NFL Player News

Hockenson (lower back) wasn't listed on the Vikings' first Week 1 injury report Wednesday.

Since the start of training camp, Hockenson didn't get much on-field work or any preseason action due to the combination of an ear infection and stiffness in his lower back. The issues didn't stop the Vikings from paying up for the tight end, as Minnesota rewarded Hockenson last week with a four-year, $66 million extension. Now that he's back to full health, Hockenson can turn his focus to being one of the top targets for quarterback Kirk Cousins alongside wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and running back Alexander Mattison.

Gesicki (shoulder) wasn't listed Wednesday on the Patriots' Week 1 injury report.

Gesicki suffered a mild shoulder dislocation in mid-August, but he's good to go as Sunday's season opener against the Eagles approaches. In his first season in New England, Gesicki is expected to share snaps and targets at tight end with Hunter Henry, and the Patriots are likely to feature a fair amount of two-tight end sets that will allow both players to share the field. The potential for a timeshare could result in Gesicki's weekly target volume fluctuating, but he could carve out fantasy utility in 2023 nonetheless, given his pass-catching prowess.

Ertz (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Ertz's 2022 season came to an early end in Week 10, when he sustained damage to the ACL and MCL in his left knee and ultimately required surgery last November. He always expressed a clear goal to be ready for Week 1 of the coming campaign, and after spending the first two and a half weeks of training camp on the active/PUP list, he was cleared to practice Aug. 14. Ertz has yet to achieve that ever elusive full participation in practice, but he'll have two more opportunities to do so before Sunday's road matchup with the Commanders.

Andrews was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a quadricep injury.

As promised by head coach John Harbaugh, Andrews returned to practice Wednesday, and the release of the team's first official injury report of the regular season revealed the nature of the issue that had kept the tight end off the field for the Ravens' past six practice sessions. Even though he was limited in his return to the field, Andrews still seems on track to play this Sunday against Houston, with Harbaugh downplaying the severity of the injury at least two or three times over the past week.

Thomas (calf) wasn't listed Wednesday on the Commanders' Week 1 injury report.

Thomas' absence from the injury report confirms that he's completed his recovery from the calf strain that kept him out of practice and preseason games for nearly all of August. He'll likely reclaim his role as the team's top receiving tight end this Sunday against the Cardinals, though he could cede a few routes and snaps to Cole Turner as well as blocking tight end John Bates.

Whyle (ankle) wasn't included on Tennessee's first Week 1 injury report released Wednesday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

The rookie fifth-round draft pick was forced out of the Titans' preseason finale with an ankle injury, but he looks to be back to full speed ahead of Week 1. Whyle isn't expected to hold a major role in the passing game in 2023 while he's stuck behind Chigoziem Okonkwo on the depth chart at tight end in what projects to be a run-first Tennessee offense.

Kelce (knee) is officially listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Lions.

Kelce hyperextended his knee during Tuesday's practice and was tagged as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report. The fact that he's listed as questionable for the season opener supports the notion that Kelce has avoided a long-term issue, but in any event, a decision on his Week 1 status could go down the wire ahead of Thursday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. If Kelce is unable to face Detroit, Noah Gray would likely fill in as the Chiefs' top pass-catching tight end, while Kelce's high volume of targets would be spread around out among Gray and the team's receivers and running backs.

Andrews (undisclosed) is participating at Wednesday's practice, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Andrews is back on the field after having missed Baltimore's last six practices due to an undisclosed injury. The Ravens' first official injury report of the week will be released later Wednesday and will reveal whether Andrews was limited or practiced without restrictions. Head coach John Harbaugh has repeatedly downplayed the severity of Andrews' undisclosed injury.

Kelce, who hyperextended his knee during Tuesday's practice, is thought to be dealing with a bone bruise ahead of Thursday's season opener against the Lions, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report.

While Kelce is believed to have avoided a long-term knee injury, the timing of the injury clouds his Week 1 status. Per the report, once the swelling in the tight end's knee decreases, the Chiefs should have more insight regarding his chances of facing the Lions. Added context on that front will arrive no later than Wednesday, when the Chiefs' will post their final Week 1 injury report.

Gray appears to be first in line to serve as Kansas City's top pass-catching tight end in Thursday's game against the Lions if Travis Kelce (knee) is sidelined for the contest, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Kelce departed Tuesday's practice with a hyperextended knee, and while the team's initial feeling is that the eight-time Pro Bowler avoided a long-term injury, his status is still in doubt for Thursday's season opener, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. If Kelce ends up sitting or is limited in some capacity Thursday, Gray likely wouldn't command the same sort of target volume, but the third-year Duke product may still draw enough looks to make for an intriguing streaming option. Even though Kelce suited up for all 17 regular-season games in 2022, Gray played north of 50 percent of the offensive snaps in 12 of those contests and turned in a 28-299-1 receiving line on 34 targets while also scoring on his lone rushing attempt. Blake Bell is the only other tight end on the 53-man roster, but Matt Bushman could be elevated from the practice squad to add depth.