NFL Player News

Hudson signed a reserve/future contract with the 49ers on Monday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

Hudson played two games for the 49ers this season in Weeks 5 and 7, after suiting up 20 times for Tampa Bay between 2019 and 2020. The 26-year-old has five catches on 12 targets for 67 yards in his career. He'll now work to carve out a bigger role in 2022.

Higbee suffered an MCL sprain during Sunday's 20-17 win against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Coach Sean McVay relayed the news, which followed a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network earlier Monday that Higbee doesn't have a significant injury, but his availability for Super Bowl LVI versus the Bengals is to be determined. The Rams are expected to take Higbee's recovery day by day with the hope he'll be healthy enough to play on Sunday, Feb. 13. If he's out or limited, though, Higbee would yield TE duties to Kendall Blanton, who recorded five catches (on five targets) for 57 yards this past Sunday.

Higbee (knee) appears to have avoided significant damage, but his availability for the Super Bowl is up in the air, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Higbee and Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (knee) may be the two biggest injury question marks for the upcoming Super Bowl on Feb. 13. Higbee left Sunday's NFC Championship Game after only 14 snaps, leaving Kendall Blanton as the team's only tight end with rookie Brycen Hopkins on the inactive list. Blanton had a big part in the win with five catches for 57 yards, and he may handle a three-down role in the Super Bowl if Higbee isn't ready.

Coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Uzomah appears to have suffered a sprained MCL during Sunday's AFC Championship Game against Kansas City, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Uzomah was unable to return to Sunday's matchup after sustaining a left knee injury in the first quarter. Although Taylor called the early diagnosis "encouraging," it's not yet clear whether the tight end will be available for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 13. If Uzomah is unable to suit up against the Rams, Drew Sample and Mitchell Wilcox should handle increased workloads for Cincinnati.

Higbee (knee) caught two of three targets before injuring his knee and leaving Sunday's 20-17 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

The tight end only played 14 offensive snaps before exiting Sunday, but he'll have two weeks to heal for the Super Bowl. If Higbee misses the game or is on a pitch count, look for Kendall Blanton to receive more playing time. Blanton caught all five on his targets for 57 yards after Higbee left Sunday's game.

Blanton brought in all five targets for 57 yards during the Rams' 20-17 win over the 49ers in their NFC Championship Game matchup Sunday.

Tyler Higbee exited the game for good due to a knee injury in the first half, thrusting Blanton into the top role at tight end just a week after scoring his first career touchdown. Blanton performed admirably, making some key grabs and ultimately checking in third on the team in receptions, receiving yards and targets behind Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham. If Higbee's injury is serious enough to keep him out of the Super Bowl LVI matchup versus the Bengals, Blanton, despite having just 11 career catches to his name, presumably will log starting duty in the contest.

Kittle had two receptions (on five targets) for 27 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Rams.

Kittle finally hit pay dirt after enduring a six-week scoring drought. The stud tight end could have had an even bigger final line, but two of his missed targets came on wide-open overthrows by Jimmy Garoppolo. Still, it was a positive finish to another solid fantasy season from one of the best in the league. It is worth noting that Kittle -- who started the year as the 49ers' projected primary target -- took a backseat to Deebo Samuel in the second half of the season. It may not matter much if Trey Lance is ready to take over under center in 2022, as Garoppolo acted as a muffler for an explosive offense that has two certified superstars. A quarterback change in San Francisco next season could unlock new levels of production for a talented group of playmakers.

Higbee (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the 49ers.

Higbee sustained the injury in the first half. The Rams will have to get by without their starting tight end for the remainder of the NFC Championship Game. If Los Angeles advances to the Super Bowl, Higbee will have two weeks to heal up.

Kelce caught 10 of 11 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game.

Kelce was Kansas City's leader in targets, catches and receiving yards, producing yet another superb playoff performance. He racked up at least 95 receiving yards in all six of Kansas City's playoff games over the past two seasons while scoring six touchdowns in those contests. The tight end's five-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter gave the Chiefs a 14-3 lead, but the Bengals stormed back from an 11-point halftime deficit to pull off the upset. Coming off a sixth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaign, Kelce is poised to remain one of the league's most productive tight ends next season.

Higbee (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against San Francisco, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Higbee caught two of three targets for 18 yards prior to getting hurt in the first half. Kendall Blanton is the only other tight end active for the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.