NFL Player News

Hurst (groin), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints, is expected to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Hurst was able to practice in a limited fashion this week, so he appears set to give it a go Sunday. Still, fantasy managers will want to check his status approximately 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff, when the Bengals will release their inactive list. Assuming he's active and if Tee Higgins (ankle) is sidelined, Hurst could find himself with a larger role in the Cincinnati passing attack than normal.

Pitts (hamstring), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the 49ers, is expected to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After sitting out last week's loss to the Buccaneers, Pitts returned to practice as a limited participant Wednesday through Friday to take the designation into the weekend. The tight end previously expressed optimism that he'll play, and while the expectation is that he will, confirmation one way or the other won't arrive until the Falcons release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

The Jets elevated Yeboah from the practice squad to their active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game at the Packers.

It will be the second game this season Yeboah is active for the Jets. After Week 6, he will only be eligible for one more elevation from the practice squad before he would have to be signed to the team's 53-man roster in order to play.

The Jets waived Cager on Saturday.

Cager signed with the Jets back in January, but he'll now become a free agent assuming he isn't claimed by another team during the current waiver period. The 25-year-old tight end has appeared in just four games in his NFL career.

Minnesota elevated Hollister from the practice squad to its active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game at the Dolphins.

Hollister will make his Vikings debut in Week 6 with Ben Ellefson (groin) on the injured reserve list. Most of the offensive snaps he might log (if any) should come on obvious passing downs.

Saubert (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Chargers.

Saubert managed to practice all week in limited fashion, which theoretically should put him on track to play in Monday's divisional battle. The veteran tight end easily doubled his total receptions in last Thursday's loss to the Colts, but he's been relatively inconsistent overall, with the Broncos content on using a four-man platoon to cover the position.

Saubert was a limited participant during Friday's practice due to an ankle injury.

Saubert presumably picked up the ankle injury during last Thursday's loss to the Colts and has now had his reps capped on two occasions to begin Week 6 prep. He'll have one more opportunity Saturday to improve to a full participant before Denver needs to make a decision on his status for Monday's contest against the Chargers.

Smith (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Smith, who was inactive for this past Sunday's win over the Lions, practiced in a limited fashion all week, so he's trending in the right direction. If he's able to suit up versus Cleveland, he would step back into a tight end timeshare with Hunter Henry, a context that would make both players low-upside options in fantasy lineups.

Smythe (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Vikings, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

Smythe didn't practice Wednesday and logged limited sessions Thursday and Friday, but he'll still have a chance to suit up in Week 6. The backup tight end has played at least 30 offensive snaps in each game this season, so his potential absence would likely thrust Tanner Conner and Hunter Long into increased roles.

Gentry is expected to serve as the Steelers' starting tight end in Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with Pat Freiermuth (concussion) having been ruled out for the Week 6 contest, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

With Freiermuth having yet to clear the NFL's five-step protocol for head injuries after suffering his third concussion in two seasons in last week's loss to the Bills, Gentry is the next man up at tight end. Even with Freiermuth playing roughly half of the game last week, Gentry still saw the field for 64 percent of the Steelers' offensive plays and parlayed the added playing time into a 5-43-0 receiving line on six targets. The Steelers' large deficit throughout the second half likely played a part in the team running a pass-heavy game script, but Sunday's matchup with the heavily favored Buccaneers should continue to open up opportunities in the passing game for Gentry and Connor Heyward, who is expected to serve as the No. 2 option at tight end. The 6-foot-8 Gentry should provide rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett with a big target in the short and intermediate areas of the field as well as the red zone.