NFL Player News

Kittle (Achilles) was activated from the active/PUP list Sunday.

Kittle has been ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn Achilles that he suffered in January. His activation from the PUP list clears Kittle to participate in training camp practice, though he'll likely have his workload managed and be held out of Thursday's preseason finale against the Raiders. All signs are pointing to the veteran tight end having a chance to be available for the 49ers' regular-season opener against the Rams on Thursday, Sept. 10, with more context on that front slated to arrive in the coming days. In any case, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com suggests that Sunday's move is a sign that the team is confident that Kittle will be back before Week 5.

Roush brought in two of three targets for 30 yards in the Bears' 27-9 preseason loss to the Bengals on Saturday.

The rookie third-round pick came into the game following Colston Loveland and recorded his first catch, a 26-yard grab on first down, late in the first quarter on a pass from Case Keenum. Roush appears slated to open the regular season No. 3 on the tight-end depth chart behind Loveland and Cole Kmet, but given the pass-catching proficiency he displayed in his last three college seasons, the first-year talent could progressively carve out a solid complementary role.

Stowers failed to bring in either of his two targets in the Eagles' 24-21 preseason loss to the Patriots on Saturday.

Stowers was on the field with the starting offense and saw his first target from Andy Dalton on third down during the Eagles' opening possession. The rookie second-round pick was blanked on the night Saturday, but he made three receptions in the exhibition opener against the Ravens and remains second on the unofficial tight-end depth chart behind Dallas Goedert heading into the preseason finale at home against the Bengals on Friday night.

Cuevas caught three passes on four targets for 46 yards during the Ravens' 13-3 preseason win over the Vikings on Saturday.

Cuevas and fellow rookie Matthew Hibner were listed as the Ravens' starting tight ends while both Mark Andrews and Durham Smythe observed the game from the sidelines. Cuevas played a key role in the Ravens' first offensive series of the second quarter, hauling in passes of 23 and 17 yards from Tyler Huntley, with the drive ending with a 49-yard field goal from Tyler Loop. Cuevas is up to four catches on five targets for 57 yards across two preseason games as he competes against Hibner and Smythe for a consistent role in the Ravens' offense for the regular season. Baltimore will wrap up the preseason Friday against the Commanders.

Mallory did not play in the Colts' 34-6 preseason loss to the Falcons on Saturday due to a thumb injury, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.

It's unclear when Mallory picked up the injury, as he was a full participant in Thursday's training camp practice. How his thumb responds to treatment over the coming days will determine whether he'll be available for the Colts' preseason finale against the Lions next Saturday. In the Colts' preseason opener against the Patriots, Mallory caught six passes on seven targets for 80 yards.

Hibner failed to haul in his two targets during the Ravens' 13-3 preseason win over the Vikings on Saturday.

Both Hibner and Josh Cuevas were listed as the Ravens' starting tight ends Saturday while Mark Andrews and Durham Smythe did not play. Hibner couldn't haul in either target from Joe Fagnano in the second half, though the Ravens offense as a whole struggled to just 193 passing yards. Hibner, a fourth-round rookie out of SMU, is competing against Smythe for the TE2 role behind Andrews, though Hibner will likely start the regular season as the third-string tight end. The Ravens' preseason finale takes place Friday against the Commanders.

Loveland brought in one of three targets for 10 yards in the Bears' 27-9 preseason loss to the Bengals on Saturday.

The second-year tight end was the subject of plenty of Caleb Williams' attention on the Bears' opening possession, but Loveland was able to corral only one of the three passes that went his way. Nevertheless, the target volume relative to playing time was an encouraging sign for Loveland's outlook heading into the regular season, when he'll look to build on the 58-713-6 line on 82 targets he compiled across 16 regular-season games during his 2025 rookie campaign.

Engram played 16 snaps on offense but didn't show up in the box score otherwise during the Broncos' 33-13 preseason loss to the Packers on Friday.

Engram was more involved offensively in the Broncos' preseason opener against the Falcons, when he caught one pass on three targets for 24 yards. He didn't see a target in Friday's exhibition game, and it remains to be seen whether Engram and the other Denver starters will play in the preseason finale against Minnesota this Friday. Engram is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he caught 50 passes on 76 targets for 461 yards and one touchdown across 16 games. He figures to lead the Broncos' tight end group that also includes Adam Trautman, Justin Joly and Nate Adkins.

The 49ers signed Dinkins to a three-year contract Saturday.

Dinkins is back with the 49ers, nearly one month after being waived by the team in late July with a non-football injury designation. The Penn State product gives the Niners additional depth at tight end in the absences of George Kittle (Achilles) and Tanner McLachlan (undisclosed).

Matavao was diagnosed with a knee injury following the Saints' 34-0 preseason loss to the Rams on Saturday, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

It's unclear when Matavao tweaked his knee, but he'll undergo more tests over the coming days to determine the severity of the injury and whether he'll be available for the Saints' preseason finale against the Cowboys on Friday. The 2025 seventh-rounder finished Saturday's game with three catches on as many targets for 34 yards.