NFL Player News

Smartt (shoulder) was a limited participant in practice for the second day in a row Thursday, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.

The backup tight end has yet to play in more than 57 percent of the offensive snaps in any game this season. Smartt has nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown in 2023.

Henry (knee) remained limited at practice Thursday.

Henry, who has missed two straight games, also was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, so he likely will need to work fully Friday in order to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets. If, however, Henry remains sidelined this weekend, Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown would continue to lead New England's TE corps in Week 18.

Johnson (chest) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

Johnson followed up Wednesday's absence from practice with some activity one day later, signifying progress through his current chest issue. He has one more session Friday to prove his health before the Saints potentially tag him with a designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons. If do-it-all running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) sits out this weekend, an active Johnson could benefit from the trickle-down effect of the former's 6.6 targets per game being freed up.

Njoku (illness/knee) was listed as a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Njoku was able to handle some reps at practice Thursday, a day after he sat out the Browns' first Week 18 session entirely due to an illness, a knee injury and rest. No major health concerns are expected to prevent Njoku from playing this Sunday against the Bengals, but the Browns could still choose to rest him for all or most of the game in order to preserve his health for the postseason. The Browns are locked in as the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs, and Njoku has proven himself to be one of the team's more important players this season, especially since Joe Flacco took over as Cleveland's starting quarterback. In his five appearances with Flacco under center, Njoku has averaged six receptions, 78 receiving yards and nine targets per game while scoring four touchdowns.

Kelce (neck) remained limited at practice Thursday.

After logging back-to-back capped sessions Wednesday and Thursday, Kelce likely will need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Chargers. That said, with the Chiefs entrenched as the AFC's No. 3 seed in the playoffs, the star tight end profiles as a candidate to be rested this weekend if he's anything less than 100 percent ahead of Week 18 action.

LaPorta (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

LaPorta now has cobbled together back-to-back capped sessions to begin Week 18 prep as he tends to an ankle injury, giving him just one more chance to get back to full participation before the Lions potentially hand him a designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Vikings. If he's able to suit up this weekend, he likely would be hard-pressed to accrue the 140 receiving yards needed to reach 1,000 in his rookie campaign, but Minnesota's defense has allowed the second-highest catch rate (79.2 percent) to opposing tight ends this season.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Musgrave (kidney) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.

Since being designated for return from injured reserve Dec. 21, Musgrave hasn't managed anything more than limited participation in practice while he works his way back from a lacerated kidney. According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, LaFleur said that a return to the lineup for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Bears is still "realistic" for Musgrave, but the rookie tight end may need to upgrade to full practice participation Friday to convince the coaching staff he's ready for game action. While Musgrave has been sidelined for the past six games, fellow rookie Tucker Kraft has stepped in admirably as Green Bay's starting tight end while providing a 23-281-2 receiving line on 30 targets over that span.

Kieft (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

After missing the Buccaneers' Week 17 loss to the Saints with a shoulder issue, Kieft began the team's week of practice with an estimated DNP on Wednesday followed by a limited session Thursday. It seems as if the 26-year-old's shoulder injury could be improving, but unless he's able to practice in full Friday, he'll likely carry an injury designation into Week 18.

Kmet (knee) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

Kmet is a step ahead of last week's practice regimen as he tends to a knee issue, putting in a limited session one day earlier this time around. Still, he entered last weekend listed as questionable for this past Sunday's game against the Falcons, for which he was active but blanked in the box score. It remains to be seen if Kmet has a designation ahead of this Sunday's contest at Green Bay, something that will be revealed on Friday's injury report.

Wright (hip) did not participate at practice Wednesday.

Wright has sat out of both of Detroit's last two games due to a hip injury, and now he's missing the first practice of the new week. He'll probably have to return to practice Thursday or Friday to have a chance to play in Week 18.