Bay in Week 2.

Drew Brees hooked up with a wide open Graham for a 56-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. Graham nearly scored twice as he caught a deep 30 yard pass, only to be ruled down at the 1-yard line. He was targeted a team-high 16 times and finished with 10 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown in a 16-14 victory.

Graham will play at home against the Cardinals in Week 3. Arizona allowed 32 yards to Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit's tight end in Week 2.

The Rams got modest contributions from players lower on the depth chart Week 2 at Atlanta. Wide receiver Brian Quick had one catch for 15 yards, tight end Cory Harkey had one catch for 6 yards, and tight end Mike McNeill had one catch for 5 yards. All three were targeted just once in the game.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew reeled in three catches against the Cardinals.

Pettigrew was targeted 6 times. He finished the game with 32 yards, and 10.7 yards per catch. He'll take on Washington Week 3. 

Cardinals tight end Jim Dray picked up seven targets against the Lions.

Dray caught 5 balls for 31 yards. Quarterback Carson Palmer mainly completed short passes, and Dray played a much bigger role than anticipated. Dray will face the Saints Week 3. 

Texans tight end Garrett Graham scored for the second straight game during a 30-24 overtime win Week 2 vs. Tennessee. Graham finished with three catches (five targets) for 30 yards.

Graham opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown reception on the team's opening drive in the first quarter. Graham had the opportunity for a three-touchdown performance, but he missed two key opportunities in the second half.

The first failed attempt was on a potential 16-yard touchdown, which appeared to fall incomplete after a case of miscommunication with quarterback Matt Schaub. The second failed attempt was a potential 1-yard touchdown play late in the fourth quarter, but Tennessee had good coverage on Graham, who managed a career-high three touchdowns in 2012.

Houston is back in action Week 3 at Baltimore.

The Washington Redskins were beaten fairly badly on Sunday of Week 2 in Green Bay. Losing 38-20, the Redskins did manage to spread the ball around in the passing game.

Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson got involved with his first catch of the year. He hauled in a pass for 13 yards and was targeted twice by quarterback Robert Griffin III.

The Redskins' third tight end, Logan Paulsen, managed two catches, also his first two of the year, also going for 13 yards on three targets from Griffin.

Backup running back Roy Helu was less involved on Sunday than he was Week 1. He finished the game with no rushing attempts and just one catch for 2 yards on one target.

Washington comes home to play against the Lions Week 3.

Eagles tight end Zach Ertz caught two passes for 58 yards in Sunday's 33-30 loss to the Chargers. He was targeted just two times. 

Ertz now has three catches for 69 yards on the season. The Eagles square off with the Chiefs in Week 3, with a quick turnaround as the Thursday night game.