NFL Player News

The Chiefs signed Gray to a three-year, $18 million contract extension Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The deal contains $10.1 million guaranteed. Gray was set to enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2024, but the two sides worked out an extension ahead of Thursday night's kickoff with the Ravens. Gray hasn't produced much in the box score across three seasons, turning in a 63-640-4 receiving line across 50 games, but he's cemented himself as Travis Kelce's top backup.

Washington (knee) did not practice Thursday.

Washington wasn't listed on the injury report Wednesday, so this is a new issue for the second-year tight end. Connor Heyward and MyCole Pruitt would be in line for expanded roles behind Pat Freiermuth if Washington can't play Sunday against the Falcons.

Holker (ankle) remained sidelined for Thursday's practice.

Holker has been dealing with the ankle sprain since Aug. 18 and looks like a long shot to dress for Sunday's Week 1 game against the Panthers. He was unlikely to see much, if any, playing time behind Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau.

Thomas (calf) remained sidelined for Thursday's practice.

Thomas has been dealing with the calf issue for over a month now, and back-to-back DNPs to open the practice week would suggest he's on the wrong side of questionable for Week 1. Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) is also dinged up for Carolina, leaving rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders atop the depth chart, followed by Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson.

Tremble (hamstring/back) is listed as a non-participant on Thursday's practice report.

Tremble and backup tight end Ian Thomas (calf) have now missed back-to-back practices, and it looks like both could be in danger of missing Sunday's regular-season opener against the Saints. Carolina recently added Messiah Swinson to the tight end room as a result of injuries atop the depth chart, and the team also has rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders and Jordan Matthews healthy at the position.

The Vikings are thought to be loosely targeting a return from the reserve/PUP list for Hockenson (knee) after the team's Week 6 bye, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

Minnesota placed Hockenson on the reserve/PUP list upon trimming down to a 53-man roster, which rules the standout tight end out for at least the first four games of the season, but it sounds like Hockenson's return to the field could take until Week 7, after the team's bye. That makes sense considering not only Hockenson's recovery timetable, as he works his way back from right ACL and MCL tears suffered late last December, but also the Vikings' schedule. The team has an overseas Week 5 matchup against the Jets prior to the bye. Until Hockenson is cleared to retake the field, Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver are slated to hold down the fort at the tight end position.

Kincaid's depth of target increased from six yards to nine yards after offensive coordinator Joe Brady took over for Ken Dorsey during the second half of the 2023 season, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports. Kincaid also averaged 14.5 yards per catch during the Bills' final two regular-season games and two postseason games.

Even though he's entering just his second season, Kincaid may be Buffalo's best weapon in the receiving game, given that Khalil Shakir is the only wide receiver that's ever caught a regular-season pass from Josh Allen. Kincaid is coming off a 73-673-2 receiving line over 16 regular-season games in 2023, and he's a player to target in fantasy drafts after the top three or four tight ends are off the board.

Brown (foot) did not participate in the Seahawks' practice Wednesday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Brown is nursing a foot injury that he suffered at practice Aug. 15 and he was forced to remain on the sidelines for the team's first practice session of the week Wednesday. The tight end will have two more chances to return to the field in some capacity at practice ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Broncos.

Fant practiced on a limited basis Wednesday due to a toe injury, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Since Fant suffered an apparent foot issue during an Aug. 7 practice, head coach Mike Macdonald was mum on the nature of the tight end's health concern, merely expressing optimism that Fant will be available Week 1. Now that the injury is known, Fant will have two more days to prove his health before the Seahawks potentially give him a designation before Sunday's contest against the Broncos. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Pharaoh Brown (foot) didn't practice Wednesday, which could open the door for a few more targets for Fant this weekend, assuming the latter is active and the former is limited or sidelined.

Bowers (foot) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.

Per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, head coach Antonio Pierce noted before practice that Bowers would be "ready to go," and despite his listed limitations Wednesday, the rookie tight end is trending toward being available for Sunday's season opener against the Chargers. Bowers now has two more chances to log a full practice session prior to the announcement of his team's final injury report ahead of the Week 1 game.