NFL Player News

Gesicki (calf) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Gesicki is nursing a calf injury heading into a Monday night matchup against the Commanders, but it's encouraging to see him practicing in at least a limited fashion. The tight end has drawn 13 targets in his two games wearing a Bengals uniform, highlighted by a 7-91-0 performance Week 2 against the Chiefs. It's worth noting though that if Tee Higgins (hamstring), who was also limited in practice Thursday, manages to return Week 3, he could eat into Gesicki's target opportunities.

Kraft (shoulder) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

Kraft has mustered some on-field work in both sessions so far during Week 3 prep due to a shoulder injury, and he even donned a red non-contact jersey Thursday. Afterward, he told Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site, "Every morning, I wake up feeling even better...It'll be good." Kraft seems confident that he'll be available Sunday at Tennessee, but Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not he enters the weekend with a designation for that contest.

Jordan, who the Texans placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a knee injury, is reportedly recovering from a torn ACL, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Jordan caught his only target during Houston's win over the Bears on Sunday Night Football, but it appears he's since suffered a season-ending injury. The severity of Jordan's injury remains to be fully confirmed by the Texans, but it looks like Cade Stover is in line to handle an increased role behind top tight end Dalton Schultz for the rest of the year, and beginning Week 3 on the road against Minnesota.

Engram (hamstring) didn't practice Thursday, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.

After suffering a hamstring injury in pregame warmups, Engram missed this past Sunday's loss to the Browns. According to Harvey, head coach Doug Pederson acknowledged prior to Thursday's session that Engram is "a little bit further away," and the tight end's inability to take any reps doesn't inspire much early confidence that he'll be ready to play Monday against the Bills. Engram has two more chances to log some practice activity before the Jaguars post their final Week 3 injury report Saturday.

Kittle won't practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Kittle wasn't included on the 49ers' initial Week 3 injury report, but he'll be given Thursday off after experiencing tightness in his hamstring coming out of Wednesday's practice session, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. The mid-week absence suddenly threatens Kittle's availability for Sunday's game against the Rams, but the 49ers won't decide whether he'll carry a designation into the weekend until after Friday's practice. With starting wideout Deebo Samuel (calf) already expected to miss Sunday's contest, Kittle's status takes on even greater significance than usual.

Bates played 25 of the Commanders' 72 snaps on offense in Sunday's 21-18 win over the Giants and reeled in his lone target for a five-yard reception.

Bates has worked ahead of rookie second-round draft pick Ben Sinnott in both of the Commanders' first two games, but the presence of veteran Zach Ertz has kept Bates from playing more than half of the snaps on offense in either contest. If the Commanders fade from playoff contention, Ertz could take on a lesser role, but the coaching staff may be more inclined to expand Sinnott's playing time rather than taking a longer look at Bates. Through his first three seasons in the league, Bates didn't showcase intriguing upside as a receiver, finishing with between 14 and 20 catches in each year despite missing only one game during that span.

Hurst (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Hurst has now logged back-to-back limited practice sessions due to an ankle injury. He's been targeted a combined five times while playing above 50 percent of offensive snaps in each of the Chargers' first regular-season games, but he ran routes on 76 percent of Justin Herbert's dropbacks Week 2 versus Carolina. If Hurst can practice in at least a limited capacity again Friday, it will bode well for his chances of suiting up Sunday on the road against Pittsburgh.

Pruitt (knee) is not practicing Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pruitt has now missed back-to-back practices due to a knee issue, resulting in Pittsburgh's elevation of tight end Rodney Williams from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. If Pruitt isn't able to suit up Sunday versus the Chargers, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward will figure to benefit most from increased opportunities behind Pat Freiermuth.

Njoku (ankle) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku hasn't practiced in any fashion since suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Browns' Week 1 loss to the Cowboys, and he looks to be trending toward a second straight missed game Sunday against the Giants. Before officially ruling him out for Week 3, the Browns will wait and see what, if anything, Njoku can do during Friday's practice.

Allen (back) did not practice Wednesday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Allen missed practice all of last week due to a back issue and didn't suit up for Sunday's loss to Arizona. His absence from practice to begin this week isn't a promising sign for his chance of returning to action against San Francisco in Week 3, though he'll have two more days to get back on the field prior to the release of Friday's final injury report. If Allen can't suit up Sunday, Hunter Long is likely to continue to back up Colby Parkinson at tight end.