NFL Player News

Johnson will play in the Saints' preseason contest against Tennessee on Sunday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Johnson began training camp on the active/PUP list while continuing to recover from the foot surgery he underwent in June. The tight end was able to return to team drills Thursday and will be able to get in some game reps during New Orleans' final exhibition Sunday. Johnson likely won't log extensive playing time in this matchup, but the snaps should help him prepare for the regular season, as he's slated to be the team's No. 1 tight end under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Miami released Fortson on Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Fortson missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery prior to the start of the campaign. He signed a contract with the Dolphins this March and caught two of three targets for 20 yards during the exhibition slate but won't make the roster cut. Fortson could still end up on the team's practice squad.

Muse has not practiced in recent weeks with an undisclosed injury, The Athletic reports.

Muse appeared set to win the No. 3 tight end role, but he's now dealing with an injury, while Robert Tonyan returned to practice. Muse had a strong first two preseason games, but now his status for Week 1 is in question.

Kolar had two receptions on three targets for 14 yards in Saturday's preseason tilt against the Packers.

Kolar got some run due to Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely sitting out Baltimore's exhibition finale. The 25-year-old Kolar doesn't project to be a fantasy factor this season with the kind of receiving talent ahead of him on the Ravens' tight end depth chart.

Hendershot caught his only target for a 10-yard gain in Saturday's 26-19 preseason loss to the Chargers.

The third-year tight end has been dealing with a shoulder injury for most of training camp, but Hendershot was able to play in the Cowboys' preseason finale and haul in his lone pass late in the first quarter. With Jake Ferguson and 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker locked in atop the tight end depth chart, Hendershot is in a fierce battle with John Stephens, Brevyn Spann-Ford and others for one of the team's final roster spots.

Njoku (undisclosed) isn't slated to play in Saturday's preseason contest at Seattle, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku has been dealing with some soreness since mid-August, which has kept him off the practice field in the meantime. With his lack of availability for the exhibition finale confirmed, he'll set his sights on a Week 1 matchup with the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 8. Over the last two campaigns with the Browns, Njoku has come on as a receiving threat with a combined 139 catches (on 203 targets) for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns in 30 regular-season games.

Yeboah is doubtful to return to Saturday's preseason game against the Giants due to a groin injury, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.

Yeboah sustained the injury in the first quarter. He hauled in his lone target for three yards before exiting the game. Yeboah is competing for a depth spot at tight end behind starter Tyler Conklin.

Kincaid didn't see the field in Saturday's 31-26 preseason loss to the Panthers.

Buffalo held key starters like Josh Allen and Kincaid out of the preseason finale to ensure that they're healthy for the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Cardinals. Kincaid put up 673 receiving yards in a promising rookie regular season last year, and he's a likely candidate to pick up some of the slack following the offseason departure of wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who accounted for 1,183 receiving yards on 160 targets in the 2023 regular season.

Tremble (hamstring) isn't in line to play in Saturday's preseason finale against Buffalo, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Carolina is playing most of its starters in the contest, but Tremble is being held out due to continued management of a hamstring injury. The 24-year-old will thus miss the entire preseason slate, though there hasn't been any indication that he won't be ready to suit up for Week 1 of the regular season. Fellow tight end Ian Thomas has a calf injury and is also sitting out Saturday, so fourth-round rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders figures to work with the starters.

Latu had three receptions on as many targets for 42 yards in Friday's preseason finale against Las Vegas.

Latu appeared in all three of San Francisco's exhibition contests this preseason, finishing with eight receptions (10 targets) for 84 yards. Despite the tight end's healthy debut this offseason, the front office still signed veteran Logan Thomas to enter the mix for snaps behind George Kittle this upcoming campaign. Latu possesses more fantasy upside than the team's other TE backups, but it sounds like the 2023 third-round selection will have to truly earn his way onto the club this season.