NFL Player News

Hollister (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Hollister has been working as a backup option at tight end with Dan Arnold sitting at the top of the depth chart. Hollister has appeared in just four games this season, making four catches on nine targets for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's contest against the Falcons, Amie Just of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Johnson has played over 20 percent of the Saints' offensive snaps in four games this season, but he will be a healthy scratch in Week 9. Adam Trautman and Garrett Griffin are the only active tight ends for New Orleans on Sunday.

Smith (shoulder) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

The tight end has been managing a shoulder issue of late, but he'll continue to work though it Sunday. In last week's win over the Chargers, Smith logged 49 of a possible Patriots' 77 snaps on offense, while catching both of his targets for 13 yards. Given that he continues to work in a timeshare with Hunter Henry (50 snaps in Week 8), Smith remains a hit-or-miss fantasy option.

Bryant (thigh) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

Bryant is available for those in deeper fantasy formats, but his weekly ceiling is limited with Austin Hooper and David Njoku also in the team's tight end mix. Through eight games, he's logged a 9/117/0 stat line, including a two-catch, 33-yard effort in the Browns' loss to Pittsburgh last Sunday.

Fant (illness) won't play in Sunday's game at Dallas, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

As predicted by coach Vic Vangio on Friday, Fant was unable to make his way through league protocols and be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for the virus Tuesday. He'll thus yield primary TE duties to Albert Okwuegbunam (knee), while Eric Saubert and Andrew Beck are on hand to step in at the position.

Okwuegbunam (knee) is listed as active Sunday at Dallas, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

With Noah Fant out of commission due to a bout with COVID-19, Okwuegbunam will get the start at tight end and likely earn a majority share of snaps afforded Broncos tight ends with just Eric Saubert and Andrew Beck to contend with at the position. Okwuegbunam's practice reps were capped this week due to a knee injury, though, so it's not certain that he'll be the unquestioned No. 1 TE. On the season, he's been on point as a receiver, hauling in 12 of 13 passes for 91 yards and one touchdown.

Kittle (calf), who was activated from injured reserve Saturday, is expected to be on a "pitch count" Sunday against the Cardinals and play roughly half of the game, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Though Kittle should slot back in ahead of Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley atop the 49ers' depth chart at tight end, his expected playing-time restrictions could suppress his Week 9 fantasy value. Through his first four outings before landing on IR, Kittle recorded 19 receptions for 227 yards and no touchdowns on 28 targets.

Tomlinson was elevated from the Ravens' practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Clifton Brown of the teams' official site reports.

Tomlinson has appeared in every game for the Ravens this season. He was released by the Ravens on Nov. 1, then re-signed to their practice squad, and he now will take the field for them again Sunday. Tomlinson is mostly used on special teams and as a blocker on offense.

Jackson (back) was activated from IR on Saturday.

Jackson was placed on IR back on Sept. 2 after injuring his back in mid-August. The Buffalo product and converted quarterback impressed in camp enough to stick around. Now that he is healthy, he'll provide the Eagles with tight end depth behind Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll heading into Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Kittle (calf) was activated off injured reserve Saturday and will play Sunday against the Cardinals, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of workload Kittle receives after returning from a four-week absence due a calf injury. The star tight end had been a prominent factor in the team's lackluster passing game, tallying 19 receptions for 227 yards on 28 targets, but he never even saw a red-zone target during that span. The emergence of Deebo Samuel over the aforementioned four-week stretch could benefit Kittle down the road, but the star receiver is currently listed as questionable with a calf injury that he admitted has gotten worse over recent weeks.