NFL Player News

Cager has been elevated to the Browns' active roster ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Lions.

Cager was just activated off the practice squad's reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for the virus. He will now help provide depth at receiver in Week 11. With Anthony Schwartz (concussion) ruled out and Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin) questionable, he could potentially see some snaps right away.

Brown (thigh) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Titans.

After upgrading to full participation in practice Friday, Brown was cleared for a return to the lineup following a two-game, three-week absence on account of the thigh injury. Before being sidelined, Brown had served as the Texans' top tight end, playing more than half of the team's offensive snaps in each of his seven appearances. During that stretch, Brown wasn't much of a contributor in the passing game, cobbling together a 12-114-0 receiving line on 18 targets.

Daniels (shoulder) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.

Daniels was a limited participant in the Cardinals' first two Week 11 practices on account of the shoulder injury, but he gained clearance for Sunday after practicing fully Friday, per Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site. He'll likely serve as the No. 2 tight end behind starter Zach Ertz this weekend, with Daniels being deployed primarily as a blocker.

Hill (foot) returned to practice Friday as a limited participant and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Trevor Siemian is locked in for a third straight start at quarterback regardless, but Hill always looms as a threat to poach red-zone snaps, even if he's not quite 100 percent. He had two pass attempts and three carries while playing 31 percent of the Saints' offensive snaps in last week's 23-21 loss to Tennessee, while Siemian attempted 34 passes (plus four sacks) while playing 93 percent of the snaps. A Week 11 absence for Hill would slightly improve the volume and touchdown-scoring outlook for Siemian and other key Saints.

Everett (groin) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Though the groin injury prevented Everett from practicing Wednesday and Thursday, the Seahawks were comfortable enough with his health coming out of Friday's session to give him the green light for the Week 11 matchup. At least for one game, Seattle's top tight end was the main beneficiary of Russell Wilson's (finger) return from a four-week absence in last week's 17-0 loss to the Packers. Everett set new season highs in receptions (eight), receiving yards (63) and targets (eight) in that game.

Smith (knee) was limited during Friday's practice, Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

After not practicing Thursday, Smith was able to return in a limited fashion Friday. However, he will likely have to log a full practice Saturday, if he wants to avoid a game-time decision tag heading into Monday's clash with Tampa Bay.

Goedert has been removed from concussion protocol and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Saints, Mike Kaye of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

It was a good Friday for Goedert, who agreed to a four-year contract extension in the morning and was cleared to play in the afternoon after practicing. He'll soon become one of the highest-paid tight ends in the league, with Philadelphia presumably banking on his receiving production to improve now that he's not losing snaps and targets to Zach Ertz. The 26-year-old Goedert has been freed for an every-down role since Ertz was traded to Arizona, but at the same time, the Eagles have become far more focused on their rushing attack, with Jalen Hurts attempting only 54 passes over the past three games. Goedert accounts for 15 of those targets (27.7 percent) despite missing the final three quarters of last week's game after a hard hit from Broncos safety Justin Simmons left him in concussion protocol. Goedert likely will be back in his every-down role Sunday against the Saints, new contract in hand and hoping to help the Eagles top a fellow NFC wild-card hopeful.

Swaim (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Texans, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Swaim was added to the Titans' injury report Thursday with the head injury, an indication that he likely was diagnosed with the concussion following Wednesday's practice. Tennessee evidently determined he hadn't made enough progress through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol to suit up Sunday, so he'll be sidelined for the first time all season Week 11. Swaim's absence should pave the way for MyCole Pruitt and Anthony Firkser to split work at tight end, with the latter player being the superior pass-catching option of the two.

Seals-Jones (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Carolina, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Seals-Jones was spotted on a side field with trainers during Thursday's practice, but he wasn't able to partake in drills with his healthy teammates this week after injuring his hip in last Sunday's 29-19 win over Tampa Bay. With Seals-Jones missing a game before tight end Logan Thomas (hamstring) is ready to return from injured reserve, Washington is left with John Bates and Sammis Reyes atop the depth chart at the position. Both Bates and Reyes are valued for blocking above pass catching, but Bates recorded three receptions for 25 yards against the Buccaneers last week, logging 63 percent of the snaps on offense.

Bates is expected to serve as Washington's starting tight end Sunday against the Panthers with Ricky Seals-Jones (hip) ruled out for the contest and Logan Thomas (hamstring) still on injured reserve, Pete Hailey of NBC Sports Washington reports.

After Seals-Jones exited early in last week's upset win over the Buccaneers, Bates stepped in to play a career-high 63 percent of the Football Team's offensive snaps. Though he didn't fill a high-volume role in the passing game, the rookie made good on his limited opportunities, reeling in all three of his targets for 25 yards. Bates profiles as a low-end starter at tight end for deep-league lineups in Week 11.