NFL Player News

Johnson (back) practiced in full Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Johnson logged his first uncapped session since Week 9 prep as he tended to a back injury, but he still suited up in New York's last game Week 10 against the Panthers in Munich, Germany, gathering in four of six targets for 37 yards. The team may be welcoming back WR Darius Slayton (concussion) to the lineup Sunday versus the Buccaneers, which likely would move Johnson down the pecking order among Giants pass catchers.

Oliver (ankle/wrist) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Emily Leiker of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

With two straight absences from practice to begin Week 12 prep, Oliver could be facing an uphill battle to suit up Sunday against the Bears after spraining his left ankle in the Vikings' Week 11 win over the Titans. If Oliver is sidelined in Chicago this weekend, T.J. Hockenson would likely benefit from a boost in playing time after logging snap shares between 45 and 46 percent in his first three games since being activated from the PUP list Oct. 25.

Quitoriano played 19 of the Texans' 64 snaps on offense and went without a target in Monday's 34-10 win over the Cowboys.

Since being signed off the Bears' practice squad in October, Quitoriano has been active for each of the Texans' ensuing six games. However, despite logging at least nine snaps on offense in all six of those contests, he's yet to draw a target. He'll continue to operate mainly as a blocker when he takes the field.

Spann-Ford played 41 of the Cowboys' 83 snaps on offense and finished with four catches for 42 yards on five targets in Monday's 34-10 loss to the Texans.

Starting tight end Jake Ferguson played just seven snaps before leaving the game with a concussion, resulting in elevated playing time for Luke Schoonmaker (44 snaps), Spann-Ford and Princeton Fant (seven). With Dallas trailing by multiple scores for much of the contest, quarterback Cooper Rush dropped back 60 times on the night and targeted 11 pass catchers, with Spann-Ford being of the beneficiary of the game script. According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged Tuesday that Ferguson "will be hard pressed" to clear concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's game against the Commanders, and while Schoonmaker would be in line to start for Ferguson, Spann-Ford would still be on track for added snaps.

Russell (foot) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Russell was unable to play in Week 11 against the 49ers due to a foot injury, which appears to still be bothering him as he was unable to practice Wednesday. The 26-year-old tight end will have an opportunity to return to practice Thursday and Friday to give himself a shot at suiting up against Arizona on Sunday. Russell has mostly served on special teams and has not registered a target over nine regular-season games this year.

Fant (groin) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Fant hasn't practiced since Oct. 30 due to a groin injury, resulting in a pair of absences (Weeks 9 and 11) sandwiched around a Week 10 bye. Reserve tight end Brady Russell (foot) also was held out of practice Wednesday, which leaves AJ Barner and Pharaoh Brown (elbow) as the healthy options at the position on the Seahawks' active roster at the moment. Fant will have two more sessions this week to put himself on a path to return to action Sunday against the Cardinals, but until he steps back on the practice field, his odds to suit up will be slim.

Oliver didn't practice Wednesday due to ankle and wrist injuries.

Oliver never returned after exiting with a sprained left ankle during the second half of a 23-13 win over the Titans on Sunday. He's curiously improved his pass-catching production since T.J. Hockenson returned from an ACL tear in Week 9, continuing to get plenty of snaps in two-tight end sets while Johnny Mundt has all but been pushed out of the offense. An Oliver absence for Week 12 at Chicago likely would mean more snaps and routes for both Hockenson and Mundt.

The Giants signed Murray to their practice squad Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.

Murray spent some time with the Cardinals' practice squad earlier this season before inking a deal to join the Giants' practice squad Wednesday. The 24-year-old tight end has yet to appear in an NFL game after going undrafted out of Hawaii in 2023.

Ferguson (concussion) didn't take part in Wednesday's practice.

Ferguson's absence from practice comes as no surprise after he exited Monday's loss to the Texans early after sustaining a concussion. Head coach Mike McCarthy told Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday that Ferguson would be "hard pressed" to play Sunday in Washington, but any progress the tight end is able to display Thursday or Friday may give a better sense of when he'll be available to the Cowboys offense again. Meanwhile, Luke Schoonmaker was the main beneficiary among Dallas tight ends Monday, gathering in six of 10 targets for 56 yards.

The Chargers cut Castles from their practice squad Wednesday.

Castles returned to the Chargers' practice squad Nov. 9 after being dropped just three days before, but it now appears the Bolts have decided to move in another direction. The 24-year-old has yet to appear in an NFL game after going undrafted out of Tennessee this past offseason.