NFL Player News

Bellinger (concussion) isn't listed on the injury report for Sunday's game in Tennessee, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Bellinger didn't take long to pass through concussion protocol after suffering the head injury Aug. 28 in the Giants' final preseason game. He earned most of the first-team snaps at tight end throughout the preseason, and while he didn't do much with them, Bellinger could be the Week 1 starter at what looks like the team's weakest position. Behind him, the Giants have only 27-year-old Tanner Hudson and 25-year-old Chris Myarick, a duo with eight combined catches in the NFL. Bellinger is listed with the starters on the team's first depth chart of the regular season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle won't practice Wednesday due to a groin injury, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

According to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, Kittle picked up the issue at Monday's session, and Shanahan added he's unsure of the tight end's availability for Sunday's game at Chicago. Kittle's activity level thus bears watching as the week goes on, but if he ends up limited or out this weekend, the likes of Tyler Kroft, Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley are next up at tight end for the 49ers.

Ricci (hip) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Ricci suffered the injury during the preseason finale, but he'll have a chance to suit up in Week 1 after returning to practice Wednesday. The undrafted fullback out of Western Michigan appeared in 16 games for the Panthers as a rookie and operated mostly on special teams. If healthy, he figures to garner a similar role in 2022.

Turner (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Turner missed all of Washington's preseason games due to his lingering left hamstring injury. It looks as though the rookie fifth-round pick still has a chance to suit up for Sunday's regular-season opener against Jacksonville, but he may have to upgrade to full participation in order to gain clearance.

Bates (calf) was a full practice participant Wednesday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Bates missed most of the summer but now has a decent shot at the Week 1 start. Fellow tight end Logan Thomas (knee), who is working his way back from a torn ACL, was a limited participant Wednesday and said earlier this week that he hoped to be ready for the first or second game of the season. Even if Thomas suits up for the opener against Jacksonville, the 31-year-old isn't likely to jump right back into his three-down role of years past.

Knox signed a four-year extension with the Bills on Wednesday, Chris Brown of the team's official site reports. The deal is worth $53.6 million and includes $31 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Knox is the clear-cut No. 1 tight end in a high-scoring offense, a fact made even more obvious after the Bills cut O.J. Howard last week. After a career-best 2021 season in which he set personal marks in catches (49), yards (587) and receptions (nine), Knox will be handsomely rewarded for his efforts. His extension keeps him on the books through 2026, his age-30 season.

Thomas (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Coming back from last year's mid-season ACL tear, Thomas was activated from the PUP list Aug. 22 and said Monday that he hopes to play Week 1 or 2. The Commanders didn't have much in the way of experience at tight end for most of the summer, but things look a bit better entering the opener against Jacksonville, with Thomas a limited participant and John Bates (calf) a full participant on the first official injury report of the season.

Asiasi sat out practice Monday with a quadriceps injury, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Asiasi's injury appears to date back to his time with the Patriots, who waived the tight end last week. However, since the Patriots didn't choose to place Asiasi on injured reserve before the Bengals claimed him off waivers, the injury isn't considered serious and rather something that head coach Zac Taylor referred to as "kind of a lingering deal." Even if Asiasi advances to full practice by the end of the week and avoids a designation heading into Sunday's game against the Steelers, he could still find himself as a healthy inactive.

Ertz (calf) is participating in Wednesday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Ertz is considered day-to-day due to a calf injury that's lingered over the last month, so it's encouraging to see him handling some reps to begin the week of practice. The Cardinals will release their first injury report of the season later Wednesday, when more light will be shed on the veteran tight end's status. It's possible that Ertz could suit up for Sunday's regular-season opener versus the Chiefs even if he's limited in practice leading up to the contest.

Hesse is listed as the No. 2 tight end on the Falcons' unofficial depth chart ahead of Week 1, Scott Bair of the team's official site reports.

Hesse beat out MyCole Pruitt and Anthony Firkser for the top backup spot behind superstar tight end Kyle Pitts. Hesse, an undrafted free agent out of Iowa, made his NFL debut last year and appeared in eight games as a rookie, catching five of six targets for 43 yards. He'll likely have an expanded role in Year 2, especially given the other two tight ends on the initial roster -- Pitts and converted quarterback Feleipe Franks -- don't operate in traditional in-line roles.