NFL Player News
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Jonnu Smith TE | PIT
Patriots' Jonnu Smith: Week-to-week with ankle sprain
Smith was diagnosed Wednesday with a low-ankle sprain and is considered week-to-week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
A high-ankle sprain would have necessitated a longer recovery timeline, but Smith's low-ankle injury looks as though it'll still be enough to keep him on the sideline for one game. He suffered the injury in Sunday's overtime loss to the Packers, playing just 17 snaps before departing. Though Smith has turned in only seven receptions for 58 yards on 11 targets through four games, his absence should at least clear the way for Hunter Henry to absorb a larger share of the snaps and targets available at tight end. New England doesn't currently have another healthy tight end on the roster beyond Henry, so expect the team to add a body to the position group in advance of this weekend's game against Detroit.
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Jody Fortson TE | KC
Chiefs' Jody Fortson: Records second touchdown
Fortson turned his lone target into a 10-yard touchdown reception in Sunday's 41-31 win over the Buccaneers.
All three of Kansas City's tight ends finished with touchdowns on the night, as top option Travis Kelce scored on a 16-yard connection with Patrick Mahomes in the first quarter, while Noah Gray took a direct snap for a one-yard score in the second quarter. Fortson then provided the Chiefs' final touchdown of the night in the third quarter, marking the second time he's found the end zone this season. He's now scored on both of his receptions this season, but he's drawn just three targets in total through four games.
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Noah Gray TE | KC
Chiefs' Noah Gray: Credited with first rushing TD
Gray carried once for a one-yard touchdown in Sunday's 41-31 win over the Buccaneers.
Though the tight end couldn't corral his lone target on the night, he found paydirt for the first time this season when he motioned in front of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and plunged across the goal line on a direct snap. All three of the Chiefs' tight ends finished the game with six points, as Travis Kelce and Jody Fortson both recorded receiving touchdowns. Moving forward, Gray and Fortson will likely continue to function mostly as blockers whenever they're on the field.
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Peyton Hendershot TE | KC
Cowboys' Peyton Hendershot: Plays four offensive snaps in win
Hendershot failed to see a target in Sunday's 25-10 win over the Commanders.
Hendershot reverted back to his role as the Cowboys' No. 3 tight end with the return of starter Dalton Schultz after a one-game absence. Hendershot played just four offensive snaps Sunday, while Schultz was featured with 55 snaps, and Jake Ferguson was in on 17 snaps of his own. Barring injuries to either teammate, Hendershot should remain far off the fantasy radar when the Cowboys visit the Rams in Week 5.
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Jake Ferguson TE | DAL
Cowboys' Jake Ferguson: Catches one pass in win
Ferguson caught his lone target for seven yards in Sunday's 25-10 win over the Commanders.
Ferguson returned to his depth role in the tight end ranks with the return of starter Dalton Schultz after a one-game absence. The rookie played just 28 percent of the Cowboys' offensive snaps and was unable to get going with limited work. Barring another injury to Schultz, Ferguson should continue to operate as the team's top backup at tight end. The 23-year-old should be ignored for fantasy purposes as the Cowboys visit the Rams in Week 5.
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Dalton Schultz TE | HOU
Cowboys' Dalton Schultz: Held catchless in win
Schultz (knee) failed to catch any of his three targets in Sunday's 25-10 win over the Commanders.
After missing Week 3 due to a sprained PCL in his right knee, Schultz returned to his role as the Cowboys' No. 1 tight end. Unfortunately, he came up empty for fantasy managers who reinserted him into lineups. Schultz played 90 percent of the Cowboys' offensive snaps, so he didn't seem to be facing any limitations in his return from the knee injury. The 26-year-old's outlook should get a much-needed boost in the coming weeks, when quarterback Dak Prescott (thumb) makes his return to the lineup.
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Trey McBride TE | ARI
Cardinals' Trey McBride: Records first catches of career
McBride reeled in all three targets for 24 yards during Sunday's 26-16 victory at Carolina.
McBride was on the receiving end of quarterback Kyler Murray's first pass of the game, and by the time the clock hit 0:00, the rookie second-round pick had blown away his usage from his first two career appearances, logging 32 of 76 snaps on offense after handling five combined between Weeks 2 and 3. If his increase in playing time continues, McBride now may be the Cardinals' clear-cut No. 2 tight end behind Zach Ertz moving forward. However, considering Ertz's snap share has hovered between 82 and 93 percent over the last three contests, McBride could be a hit-or-miss option without a number of absences in the team's receiving corps.
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Eric Saubert TE | SEA
Broncos' Eric Saubert: Leads Denver tight ends in snaps
Saubert caught one of two targets for 25 yards in Sunday's 32-23 loss to the Raiders.
Though Saubert didn't produce much for fantasy purposes in the contest, the 6-foot-5, 253-pounder led all Broncos tight ends in playing time. Saubert was on the field 41 of 53 offensive snaps, while Eric Tomlinson saw action on 24 offensive snaps. Albert Okwuegbunam surprisingly recorded just one snap in the loss, as he seems to have ceded top billing on the depth chart to Saubert. Even so, the 28-year-old finds himself in a murky situation on a struggling offense, with rookie tight end Greg Dulcich nearing a return. Saubert should remain off the fantasy radar heading into a Week 5 matchup with the Colts.
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Tommy Hudson TE | NO
Tommy Hudson: Let go from IR
The Titans waived Hudson (undisclosed) from injured reserve Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
Hudson was let go from Tennessee's IR after he dealt with a couple of injuries (leg/undisclosed) throughout August. The 6-foot-5 tight end now will search for another opportunity across the NFL, given he's healthy.
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Dalton Keene TE | HOU
Dalton Keene: Loses spot
Keene was cut from the Eagles' practice squad Tuesday.
Keene joined the Eagles' practice squad after being a casualty of the Patriots' final roster cuts. The often-injured tight end has only played in six contests since getting selected in the third-round of the 2020 Draft. He'll work to find an opportunity with another team.