NFL Player News

Hockenson (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Hockenson was listed as questionable with the same injury Week 5, ultimately playing 81 percent of the Lions' offensive snaps but catching just two passes for 22 yards on three targets in a 19-17 loss to Minnesota. A return to practice Thursday or Friday would put him on track to play again this Sunday against the Bengals.

The Packers have designated Dafney (hip) for return from IR, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Dafney has missed three games due to his hip injury, making him eligible to come off IR as early as Sunday's contest against the Bears. He handled a key depth role as a blocker during the first two weeks of the season.

Waller wasn't spotted at practice Wednesday, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

Waller wasn't visibly injured during Sunday's 20-9 loss to the Bears, though he may have managed to pick up some sort of health concern. He played 96 percent of the available offensive snaps in the contest, catching four of eight targets for 45 yards.

The Cowboys have designated McKeon (ankle) to return from IR, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Dallas will have 21 days to evaluate McKeon at practice and make a decision on whether to bring him back to the active roster. As a rookie last season, McKeon appeared in 14 games but failed to draw a single target.

Bell (back) didn't practice Wednesday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

It's unclear when Bell picked up the injury, but it's worth monitoring throughout the week. Travis Kelce (neck) also is questionable for Week 6, so Noah Gray and Jody Fortson could be in line for extended work against Washington.

Njoku won't practice Wednesday due to a knee injury, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku is coming off the best game of his career in the Browns' 47-42 loss to the Chargers, when he turned in seven receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. He appears to have gotten banged up at some point along the way, but the Browns may just be extending him some extra maintenance, as he's one of several key contributors on the Cleveland offense who won't practice Wednesday. The Browns are set for a tough Week 6 matchup against the undefeated Cardinals.

Sample secured two of four targets for nine yards in Sunday's 25-22 loss to the Packers.

Sample saw his first targets of the season Week 5, after going without a look on any of his 103 offensive snaps through the first four games. The 25-year-old logged 21 of the 67 offensive snaps Sunday, ranking a distant second at the position behind No. 1 tight end C.J. Uzomah (56). Sample is irrelevant for fantasy purposes, but an injury to Uzomah would clear a path to more opportunities within the offense.

Uzomah caught both of his targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 25-22 overtime loss to the Packers.

Uzomah predictably took a big step back statistically following his 95-yard, two touchdown performance in the Week 4 win over Jacksonville. The veteran still operated as the Bengals' clear top tight end Week 5, playing a season-high 84 percent of the offensive snaps. With so many mouths to feed in Cincinnati's offense, Uzomah isn't a bankable fantasy option, even in a favorable matchup Week 6 in Detroit.

Hesse was signed to the Falcons' practice squad Tuesday.

Hesse appeared in the first two games of the season for the Falcons and was cut over the weekend. However, the 26-year-old will stick around on the practice squad.

Higbee caught both of his targets for 14 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's 26-17 win over Seattle.

The score was the veteran's second of the season, and Higbee has quietly been a respectable fantasy producer from the tight end position. He's also up to six red-zone targets through five games, so while his year-long numbers don't jump off the page (17-166-2), Higbee projects to remain a serviceable contributor in the majority of fantasy formats.