NFL Player News

Waller (knee/back) was listed as a non-participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Waller hasn't practiced since straining his knee back on Thanksgiving Day in Dallas. Per Gutierrez, interim coach Rich Bisaccia called Waller "questionable" for Week 15 action, but he may begin to trend in the wrong direction again as long as he stays away from the field. Ultimately, Waller likely will have to mix into one of the Raiders' remaining sessions Wednesday or Thursday to put himself on a path to play for the first time since Week 12. Fellow TE Foster Moreau (abdomen) was limited at Tuesday's walkthrough, leaving Daniel Helm as the only healthy player at the position on the active roster.

The Panthers waived Thompson on Tuesday, Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Thompson made 10 appearances for the Panthers this season, but he saw just one target and didn't record a catch. Alexander reports that the decision to move on from Thompson was done to make room on the active roster for Trent Scott to be activated from the COVID-19 list.

Sample caught his only target for 14 yards during Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the 49ers.

Sample was on the field for 18 of the Bengals' 67 offensive snaps, while starting tight end C.J. Uzomah played 58 snaps. The 25-year-old has just seven catches on the season and typically serves as a blocker when he is on the field. Sample offers little fantasy value as a No. 2 tight end on a team with numerous pass-catching options.

Uzomah caught four of six targets for 56 yards during Sunday's 26-23 loss to the 49ers.

Uzomah had his best outing since his 91-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Ravens in Week 7. In an offense with several talented pass catchers and a solid rushing attack, Uzomah has found difficulties providing constant fantasy value, but the upside is certainly there. With four games remaining, the 28-year-old tight end needs just six more receptions and 32 more yards to break the career highs he set in 2018.

Bryant (ankle) was listed as limited on Tuesday's practice estimate, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Coach Kevin Stefanski relayed earlier Tuesday to Jake Trotter of ESPN.com that Bryant was poised to return to practice Wednesday. Tuesday's development sets up Bryant to do just that, and the timing couldn't be better as he puts a Week 12 high-ankle sprain further in the rearview mirror. The Browns currently have three tight ends -- Austin Hooper (illness), David Njoku (undisclosed) and Stephen Carlson (undisclosed/knee) -- on the reserve/COVID-19 list, meaning Bryant and Miller Forristall are the only tight ends available on the active roster.

Higbee was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.

Initially, Higbee returned a positive test for COVID-19, but a pair of subsequent negative tests proved it to be a false positive, coach Sean McVay told Kevin Modesti of the Los Angeles Daily News. Still, due to league protocols, Higbee was forced to sit out Monday's win at Arizona. The Rams' organization is currently in intensive protocols due to a number of players landing on the COVID-19 list in recent days, so it remains to be seen when Higbee will be able to rejoin his teammates on the practice field.

Ertz gathered in five of seven targets for 42 yards during Monday's 30-23 loss to the Rams.

Ertz had some practice limitations during Week 14 prep due to a shoulder injury, but he wasn't any worse for wear on game day, earning a snap share (83 percent) in line with his previous four contests (76-81 percent). Kyler Murray again spread the ball around among the Cardinals' key skill-position players, with Ertz tying for third in catches, sitting fourth in targets and finishing fifth in receiving yards on the team. He has a friendly matchup on tap Sunday against a Lions defense that has allowed nearly 8.0 yards per target (seventh most in the NFL) to tight ends this season.

Kelce compiled just three catches for 27 yards on four targets during Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Kelce hasn't enjoyed the kind of success recently that he's accustomed to, reeling in a combined six passes for 54 yards over the past pair of games. The competition level figures to turn up a notch this week against a tough Chargers team, which could afford the veteran tight end more opportunities to get his hands on the ball. Kelce still ranks second among tight ends in receiving yards (875) and receptions (73) but is lagging slightly behind as a red-zone threat this year, posting just five touchdowns.

Higbee's positive test for COVID-19 has been deemed a false positive, Kevin Modesti of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Higbee thus is not considered to have actually tested positive for the virus, despite numerous teammates recently doing so. That likely leaves a good chance for him to suit up Sunday against the Seahawks. Look for the tight end's activation from the Reserve/COVID-19 list to be forthcoming, though there's no need to rush the move with the Rams' facility shut down at the moment.

Bates caught one of his two targets for 19 yards during Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Cowboys.

With Logan Thomas (knee) on injured reserve, Bates operated as the No. 2 tight end behind Ricky Seals-Jones. Seals-Jones saw two more targets than Bates, but the latter out-gained the former 19-8. Over his last four games, Bates has caught 11 of 13 targets for 124 yards, but barring his first touchdown of the season, the rookie fourth-round pick doesn't garner much fantasy potential heading into Week 15.