NFL Player News

Kmet wasn't targeted in Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Seahawks.

Kmet was far from the only Chicago player to post an underwhelming stat line as the Bears produced just 179 yards of offense en route to a 10th consecutive defeat. The lone target among Chicago's tight ends Thursday went to Gerald Everett. Kmet will look to bounce back Week 18 against a Packers defense that permitted him to catch three passes for 42 yards back in Week 11.

Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Njoku failed to practice throughout the week after sustaining a knee injury during Cleveland's 24-6 loss to the Bengals in Week 16. Jordan Akins will fill in atop the tight end depth chart in what will be Njoku's fifth absence of the season. Njoku will have a chance to return against the Ravens in Week 18, but the Browns have little incentive to rush his return since the team has long been eliminated from postseason contention.

Tremble (shoulder/back) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.

Tremble once again should lead the Panthers' tight end group in playing time Week 17 after he played 75 percent of the offensive snaps last week against the Cardinals. He hasn't been a reliable source of fantasy production this season, as he's currently the overall TE38 in PPR points per game.

Njoku (knee) remained sidelined at practice Friday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

With Njoku on track to log a third straight DNP listing, the tight end is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Dolphins. Friday's final injury report will reveal whether he has a chance to play this weekend, but if Njoku is ruled out, Jordan Akins would step into an expanded role Week 17.

With Cade Otton (knee) ruled out for the second straight game, Durham once again is set for an expanded role Sunday against the Panthers, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

With Otton out last Sunday against Dallas, Durham dominated the playing time at tight end for Tampa Bay, logging 92 percent of the offensive snaps. He turned in a useful 5-29-0 line on seven targets and now catches a Carolina defense that has struggled badly against tight ends in fantasy this season.

Coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Otton (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Otton thus will miss a second game in a row due to a left knee injury that has allowed him to practice only once (limited last Friday) over the last two weeks of prep. Payne Durham will take on most of the TE reps for the Buccaneers in Week 17, which amounted to five catches (on seven targets) for 29 yards on a 92 percent snap share this past Sunday at Dallas. Otton will turn his focus to getting healthy enough for a Week 18 matchup with the Saints.

Fant secured four of five targets for 43 yards in the Seahawks' 6-3 win over the Bears on Thursday night.

Fant led the Seahawks in receptions and receiving yards, contributing his highest catch total since Week 6 in the process. Half of the veteran tight end's grabs and 25 of his receiving yards were sandwiched around the two-minute warning during the Seahawks' final drive of the first half, a march that culminated in a Jason Myers field goal. Fant has at least three catches in nine consecutive contests heading into a Week 18 road matchup against the Rams that could decide the NFC West champion.

Musgrave (ankle) was limited at Thursday's practice.

Green Bay has placed practice restrictions on both Musgrave and Tucker Kraft (hip) this week, but it doesn't appear as if either player's status is in peril for Sunday's game at Minnesota. Friday's injury report may provide clarity on the overall situation at tight end for the Packers in Week 17.

Kraft (hip) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

The Packers have capped the practice reps of both Kraft and Luke Musgrave (ankle) this week, but there's been no indication that the second-year tight ends are in danger of sitting out Sunday in Minnesota. Friday's injury report will reveal whether or not either player has a designation for that contest.

Johnson (foot) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

Johnson had his reps capped for the second day in a row as he continues to work through a foot issue that has resulted in the Saints listing him on injury reports for four consecutive weeks. He's managed to play in each of the previous three contests, and assuming he's experiencing no setbacks during his Week 17 prep, he should be ready to play Sunday against the Raiders. Even though he's played at least two-thirds of the offensive snaps in every game since the Saints' Week 12 bye, his fantasy prospects have taken a hit while Derek Carr (hand) has been out of the lineup the past two contests. Carr hasn't been officially ruled out for the Week 17 matchup with the Raiders but doesn't appear to be trending toward playing, likely putting Johnson on track to work with Spencer Rattler as his quarterback for at least one more game.