NFL Player News

Patriots undrafted rookie Zach Sudfield continues to get a majority of the first-team work and is ahead of Daniel Fells and Jake Ballard in the tight end pecking order, reports the Boston Globe. If Rob Gronkowski (back) isn't ready for the regular-season opener, Sudfield could be the Week 1 starter.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen was in a walking boot and using crutches at practice Tuesday, reports the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Coach Chuck Pagano has said Allen will return from his foot injury in time for the season opener.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew dropped a wide-open touchdown pass in Tuesday's practice, prompting MLive.com to observe that he's shown "minimal improvement" with his hands.

"He really is in phenomenal shape, and has put in a lot of hard work as he looks to bounce back from last season, but he's shown minimal improvement with [his] hands," the report said. "That's not to say he can't have an outstanding season, but the frustrating drops will likely to remain part of the package."

" data-canon="Jacksonville Jaguars" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> tight end Marcedes Lewis<player idref= scolded the offense after another lackluster practice Tuesday, reports the Florida Times-Union. <player idref= hit 4 of 10 throws, and Chad Henne went 5 of 8 on a day the offense "lacked any kind of rhythm," the paper said.

“We’ve been building and getting better since April and we came out today and didn’t get better, plain and simple,” Lewis said. “That wasn’t good enough. That’s not acceptable. In years past, it may have been acceptable and we may have come into the locker room without even mentioning what happened. But mediocrity can’t be accepted.

“Sometimes you can be sluggish and get your second wind during a practice and then complete passes and stay on your blocks. But for one reason or another, that didn’t happen.”

Eagles tight end James Casey did not play a snap with the starters during the first preseason game against the Patriots, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Brent Celek played all 21 snaps and was all over the place and from four of five formations either blocked or ran pass routes. He started eight plays lined up as a halfback. Four times he started from the traditional tight end spot to the left or right of the tackle. And he also lined up four times in the slot, three times split wide and twice he started in the backfield to the left of the quarterback in the shotgun.

The report said as much as rookie Zach Ertz will be a part of the offense, his development as a blocker will probably keep Celek as the No. 1 tight end. 

" data-canon="New Orleans Saints" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> tight end Jimmy Graham led the NFL with 14 drops last season, though he played part of the year with an injured wrist. The Times-Picayune reports Graham "has continued to struggle with occasional dropped balls during training camp."

Graham dropped two passes in practice Monday and bobbled another before corralling it in traffic. The paper still expects a "monster year" from Graham, but says "he needs to make sure the drops don't become a habit."

Colts coach Chuck Pagano said tight end Dwayne Allen will miss a couple weeks with a foot injury but should be back for the season opener, reports ESPN.com. In Allen's absence, Coby Fleener started Sunday against Buffalo and caught two passes for 37 yards.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen is inactive for Sunday's preseason game against the Bills due to a foot injury, but he tweeted he's "confident" he'll return to practice "very soon." Allen started feeling soreness in his foot after Tuesday's practice.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen is getting a second opinion on an apparent foot injury, which forced him to miss practice Thursday, reports the Indianapolis Star.

Allen started dealing with soreness in one of his feet after Tuesday's practice. There is no indication of the severity of the injury or how long Allen will be out. He will likely miss the preseason opener Sunday against the Bills.

Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen got the first crack with the first-team offense Thursday, in the team's first preseason game against the Titans.

Paulsen had a catch on the team's first drive, though it was eventually overturned and ruled an incompletion. Paulsen was not targeted again until the second quarter, as he worked in and out of the first unit with Fred Davis. Paulsen finished the game with three catches for 21 yards, while being targeted five times, good for second on the eam.