NFL Player News

Washington (knee) practiced in full Friday and does not carry an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against the Falcons.

Washington popped up on Thursday's injury report as a non-participant due to a knee issue, but he now looks fully healthy for Week 1. The depth tight end figures to mostly contribute as a blocker on offense Sunday.

Reiman (ankle) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.

Reiman logged three consecutive limited practice sessions this week, so his status could come down to the wire Sunday. If the rookie third-round pick is able to suit up versus Buffalo, he's expected to contribute only in a depth capacity.

Holker (ankle) did not practice Friday and is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Steelers, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

Holker remains sidelined due to an ankle sprain suffered in mid-August. The undrafted rookie tight end is expected to handle a depth role when healthy. His next chance to play will come Week 2 on the road at Dallas.

Pitts (hamstring) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Pitts was limited Wednesday before resuming full practice participation Thursday and Friday. He should be ready for a full workload in his first game with QB Kirk Cousins and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson -- a duo that many expect to propel Pitts to a breakout season.

Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension with the Steelers on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

This move confirms recent rumblings that Pittsburgh was trying to get Freiermuth extended before the start of the regular season. Freiermuth is locked in through the end of the 2028 season, as the extension will kick in after the fourth and final year of his rookie contract wraps up in 2024. The 2021 second-round draft pick is looking to bounce back under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, starting with Sunday's game against the Falcons, after posting a career-low 308 receiving yards in the 2023 regular season.

Sanders could see increased opportunities Sunday against the Saints, as Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) and Ian Thomas (calf) have been ruled out.

Sanders won't face competition for playing time from either of Carolina's banged-up veterans as the 2024 fourth-round draft pick makes his NFL debut Sunday. Along with Sanders, the Panthers have converted wide receiver Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson available at tight end, but coach Dave Canales said Friday that Sanders will start, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Tremble (hamstring/back) did not practice Friday and is ruled out for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Saints, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Tremble and Ian Thomas (calf) are both ruled out for Week 1, leaving rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders, veteran Jordan Matthews and newcomer Messiah Swinson as healthy options among Carolina's tight end room. Tremble's next chance to take the field will come Week 2 at home versus the Chargers.

Gray secured all three of his targets for 37 yards during Thursday's 27-20 win over the Ravens.

Gray outperformed star tight end Travis Kelce, who had three grabs for 34 yards despite drawing one more target, during Kansas City's season opener. The 2021 fifth-round pick, who signed a three-year extension just prior to Thursday's game, played 54 percent of offensive snaps compared to Kelce's 89 percent, so he remains relegated to backup duties heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Bengals. Still, if Gray can continue looking solid in two-TE sets, he may emerge as a viable fantasy option in leagues that require multiple starting tight ends.

Thomas (calf) isn't practicing Friday and said he won't play in Sunday's game against the Saints, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Fellow tight end Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) also is absent from Friday's practice, leaving rookie fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders as the likely No. 1 tight end for his NFL debut. The Panthers have Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson on the roster for depth, and Thomas suggested he could be back as soon as Week 2 against the Chargers.

Andrews brought in both targets for 14 yards in the Ravens' 27-20 loss to the Chiefs on Thursday night.

Carrying out his most robust workload since mid-November of last season, Andrews looked somewhat rusty at times and was even on the sideline for some key moments in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Isaiah Likely, who thrived in Andrews' injury absence down the stretch in 2023, took over the air attack to the tune of a team-best 9-111-1 line. Naturally, a one-game sample isn't an ironclad indication of how usage between the two will unfold throughout the season, but it wouldn't be inconceivable for Andrews to cede appreciably more snaps and/or targets to Likely than he ever would have before going down with a serious ankle injury Week 11 of last season.