NFL Player News

Smith (ankle) was present for Thursday's practice after sitting out Wednesday's session, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Thursday's injury report will clarify the tight end's participation level, but his return to the field suggests that he has a chance to suit up this weekend against the Lions. Four games into the 2022 season, Jones has caught seven of his 11 targets for 58 yards while working in a timeshare with Hunter Henry.

Jordan (ankle) isn't practicing Thursday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

Jordan hasn't practiced since tweaking his ankle in the Texans' 16-9 loss to the Broncos in Week 2 and looks to be trending toward a third consecutive absence Sunday in Jacksonville. Before the Texans formally decide on his status for the weekend, they'll wait and see if Jordan can fit in any on-field work Friday. With Pharaoh Brown having since been released and Jordan looking unlikely to be available Week 5, O.J. Howard and Jordan Akins look set to split reps at tight end against the Jaguars.

The Saints signed Holtz off the practice squad Wednesday.

Holtz has landed a permanent spot on New Orleans' active roster after being elevated from the team's practice squad for the first time in Week 4. The 29-year-old served as the team's third-string tight end behind Adam Trautman and Juwan Johnson, as Nick Vannett did not see the field Sunday. Though Holtz did not record a target while playing 10 offensive snaps, he seems poised to take over as the team's No. 3 tight end moving forward.

Ferguson did not practice Wednesday due to a knee injury, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Ferguson appears to have picked up a knee injury after catching his lone target for seven yards during Sunday's win over the Commanders. The rookie tight end played his second lowest percentage of Dallas' offensive snaps this season in Week 4, though it's unclear exactly when this issue popped up. If Ferguson's health does not improve before Sunday's game against the Rams, then undrafted rookie Peyton Hendershot should step up behind starting tight end Dalton Schultz.

Brown (hip/shoulder) finalized a contract with the Browns on Wednesday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Brown's signing was made official after he passed his physical earlier Wednesday, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Though Brown had been dealing with hip and shoulder injuries and missed Week 4 action before he was released by the Texans on Tuesday, the Browns were comfortable enough with what they saw to officially bring him on board. With David Njoku (knee) and Harrison Bryant (illness) both questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Brown could step into some kind of role with his new team right away if he can prove he's healthy enough to suit up.

Long (ankle) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Long didn't play in Week 4, marking a third straight absence due to an ankle injury, but he appears to have cleared the issue and, barring a setback, is in line to return in Week 5. If available, the second-year tight end will likely slide into his usual role behind Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe.

Hockenson was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice due to a hip injury.

The Lions were without running back D'Andre Swift (shoulder) and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) and DJ Chark (ankle) in Week 4 against the Seahawks, and Hockenson benefited mightily, gathering in eight of 12 targets for 179 yards and two touchdowns. The aforementioned trio of players joined Hockenson on the sideline Wednesday, while Josh Reynolds (ankle) and Quintez Cephus (foot) also didn't practice. Considering the uncertainty in the skill-position ranks, Hockenson could be in line for another huge workload Sunday at New England, but first he'll have to practice and get rid of his injury designation.

Bryant didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Bryant is coming off a season-high six targets in Week 4, so the timing of the aliment is unfortunate. The backup tight end will have two more practices to clear the issue before the team needs to make decision on his status for Week 5.

Hill (rib) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

His ability to practice in any capacity at the beginning of the week bodes well for his chances of playing Sunday against the Seahawks. Hill has scored rushing touchdowns in two of his three appearances this season, but he's yet to top five touches or 16 snaps in a game.

Hurst (groin) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Hurst played through the groin injury the past two weeks, improving to a 56 percent snap share and a 3-27-1 receiving line in last Thursday's win over the Dolphins after seeing just 38 percent of snaps and two targets four days earlier against the Jets. He had larger workloads the first two weeks of the season before he was listed on the injury report, totaling 15 targets on 75 and 81 percent of snaps in a pair of Bengals losses. In any case, Hurst should play through the injury again this Sunday in Baltimore, so long as he's able to continue practicing on at least a limited basis. The Ravens took him 25th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, seven picks before quarterback Lamar Jackson.