NFL Player News

The Saints list Johnson (quadriceps) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

New Orleans will tentatively enter the weekend with just one healthy tight end (Adam Trautman), as Taysom Hill (back) is also listed as questionable for the season finale. Considering both Johnson and Hill closed the week with a pair of limited practices, there's a good chance the Saints could have both players available to fill their usual roles. Johnson has been the Saints' top pass-catching tight end this season, as he enters the Week 18 contest with 41 receptions for 487 yards and seven touchdowns on 64 targets across his 15 appearances.

Tomlinson (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's season finale against the Chargers, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Tomlinson has been hindered in practice by an ankle injury. With Eric Saubert (knee) also questionable, the Broncos could be shorthanded at tight end behind Albert Okwuegbunam in the season finale.

Saubert (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's season finale against the Chargers, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

A knee injury has cut into Saubert's practice reps. Fellow tight end Eric Tomlinson (ankle) is also questionable, leaving Albert Okwuegbunam as the clear No. 1 tight end for Denver in the season finale.

The Vikings waived Muse on Friday, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reports.

Muse played exclusively on special teams across 10 appearances with the Vikings this year but has been waived to make room for Irv Smith (ankle), who's expected to be activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against Chicago. Per Tomasson, Muse will be a candidate to join Minnesota's practice squad if he clears waivers.

Knox (hip) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Knox joined quarterback Josh Allen (ankle/elbow) as a limited participant at Thursday's practice, but both players took every rep at Friday's session to remove any lingering doubt about their statuses for the regular-season finale. Though he's noticed some regression in his touchdown count after finding the end zone a career-high nine times in 2021, Knox has more or less matched his receiving output from the previous season. He enters Sunday's game holding season-long averages of 3.3 catches, 36 yards and 4.5 targets per contest, roughly in line with his averages from 2021 (3.3, 39.1 and 4.7).

The Vikings plan to activate Smith (ankle) from injured reserve before Sunday's game against Chicago, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Smith will return as the team's No. 2 tight end, behind trade-deadline addition T.J. Hockenson, with the talented duo potentially inspiring head coach Kevin O'Connell to use more two-tight end sets and fewer looks with three wide receivers and/or fullback C.J. Ham. However it plays out, Smith was designated to return from IR last week and apparently will make it back for the final game of the regular season as a tuneup for the playoffs.

Woods is expected to draw a third consecutive start Sunday against the Texans with Kylen Granson (ankle) ruled out for the season finale.

Woods technically started in Week 16 and Week 17 losses to the Chargers and Giants, respectively, but he narrowly outpaced fellow tight end Mo Alie-Cox in playing time. Woods logged snap shares of 64 and 61 percent in those two contests, while Alie-Cox registered 44 and 54 percent shares. However, Woods was the more productive receiver of the two; he recorded six catches for 62 yards on nine targets during that span, while Alie-Cox was targeted just three times.

Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday said Granson (ankle) won't play in Sunday's game against the Texans, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.

Granson will close out the season with a third consecutive absence, paving the way for Jelani Woods and Mo Alie-Cox to split the bulk of the reps at tight end. A 2021 fourth-round pick out of SMU, Granson amassed 31 receptions for 302 yards and no touchdowns on 40 targets over 13 appearances during his sophomore season.

Fant (knee) was limited in practice Thursday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Fant may be following the same practice regimen as last week, when he was a DNP on Wednesday before capping it with back-to-back limited sessions. In that scenario, he didn't carry a designation into this past Sunday's game against the Jets, when he hauled in two of three targets for 40 yards. Ultimately, Friday's injury report will reveal if Fant is cleared ahead of Sunday's contest versus the Rams.

Deguara did not participate during the Packers' practice Thursday due to a calf injury.

Deguara popped up on Green Bay's injury report with this issue for the first time Thursday. The 25-year-old was seen working on a stationary bike and stretching during Thursday's session, according to Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site, so it appears he may have picked up the injury at some point during practice Wednesday. Deguara has recorded 13 catches on 15 targets for 114 yards, and his biggest contributions have come as a blocker and core special-teamer. He'll have one opportunity to increase his practice activity Friday, or else he could be in jeopardy of missing his first game of the season during Sunday's crucial regular-season finale against the Lions.