NFL Player News

Keene (knee) shifted back to IR from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.

Keene underwent season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus injury in August and was ruled out for the season. Now that he's cleared COVID protocols, he can return to rehabbing his knee at the Patriots' facilities to prepare for a return for the 2022 season.

Wells was cut by the Cardinals on Tuesday.

Wells only appeared in one game for the Cardinals this season, in Week 9 against the 49ers, playing just one snap before suffering a hand injury that placed him on injured reserve. Wells was activated from IR on Monday, but with Zach Ertz, Demetrius Harris and Darrell Daniels all ahead of Wells on the tight end positional depth chart, there was no longer room for Wells on the roster. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals signed linebacker Joe Walker to the active roster, a position at which the Cardinals are currently dealing with injuries.

Blanton is expected to start at tight end Tuesday against the Eagles, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.

With Tyler Higbee stuck on the reserve/COVID-19 list for the second straight game, Blanton is once again in line to serve as the Rams' primary tight end. In his first NFL start during last week's win over the Cardinals, Blanton played 93 percent of the offensive snaps, but he served primarily as a blocker and finished with two receptions for 29 yards on three targets.

Ertz (hamstring) is listed as limited on Tuesday's practice estimate, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

In the first game with DeAndre Hopkins (knee) officially out for the rest of the regular season, Ertz earned a season-high 11 targets this past Sunday in Detroit, which he turned into six catches for 74 yards. Ertz also dealt with the hamstring issue prior to that contest and proceeded to suit up, but his activity still will need to be monitored to make sure he's available Saturday versus the Colts.

Uzomah had three catches on four targets for 18 yards in Sunday's win over the Broncos.

It was hard for Uzomah to get any sort of volume with the Bengals limited to just 22 passes all day. However, Uzomah had a big day (3-91-2) against the Ravens, next week's opponent, when they previously met.

Bell was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

The tight end tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday and now joins the long list of Chiefs players that have been added to the reserve/COVID-19 list in the last few days. With both Bell and Travis Kelce (illness) in COVID-19 protocols, Noah Gray is the last remaining active tight end on the roster at the moment.

Bryant (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on the Browns' estimated injury report Tuesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The tight end came into Monday's loss to the Raiders listed as questionable with a high-ankle sprain, but he was cleared to make his return from a one-game absence. He finished with two receptions for 11 yards and a touchdown in the contest and wasn't believed to have suffered any setbacks, so his appearance on Cleveland's initial Week 16 injury report may just be precautionary. So long as he maintains limited activity or upgrades to full participation by Thursday, he should be cleared to play Saturday in Green Bay.

Seals-Jones (illness) is listed as active Tuesday at Philadelphia.

Seals-Jones picked up a non-COVID-19 illness over the weekend, but the fact this contest was pushed back allowed the tight end to make himself available for Week 15 action. With Logan Thomas (knee) on injured reserve, Seals-Jones will continue to serve as the No. 1 TE for Washington, while John Bates and Alex Armah are the other available options at the position. Unfortunately for Seals-Jones, he doesn't have much familiarity with the team's spot starter at QB, Garrett Gilbert, who is stepping in for Taylor Heinicke (reserve/COVID-19) and Kyle Allen (reserve/COVID-19).

Gray was not targeted in Thursday's game against the Chargers.

Gray has not received a target since Week 11 versus Dallas but has played 20-plus percent of the offensive snaps in each of the last five contests. That trend figures to continue next week, and Gray could be looking at an expansion in his snap count if Travis Kelce -- who was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list Monday -- isn't cleared to play ahead of Sunday's clash with the Steelers.

Bell was unable to haul in his lone target Thursday against the Chargers.

Bell has played more than 20 percent of snaps in all but one game he's appeared in this season but hasn't recorded more than a single catch in any one game.That could change next week, however, with Travis Kelce being placed on the COVID-19/reserve list Monday. Bell would presumably take over as the team's top tight end if Kelce is unable to clear the league's protocol in time, with Noah Gray also figuring into the mix more often.