NFL Player News

Holker (ankle) is listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice report.

Holker sprained his ankle in warmups during a preseason game in mid-August, and the injury could put him in danger of missing Sunday's season opener against the Panthers. The undrafted rookie tight end will have two more chances to increase his practice participation before the Saints potentially assign him an injury designation for Week 1.

Njoku (undisclosed) wasn't listed on Cleveland's injury report Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Njoku practiced without limitations and should be good to go for Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys. The 28-year-old tight end set career highs with 882 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2023, but most of that production came with quarterbacks other than Deshaun Watson, who is set to reprise the starting role under center after having recovered from a shoulder injury.

LaPorta (hamstring) wasn't listed on the Lions' injury report Wednesday.

LaPorta came down with a hamstring injury Aug. 5, which spurred the Lions to take a cautious approach with the second-year tight end for the rest of training camp and the preseason. Detroit didn't actually hold a practice Wednesday, but he wouldn't have been limited if the team had taken the field. With his availability now clear for Sunday's game versus the Rams, LaPorta will reclaim his standing as the Lions' second pass catcher behind wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, which amounted to 86 catches (on 120 targets) for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games as a rookie in 2023.

Thomas (calf) didn't take part in practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Thomas injured his calf in early August and was a spectator for the Panthers' first Week 1 practice along with Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back). With Thomas and Tremble sidelined Wednesday, fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson are the healthy tight ends on the active roster. Thomas and Tremble will have two more sessions this week to put themselves on paths to playing Sunday in New Orleans before Carolina potentially rules on both players' availabilities.

Tremble (hamstring/back) didn't practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Tremble has been dealing with a tight hamstring since the early days of training camp, but the Panthers also are listing him with a back injury on their first practice report of the campaign. Ian Thomas also was a non-participant Wednesday, leaving rookie fourth-rounder Ja'Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson as the healthy tight ends on the team's active roster. Tremble and Thomas will have two more days to put themselves in a position to play Sunday at New Orleans before Carolina potentially makes a ruling on both players' statuses.

Pitts (hamstring) said that he expects to be 100 percent healthy for Sunday's season opener against the Steelers, despite being listed as a limited participant in practice Wednesday, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

Pitts said that his limitations at Wednesday's practice will only amount to missing a play or two, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, when asked if there are any concerns about Pitts' status for Week 1, William McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports that head coach Raheem Morris answered, "not for me." The athletic tight end will have two more chances to upgrade to full practice participation, but even if he carries an injury designation into the weekend, fantasy managers should have some degree of confidence in Pitts being able to play Sunday. With the arrival of Kirk Cousins under center, Pitts may be primed for a true breakout campaign while paired with the best quarterback play of his four-year career.

Bowers (foot) will return to practice Wednesday, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

Bowers missed most of the team's practices between mid-August and the end of the month, but head coach Antonio Pierce sounded optimistic Wednesday about the rookie's chances of playing Sunday against the Chargers. The extent of Bowers' practice participation will be revealed later Wednesday, when the Raiders release their first official injury report of the season. For his part, Pierce noted that Bowers will be "ready to go" this weekend, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com.

Stephens (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Stephens will have two more opportunities to return to practice, but he's in danger of missing Sunday's regular-season opener against the Browns. The 24-year-old tight end has yet to see regular-season action for the Cowboys, as he missed his entire 2023 rookie season due to a torn ACL.

Morris (shoulder) will be a full participant during practice Wednesday, Chris Brown of the Bills Radio Network reports.

Morris suffered the injury in a preseason contest against the Steelers, but he should be good to go as Week 1 prep for Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals picks up. The third-year pro typically doesn't see much action on offense, but his ability to suit up would at least strengthen the team's depth at tight end, while the Bowling Green product is also a regular on special teams.

Head coach Raheem Morris said that Pitts will be a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Pitts will be listed with an injury on Atlanta's first official practice report of the regular season, though he seemed to be at full health throughout training camp and the preseason. The fourth-year tight end still has two more chances to upgrade to full practice participation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Steelers, which will be Pitts' first chance to work with new quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Falcons have Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley behind Pitts on the depth chart at tight end, but both profile primarily as blockers.