NFL Player News

Sample (groin) is listed as questionable for Saturday night's game against Pittsburgh.

Head coach Zac Taylor relayed Thursday that Sample is expected to play despite missing practice all week due to a groin injury, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. In the five games since the Bengals' Week 12 bye, Sample has caught seven passes on as many targets for 44 yards while serving as the No. 2 tight end behind Mike Gesicki. Tanner Hudson would see an increased snap count on offense if Sample was limited in his playing time or ruled out entirely.

Culp (ribs) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Culp was limited in the Buccaneers' first Week 18 practice due to the injury, but his ability to take every rep a day later clears the way for him to suit up in Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Saints. The rookie seventh-round pick played a season-high 19 snaps in last week's blowout win over the Panthers, finishing with three catches for 52 yards on four targets. With the Week 18 statuses of both Cade Otton (knee) and Payne Durham (quadricep) in flux with neither tight end having yet turned in a full practice this week, Culp could once again be headed for a meaningful role Sunday.

Hudson (knee) has no injury designation ahead of Saturday's game against the Steelers after logging a full practice Thursday.

Hudson missed the Bengals' last two games due to a knee injury that he suffered against the Titans in Week 15. He had an LP/LP/FP practice squad this week, and he's progressed enough in his recovery to suit up for Saturday's regular-season finale. Hudson would serve as the No. 2 tight end behind Mike Gesicki if Drew Sample (groin) is unable to play.

Goedert (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Since being designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Goedert hasn't had any restrictions in the Eagles' first two Week 18 practices. Though head coach Nick Sirianni has already said that quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion/finger), running back Saquon Barkley and other key starters will be held out of Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Giants, Goedert said that he hasn't yet been told whether or not he'll play in Week 18, per Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Goedert added that he's fully confident that he'll be ready to go for the start of the Eagles' postseason run, but it could be beneficial for the team to activate him this week and have him see some game action against the Giants, given that he hasn't played since Week 13.

Whiteheart (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's regular-season finale against the Ravens, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Whiteheart was limited in practice all week due to a knee injury he likely picked up during the Browns' Week 17 loss to the Dolphins. With David Njoku (knee) ruled out for Saturday's game, Whiteheart would (if healthy) have the chance to serve as the backup tight end behind Jordan Akins; otherwise Brenden Bates would climb up to the No. 2 role.

Okonkwo was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to an abdominal injury.

Tennessee didn't include Okonkwo on its initial Week 18 injury report, so his abdominal injury may have been something that cropped up late in Wednesday's practice or during Thursday's session. The Titans will wait and see what Okonkwo is able to do in their final practice of the week Friday before deciding whether he carries a designation into Sunday's season finale versus the Texans. Though his third NFL season has been a relatively quiet one, Okonkwo has picked up the pace over the last three games, producing a 22-182-0 line on 28 targets while also adding 17 yards on a rushing attempt.

Otton (knee) was limited at practice Thursday.

This marks Otton's first on-field work since a limited session on Friday, Dec. 20, so there's a chance he's fighting to make an appearance in the Buccaneers' regular-season final Sunday against the Saints. At the very least, he may have to maintain his activity level Friday in order to be listed as anything more than questionable for that contest. Fellow TE Payne Durham (quadriceps) also was limited Thursday, while rookie Devin Culp (ribs) upgraded from limited to full, so the latter appears as if he could be the biggest beneficiary if either or both of Otton and/or Durham are inhibited or out this weekend.

Henry (foot) remained limited at practice Thursday.

Henry also was limited Wednesday, so the tight end probably will need to work fully Friday in order to approach Sunday's game against the Bills without an injury designation. As for the 3-13 Patriots' approach heading into Week 18, head coach Jerod Mayo said Wednesday that he's planning on having all the team's healthy starters take the field this weekend, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

Akins is expected to serve as the Browns' starting tight end Saturday in Baltimore with David Njoku (knee) ruled out for the season finale, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

While Njoku was sidelined for last Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Dolphins, Akins saw an expanded profile on offense. He played 44 of the Browns' 79 snaps on offense in the loss, finishing with six catches for 49 yards on eight targets. Given that quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) dropped back a whopping 48 times in Week 17, Akins' eight targets could be more difficult to replicate in Week 18 if the heavily-favored Ravens are able to dominate the time of possession and keep the clock moving. Akins will also be working with a new starting quarterback in the finale, as Bailey Zappe is getting the nod over Thompson-Robinson.

Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Ravens.

With Njoku sidelined for the Browns' season finale, Jordan Akins is in line to lead the team's tight-end corps in Week 18. Njoku -- who remains under contract with Cleveland in 2025 -- finishes his eighth NFL season with 64 catches for 505 yards and five touchdowns on 97 targets over 11 games.