NFL Player News

Hesse was signed to the Falcons' active roster Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official website reports.

The tight end was called up from the practice squad in Week 17 against the Bills and made three catches for 31 yards in the loss. Hesse appears to have impressed with his performance, securing a spot on the active roster for the Falcons' season finale against the Saints next weekend. With Hayden Hurst (illness) on the COVID list and Kyle Pitts (hamstring) banged up, the 26-year-old may be in for a substantial role in Week 18.

Hurst (illness) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

The Falcons will get two of their key pass catchers back in Hurst and wide receiver Tajae Sharpe ahead of Sunday's season finale against the Saints, after both sat out a Week 17 loss to the Bills upon testing positive for the virus. Hurst's return in particular is vital, as top tight end Kyle Pitts could be at risk of sitting out Sunday after sustaining a hamstring injury in the third quarter of last week's game. Atlanta still has Parker Hesse and Lee Smith on hand to take reps at tight end, but Hurst has consistently worked ahead of both players when healthy and represents the biggest threat in the passing game among the trio.

Schreck (ankle) was placed on the Bengals' practice squad injured list Tuesday.

Schreck will not be eligible to practice with the team for the next three weeks, which could leave him done for the season. The four-year veteran has appeared in one game this season for the Bengals, in Week 11 against the Raiders, after having appeared in 14 games in 2020.

Fant was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report due to a quadriceps injury, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

While Denver had two of its three starting wideouts, Jerry Jeudy (illness) and Tim Patrick (illness), on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week, Fant took on an expanded role in the passing attack in the team's 34-13 loss to the Chargers. The tight end finished with six receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, with the yardage total just five off his season-best mark. In the aftermath of the busy game, Fant is apparently banged up, but his listing as a limited participant offers hope that he'll be ready to go by the time Saturday's season finale against Kansas City arrives.

Gray caught his only target for six yards during Sunday's loss to the Bengals.

Gray has tallied a total of three receptions for 18 yards over the past two games after failing to record a reception in the three prior contests. That being said, Gray saw just 17 percent of the offensive snaps in the contest, his lowest since Week 9 against the Packers after he played a season-high 72 percent last week with Travis Kelce sidelined. As long as Kelce and Blake Bell are healthy, it's unlikely Gray will see a ton more playing time than what he's currently receiving.

Bell hauled in all of his three targets for 35 yards and rushed once for a pair of yards in Sunday's game against the Bengals.

Bell's rush came in the form of a fourth-down trick play in which he motioned under center and took what was essentially a quarterback sneak for the first down. Bell has some experience under center from his college days but doesn't figure to be utilized in that capacity very often, rushing just four times all season. He also finished with a season-high three catches in the contest, though the 36 percent offensive snap count aligns with what he's seen all season and would suggest this is most likely an outlier.

Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia said that he expects Waller (knee) to rejoin the Raiders for Wednesday's walk-through practice, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports. "And hopefully if we get him in Wednesday's practice, he feels a little bit better about how [his knee] feels when he moves around, then we'll be really excited about what Thursday and Friday could possibly look like," Bisaccia said of the tight end, who hasn't played since the Raiders' Thanksgiving Day win over the Cowboys.

Waller also tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday and remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but he's expected to be activated in the next day or two after he completed post-cardiac workouts with doctors Monday. Because Waller has missed the team's last five games, the Raiders will likely need the full week of practice to evaluate where the tight end stands in his recovery from his knee injury, leaving his status for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Chargers up in the air. Waller's potential return to the lineup in any capacity would be a major boon for the Raiders, who can clinch a postseason berth with a win.

Hooper caught two of five targets for 28 yards in Monday's 26-14 loss to Pittsburgh.

While it was position mates David Njoku's and Harrison Bryant's night to shine -- each scored a touchdown Monday -- Hooper remains heavily involved in the passing attack. He's been targeted at least five times in eight games this season, including five of the last six contests. His 61 targets are second on the team behind No. 1 wideout Jarvis Landry.

Bryant caught his lone target for a one-yard touchdown reception in Monday's 26-14 loss to Pittsburgh.

Bryant's managed to salvage his second NFL season with touchdowns in three consecutive contests. He and fellow tight end David Njoku accounted for both of Cleveland's touchdowns Monday, giving the position group a team-high 10 touchdown catches in 2021. Cleveland involves its tight ends -- the group has 28 red zone looks, one fewer than wideouts and running backs combined -- so there's value to be had here. The issue becomes choosing the right one on gameday.

Njoku caught all four of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's 26-14 loss to the Steelers.

Njoku hauled in all the passes thrown his way on a night quarterback Baker Mayfield at one point misfired on 10 consecutive attempts. The tight end's performance was highlighted by his three-yard, contested touchdown grab to end the third quarter, Cleveland's first score of the game. After posting a goose egg in the Browns' Christmas Day loss to the Packers, Njoku rebounded nicely Monday and will try to finish strong versus the Bengals in Week 18.