NFL Player News

Blanton caught two of his three targets for 29 yards during Monday's 30-23 win over the Cardinals.

With Tyler Higbee being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list before the game, Blanton started and played 52 of 58 offensive snaps Monday. Obviously, Blanton's final stat line didn't make a notable fantasy impact, but it's likely he would again see a huge boost in playing time if Higbee were to miss another game. Fellow tight end Brycen Hopkins played 20 offensive snaps Monday, but he wasn't targeted in the passing game.

Engram caught one of four targets Sunday for eight yards in the team's loss to the Chargers.

Engram is an inconsistent player stuck in a terrible passing game. He's yet to reach even 65 receiving yards in any game this season.

Wolf reverted back to the Saints' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Wolf found the field for the first time in 2021 during the team's Week 14 win over the Jets. He logged eight offensive snaps but did not record a stat.

Keene (knee) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Keene underwent season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus injury in August and isn't expected to play this season. However, after being placed in COVID-19 protocols following his positive test, he will have to produce back-to-back negative tests at least 24 hours apart or complete a 10-day quarantine (if unvaccinated) before he's able to return to team facilities.

Parham (knee) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimate, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Parham has recorded multiple receptions in seven games this season, including the last two weeks. However, he apparently picked up a knee injury during Sunday's win over the Giants that would've kept him out of practice Monday. His practice status should be monitored leading up to Thursday night's divisional clash with the Chiefs.

Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia said Moreau is day-to-day with a muscle strain suffered in Sunday's 48-9 loss to the Chiefs, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

While picking up starts the past two weeks in place of top tight end Darren Waller, Moreau has seen heavy snap shares on offense (84 and 98 percent), but he's produced an underwhelming 4-47-0 line on nine targets. Both of Las Vegas' top options at the position are now looking iffy for a Saturday game in Cleveland in Week 15, as Bisaccia suggested that Waller will be viewed as questionable heading into that contest. It's unclear if Moreau is any healthier at this stage, but the Raiders' upcoming practice reports will provide a better gauge for which direction both tight ends are trending in the weekend approaches.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he expects Kroft (lung) to return from injured reserve in advance of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports.

New York has yet to designate Kroft for return from IR since he was deactivated Nov. 9, so getting back on the practice field at some point Wednesday through Friday will be the first order of business for the 29-year-old if he hopes to suit up this weekend. If Kroft proves to New York's coaching and training staff that he's made a full recovery from his lung laceration, he'll likely be on the short end of a timeshare at tight end with Ryan Griffin.

Higbee has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Cardinals following his placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but he could be eligible to return to the active roster as soon as Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

According to Schefter, Higbee's placement on the list was the result of an initial positive test, but the tight end proceeded to test negative for the virus twice thereafter. That would seemingly lend credence to the idea that the initial result was a false positive, but because the Rams couldn't confirm as much prior to Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, Higbee will have to sit out his first game of the season. Kendall Blanton is the next man up on the depth chart behind Higbee and profiles as the Rams' best blocking tight end, while Brycen Hopkins and the newly promoted Jared Pinkney represent greater pass-catching threats at the position.

Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia said Monday that he's viewing Waller (knee) as questionable ahead of the team's Week 15 game in Cleveland on Saturday, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Bisaccia described Waller as day-to-day early on last week, only for the tight end to miss a second consecutive game on account of a strained knee. Waller didn't practice in any capacity last week before being ruled out ahead of the Raiders' loss to the Chiefs, so he'll likely need to get back on the field as at least a limited participant by Thursday before taking a designation into Saturday's contest. Las Vegas is at less-than-optimal health at tight end, as Bisaccia relayed that Waller's replacement in the lineup the past two weeks, Foster Moreau, strained a muscle in Kansas City.

Pinkney was elevated from the Rams' practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Pinkney will serve as additional depth at tight end after Tyler Higbee (illness) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday. The 24-year-old joined the Rams' practice squad in mid-October and hasn't yet made his regular-season debut in the NFL.