NFL Player News
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Dalton Schultz TE | HOU
Texans' Dalton Schultz: Upgrades to full practice
Schultz (knee/shoulder) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Schultz has been listed on Houston injury reports with the knee and shoulder issues for three straight weeks, but he's played in the previous two games and is on track to suit up once again this Sunday versus the Jaguars. The veteran tight end turned in one of his better performances of the season in the Texans' Week 9 loss to the Broncos, finishing with six catches for 77 yards on eight targets.
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Tanner Conner TE | MIA
Tanner Conner: Let go by Miami
The Dolphins waived Conner on Thursday.
Conner being cut is a clear sign that Miami expects Julian Hill (ankle) to be ready for Sunday's divisional matchup against the Bills. It could also be extrapolated that the team is encouraged by the pass-catching chops Greg Dulcich displayed during Week 9's loss to the Ravens, when he secured all five targets for 49 yards, or that the recovery of Darren Waller (pectoral) is proceeding on track. Across nine regular-season appearances with Miami, Conner mostly contributed as a blocker while hauling in nine of 15 targets for 91 yards.
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Theo Johnson TE | NYG
Giants' Theo Johnson: No restrictions Thursday
Johnson (shoulder) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Johnson had his practice reps capped Wednesday while he was nursing the shoulder issue coming out of the Giants' Week 9 loss to the 49ers, but the injury doesn't look as though it will be anything that prevents him from playing this Sunday in Chicago. The second-year tight end has settled into an elevated role in the New York passing attack in recent weeks, playing at least 80 percent of the snaps in each of the last five games while accruing a 17-173-4 receiving line on 28 targets over that stretch.
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Thomas Fidone II TE | NYG
Giants' Thomas Fidone: Limited Thursday
Fidone (foot) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Fidone appears to have picked up a foot injury during practice, so his activity level during Friday's session will be informative as to his chances of being able to play Sunday versus Chicago. During New York's loss to the 49ers in Week 9, Fidone played a season-high 19 percent of offensive snaps, though he has yet to draw a single target this year.
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Harold Fannin Jr. TE | CLE
Browns' Harold Fannin: Added to injury report Thursday
Fannin (hamstring) didn't practice Thursday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Fannin wasn't on the Browns' initial Week 10 injury report, so the tight end's 'DNP' on Thursday is notable. Through eight games, Fannin leads the Browns in catches (38) and receiving yards (352), and if he's limited or out Sunday against the Jets, fellow TE David Njoku would be in line for added work, with Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates available to mix in.
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Julian Hill TE | MIA
Dolphins' Julian Hill: Limited in practice again
Hill (ankle) was limited in practice Thursday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Hill has now logged back-to-back limited practices, an indication that he's nearing a return to full health after having missed Miami's last two games due to an ankle injury. If cleared for action Sunday versus Buffalo, Hill will stand to operate as the Dolphins' top tight end, though Tanner Conner will also have a role on offense and Greg Dulcich may have earned increased opportunities after impressing as a pass catcher Week 9.
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Cole Kmet TE | CHI
Bears' Cole Kmet: Upgrades to full activity
Kmet (concussion) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Kmet was forced out of this past Sunday's 47-42 win over the Bengals and was later diagnosed with a concussion, but he appears to be making rapid progress through the five-step protocol. After opening Week 10 prep Wednesday as a limited participant, Kmet has taken another step forward by practicing fully Thursday. He'll still need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to suit up this weekend, but he appears to have a real chance at being available for Sunday's game against the Giants. If Kmet plays, however, he may have to settle for a smaller role than he's handled for most of the season; rookie tight end Colston Loveland broke out with a 6-118-2 receiving line on seven targets in the win over the Bengals and may have earned himself a larger share of the playing time as a result.
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Hunter Long TE | JAC
Jaguars' Hunter Long: Missing another practice
Long (hip/knee) is not participating in practice Thursday, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.
Long is missing a second consecutive practice, making his status for Week 10 cloudy. With Brenton Strange (quadriceps) still on IR, Johnny Mundt and Quintin Morris will operate as Jacksonville's top tight ends versus Houston on Sunday if Long is unavailable. Jordan Akins and Patrick Herbert would also be candidates to be elevated from the practice squad.
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Will Dissly TE | LAC
Chargers' Will Dissly: Avoids injury report
Dissly (illness) was not listed on Wednesday's injury report, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Dissly was a healthy scratch for Week 8 and then sat out Week 9 due to an illness, but he's now fully recovered. There's no guarantee that Dissly will be active for Sunday's game against the Steelers, however, even at full health. Tucker Fisk and Tyler Conklin have operated as Los Angeles' top reserve tight ends following the emergence of Oronde Gadsden.
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Josh Oliver TE | MIN
Vikings' Josh Oliver: Still not practicing Wednesday
Oliver (foot) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Oliver was forced to miss Sunday's game at Detroit because of a foot sprain he suffered in Week 8 against the Chargers, and now his status for Week 10 is in question, too. He'll probably need to practice in some capacity Thursday or Friday to have a chance to play Sunday versus the Ravens.