NFL Player News

Uzomah (knee) caught both his targets for 11 yards during Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Rams in Super Bowl LVI.

Uzomah suited up for the Super Bowl despite suffering a sprained MCL during the AFC Championship Game two weeks prior, and he still operated as Cincinnati's No. 1 tight end. However, he was unable to replicate his success from the first two rounds of the playoffs, when he totaled 13 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown. The 29-year-old set career highs across the board during the 2021 regular season with 49 catches for 493 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games, and he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year in March.

Blanton (shoulder) didn't record any counting stats across 30 offensive snaps during Sunday's 23-20 Super Bowl win over the Bengals.

Blanton stepped up during the NFC Championship Game in place of Tyler Higbee -- who suffered an MCL sprain in the first half -- catching all five of his targets for 57 yards. However, the 6-foot-6 tight end was limited during the Super Bowl after suffering a shoulder injury, according to Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In Blanton's absence, Brycen Hopkins stepped up as the primary tight end and caught all four of his targets for 47 yards across 39 offensive snaps.

Hopkins hauled in all four of his targets for 47 yards Sunday in the Rams' 23-20 win over the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

After drawing only one target in total over the first 12 regular-season and playoff appearances of his career, Hopkins saw a surprising amount of involvement on the biggest stage. With Tyler Higbee (knee) placed on injured reserve in advance of the Super Bowl, Kendall Blanton drew the start at tight end, but it was Hopkins who operated as the top pass-catching option at the position. He ended up out-snapping Blanton, 39-30, and had a key third-down reception with just over four minutes remaining on the Rams' game-winning scoring drive. Higbee should be back to full strength for the offseason program and is under contract through 2023, but Hopkins' Super Bowl performance could be a springboard for him to take on a more enhanced role as Higbee's top backup next season.

Uzomah (knee) is listed as active for Super Bowl LVI against the Rams on Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Since suffering an MCL sprain in the AFC Championship Game back on Jan. 30, Uzomah was held out of practice entirely during the first week of Super Bowl prep, only to manage a limited session this past Thursday before upgrading to full Friday. Despite entering the weekend as questionable to play Sunday, both the tight end and coach Zac Taylor expressed optimism along the way that Uzomah would be available. Indeed, after taking part in pregame warmups -- per Goldsmith -- Uzomah will suit up in the biggest contest of the Bengals' campaign. In 19 appearances (including playoffs) this season, Uzomah averaged 4.2 targets per game en route to a 62-628-6 stat line.

With Tyler Higbee (knee) having been placed on IR by the Rams, Blanton is in line to lead the team's tight end corps in Sunday's Super Bowl against the Bengals, Brady Henderson of ESPN reports.

Higbee was forced out of the NFC Championship Game versus the 49ers on Jan. 30 after playing just 14 snaps, and as was the case in that contest, Blanton will be counted on to step in as the Rams' top tight end this Sunday. In relief of Higbee in the team's win over San Francisco, Blanton logged 61 snaps en route to catching all five of his targets for 57 yards. While Blanton is poised for a starting assignment, and, in turn, his share of targets this weekend, Brycen Hopkins is available to back him up, with Kyle Markway currently a member of Los Angeles' practice squad.

The Rams placed Higbee (knee) on injured reserve Friday, ruling him out for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Bengals.

Higbee hasn't been able to practice since suffering an MCL sprain in the NFC Championship Game against San Francisco, with coach Sean McVay conveying pessimism all along. With their long-time starter at tight end ruled out for the big game, L.A. will turn to 26-year-old Kendall Blanton, who caught five of five targets for 57 yards in the Rams' win over San Francisco a couple weeks ago. Blanton played 79 percent of snaps on offense in that game, while third-string tight end Brycen Hopkins was a healthy scratch. The options for depth behind Blanton this Sunday are Hopkins and practice-squad player Kyle Markway.

Uzomah (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Rams, though he was a full practice participant Friday, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Uzomah is the lone Bengal with a game designation on the final injury report, and coach Zac Taylor said Friday that he expects the tight end to play, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Should Uzomah deal with a late setback or have his role scaled back on account of the MCL sprain, Drew Sample would be next in line for snaps and targets at tight end. If Uzomah plays, as expected, the Bengals' inactive list will solely consist of healthy scratches ahead of the 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday evening.

Uzomah (knee) is expected to participate in Friday's practice and is trending toward playing in Sunday's Super Bowl against the Rams, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

Uzomah returned to practice Thursday for the first time since spraining his left MCL in the AFC Championship game back on Jan. 30 and in the process was listed as a limited participant by the Bengals. Friday's session is slated to be lighter than Thursday's practice, but as long as the tight end avoids any setbacks he appears to be moving in the right direction in advance of Sunday's contest. However, at this stage, it seems likely that Uzomah will head into the weekend officially listed as questionable by Cincinnati.

Higbee (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

Higbee hasn't stepped on the practice field since spraining his MCL in the first half of the Rams' win in the NFC Championship Game versus the 49ers back on Jan. 30. With just one session left to make his presence felt in drills this week, he doesn't have much margin for error ahead of a Super Bowl LVI matchup with the Bengals. A limited or inactive Higbee on Sunday would place Kendall Blanton into a regular role at tight end in Los Angeles' offense.

Uzomah (knee) returned to a limited practice Thursday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Uzomah's limited session Thursday marked the first time he's been able to practice since spraining his left MCL in the AFC Championship game back on Jan. 30. For his part, coach Zac Taylor previously relayed to Baby that Uzomah will continue to be evaluated throughout the week, and it seems likely that the Bengals' top tight end -- who logged a 49-493-5 stat line in 16 regular-season games -- will approach Sunday's Super Bowl against the Rams officially listed as questionable.