NFL Player News

Likely caught four of five targets for 43 yards Sunday against the Dolphins.

The rookie got in the box score in Week 2 after being held without a catch in the season opener. Likely had five targets on 17 snaps, which is a notable rate. The one target he did not catch was noteworthy, as it gave the Dolphins the ball late in the game and helped Miami complete its comeback. That said, Likely's usage and efficiency were encouraging overall. Likely and the Ravens travel to New England to face the Patriots in Week 3.

Thomas caught one of three targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 19-16 loss to the Giants.

Thomas' Week 2 performance was more characteristic of his career than his 53-yard output to open the campaign. The veteran holds tepid value as someone down the pecking order in an underwhelming passing attack so far.

Saubert recorded a 22-yard touchdown reception among his two targets in Sunday's 16-9 win over the Texans.

Saubert narrowly missed out on reeling in a touchdown reception in the Broncos' 17-16 loss to the Seahawks in Week 1, but he came down with a tough catch in the end zone while being draped by a defender early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win. The score helped put the Broncos up 13-9 before kicker Brandon McManus tacked on an insurance field goal with 3:36 remaining. Despite his involvement in the red zone early on this season, Saubert has only drawn three targets in total and has played fewer than 40 percent of the Broncos' offensive snaps in both of the team's first two games. Even if top tight end Albert Okwuegbunam were to miss time, Saubert would likely be deployed mostly as a blocker and wouldn't be in store for an abundance of targets.

Smith secured five of eight targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 24-7 loss to the Eagles on Monday night.

The fourth-year tight end crossed the goal line in the second quarter for the first time since Week 16 of the 2020 season after missing all of the 2021 campaign with a knee injury. Smith had the look of a budding star that season with a 30-365-5 line across 13 games, but in a previous iteration of the Vikings' offense, he may have had an uphill climb for targets. While plenty of attention is still likely to be bestowed upon wideouts Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, the fact Smith drew the second-most looks Monday night behind the former is reason for optimism that head coach Kevin O'Connell, who utilized Tyler Higbee with effectiveness during his Rams days, will continue affording Smith plenty of opportunity even with Smith having a bad drop on a potential 60-yard deep touchdown. The 24-year-old's first chance to build on his solid Week 2 effort comes against the Lions in a Week 3 home NFC North showdown.

Goedert brought in five of six targets for 82 yards in the Eagles' 24-7 win over the Vikings on Monday night.

Goedert paced the Eagles in receiving yardage and shared runner-up status in catches during what was a second straight impressive effort to open the season. The athletic tight end now has eight receptions for 142 yards over the Eagles' first pair of contests, with the 17.8 yards per catch particularly standing out and perhaps a sign of a bigger downfield role this season. Goedert will look to continue stretching the field in a Week 3 road divisional matchup against the Commanders on Sunday.

McBride notched one offensive snap and 10 plays on special teams during Sunday's 29-23 overtime victory at Las Vegas.

Despite being a second-round pick, the rookie was a healthy scratch in the season opener while all of Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams and Stephen Anderson were active and saw offensive snaps. The aforementioned trio of tight ends again mixed into the offense Sunday, but McBride was active this time for a single play. He may have a steep path to regular work as long as Ertz, Williams and Anderson are available, but McBride at least has that first snap on offense behind him.

Trautman did not receive a target while playing 33 of his 35 total snaps on offense during Sunday's 20-10 loss to Tampa Bay.

Trautman did not record a reception or target for the second straight game. Juwan Johnson finished as the clear top receiving option at tight end, hauling in four of his seven targets for 40 yards while playing 51 offensive snaps. Trautman's usage over the first two weeks of the season indicates that he's at least ahead of Nick Vannett, who has yet to suit up this season, on the depth chart.

Dwelley caught his lone target for a 38-yard touchdown in Sunday's 27-7 win over the Seahawks.

George Kittle (groin) wasn't able to suit up, and Tyler Kroft (knee) suffered an injury, so Dwelley took over as the 49ers' top receiving option at the tight end position. Seasoned backup Jimmy Garoppolo hit the veteran tight end in stride, and Dwelley fully extended to cross the plane for his first touchdown of the season. Kittle was close to playing Sunday, so his impending return will quash any excitement over Dwelley's big score. If the 49ers' star tight end is unable to go against Denver on Sunday, Dwelley would remain a non-factor in fantasy due to a low volume of potential targets.

Calcaterra (coach's decision) is inactive Monday against the Vikings.

Calcaterra will sit again in Week 2 despite making the 53-man roster. The Eagles have opted to bring Noah Togiai up from the practice squad for the second straight week to dress as the No. 3 tight end, leaving Calcaterra sidelined. The rookie tight end will continue to try and earn the chance to make his NFL debut in Week 3, when the Eagles play the Commanders.

Coach Kyle Shanahan noted Monday that Kroft will miss a few weeks with an MCL sprain, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Kroft's injury is a hit to the 49ers' depth at tight end, but it appears as though starter George Kittle (groin) is trending toward a return to action Week 3. Also in the mix for complementary TE snaps once Kittle is back are Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley.