NFL Player News

Indianapolis signed Daniels to its practice squad Wednesday.

Daniels appeared in 15 games for the Cardinals last season, recording one catch for zero yards, but he failed to stick with the Texans this offseason and has remained a free agent since. The veteran tight end will get his first NFL opportunity of the campaign with Indianapolis and could be a candidate for elevation if Jelani Woods (shoulder) is unable to play in Week 10.

Njoku (ankle) isn't in line to practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

When previously asked if he would be able to play this coming Sunday against the Dolphins, the tight end told Cabot that he expected to be available. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski told Cabot on Wednesday that he isn't sure Njoku will be able to return to action this weekend. In any case, Njoku's absence in the Browns' first post-bye practice suggests that his status will need to be monitored closely ahead of the Week 10 game in Miami. In his absence during the Browns' 32-13 win over the Bengals in Week 8, Harrison Bryant and Pharaoh Brown saw added snaps at tight end, though neither player recorded a catch in the contest.

Bellinger (eye) worked with trainers on the side during the open portion of New York's practice Tuesday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Bellinger has been out of action since fracturing his left eye socket during a Week 7 win over the Jaguars. The rookie tight end has been said to be improving, and Giants general manager Joe Schoen recently indicated that the team hopes Bellinger will be able to return Week 11 versus Detroit, per Duggan.

Trautman gathered in his lone target for eight yards during Monday's 27-13 defeat to the Ravens.

Trautman caught one pass for eight yards during his return from a two-week layoff due to an ankle issue. However, the tight end still played his second-fewest offensive snaps (18) of the year, ahead of only the game in which he was injured. While the 25-year-old could see his playing time increase as he puts the ankle issue further behind him, he still figures to slot in behind Juwan Johnson in usage. As a result, don't expect Trautman to attract significantly more opportunities against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Hill had one rush for six yards and failed to haul in his lone target during Monday's 27-13 loss against Baltimore. He also completed one pass for 13 yards.

Hill logged his least productive outing of 2022, as the Saints gained just 243 total yards of offense against the Ravens' tough defense and the quarterback-turned-gadget player totaled fewer than four touches for the first time this season. Hill might play a bigger role if the Saints opt to take the ball out of quarterback Andy Dalton's hands more often against Pittsburgh on Sunday, but Dalton's Week 9 struggles could also open the door for Jameis Winston to reclaim the starting job.

Kieft brought in one of two targets for six yards in the Buccaneers' 16-13 win over the Rams on Sunday.

The rookie tight end continued to operate primarily in a blocking capacity while logging 16 snaps. Kieft made an appearance on the stat sheet in the form of one catch apiece over the last three games, and he could once again garner active status in the Week 10 contest versus the Seahawks in Munich, especially if Cameron Brate (neck) remains out.

Baltimore activated Kolar (sports hernia) from its injured reserve list Tuesday ahead of its Week 10 bye.

Kolar spent the first nine weeks of his rookie season on the Ravens' injured reserve list with a sports hernia, but with the additional benefit of a Week 10 bye, it seems he should be ready to go for Week 11 versus Carolina. The fourth-rounder out of Iowa State boasts great length and an impressive college stat sheet, but he probably won't see many opportunities as long as Mark Andrews (shoulder) is healthy.

The Rams waived Blanton on Tuesday.

Blanton signed with the Rams back in late September, while fellow tight end Brycen Hopkins served a three-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. However, Hopkins' suspension was lifted Monday, and Los Angeles has since parted ways with the 262-pounder after he played just 25 offensive snaps across the team's last four games. Blanton will now hope to earn another opportunity for playing time elsewhere.

McBride logged 13 of 63 offensive snaps during Sunday's 31-21 defeat to the Seahawks.

Since seeing the first three targets of his career Week 4, the rookie second-round pick has received consistent offensive snaps in five games in the interim. That said, McBride hasn't been targeted during that stretch, despite earning at least a 21 percent share of the plays. Meanwhile, veteran Zach Ertz continues to dominate reps at tight end for the Cardinals with 68 targets through nine contests, a reality that makes McBride a fantasy nonentity in the middle of his first pro campaign.

Quitoriano could play an expanded role in Sunday's game against the Giants, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Quitoriano made his season debut in Week 9, catching a touchdown pass while playing 18 snaps. The 2022 fifth-round draft pick out of Oregon State can bolster the "Y" position -- the in-line blocking tight end that is most often considered an extra tackle -- against the New York defense the blitzes more frequently than any other NFL team and pressures quarterbacks at the ninth-highest rate.