NFL Player News
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Nate Adkins TE | DEN
Broncos' Nate Adkins: Will miss second straight
Adkins (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Denver's game against the Raiders on Thursday.
Adkins is set to miss his second straight game. He has been unable to practice in any capacity since originally suffering the injury, so it's unclear when he may be able to return. Adam Trautman played a season-high 73 percent of offensive snaps in Adkins' absence in Week 9, and he should see an expanded role once again.
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AJ Barner TE | SEA
Seahawks' AJ Barner: Tending to calf issue
Barner was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough due to a calf injury, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Barner has earned at least an 80 percent snap share in six of eight games this season, but the cumulative results in the box score (21 catches for 236 yards on 26 targets) have been tepid aside from his penchant for getting in the end zone, which he's done four times. He'll have two more opportunities to get back to full this week or else risk entering the weekend with a designation for Sunday's contest against the Cardinals.
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Stone Smartt TE | NYJ
Jets' Stone Smartt: Logs full practice Wednesday
Smartt (quadriceps) was a full participant at practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Smartt sat out Week 8 at Cincinnati with a quadriceps injury prior to the Jets' bye in Week 9, but he's now on track to suit up in Week 10 versus the Browns. Of his 46 snaps so far this season, 45 have come on special teams.
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Dalton Schultz TE | HOU
Texans' Dalton Schultz: Logs limited practice Wednesday
Schultz (knee/shoulder) was limited at practice Wednesday.
Schultz, who continues to manage knee and shoulder issues, didn't practice either Wednesday or Thursday last week before logging a full practice Friday and playing in the Texans' Week 9 loss to the Broncos, a game in which he caught six of his eight targets for a team-high 77 yards. With no reported setbacks in that contest, the tight end's listed limitations Wednesday are presumably maintenance-related.
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Theo Johnson TE | NYG
Giants' Theo Johnson: Dealing with shoulder issue
Johnson was limited at Wednesday's practice due to a shoulder injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Johnson has taken full advantage of his 33 targets over the last six games, hauling in 20 for 190 yards and five touchdowns. All of them have come with rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart directing the offense, but Johnson now is dealing with a health concern. Johnson's status will be monitored as the week goes on to get a sense of his odds to suit up Sunday in Chicago.
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Daniel Bellinger TE | NYG
Giants' Daniel Bellinger: Full practice Wednesday
Bellinger (neck) practiced fully Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Bellinger dealt with a neck injury during Week 8 prep, and while he was cleared to face the Eagles that week, he left that game due to a neck concern. He proceeded to miss every practice last week before being inactive this past Sunday against the 49ers. Now with a full session under his belt, Bellinger appears on pace to return to action Sunday at Chicago.
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Julian Hill TE | MIA
Dolphins' Julian Hill: Upgrades to limited practice
Hill (ankle) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Hill is practicing for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury that's forced him to miss back-to-back contests. If he's able to gain clearance for Sunday's game against the Bills, Hill will get a chance to operate as the No. 1 tight end for Miami, with Darren Waller (pectoral) still on IR. In Hill's absence, Greg Dulcich has shown flashes as a pass catcher while working alongside Tanner Conner.
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Cole Kmet TE | CHI
Bears' Cole Kmet: Limited Wednesday
Kmet (concussion) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday.
Kmet left this past Sunday's game at Cincinnati in the second quarter and eventually was diagnosed with a concussion. That he's already able to mix into some drills just three days later signifies that he's progressing well through the protocol for head injuries, but he'll still need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to play Sunday against the Giants. Rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland, who broke out with six catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns Week 9, is poised to have a larger role moving forward no matter when Kmet suits up again.
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Hunter Long TE | JAC
Jaguars' Hunter Long: Sits out practice Wednesday
Long (hip/knee) is not participating in the early portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.comreports.
Long remains positioned as Jacksonville's incumbent top tight end with Brenton Strange (quadriceps) not expected to come off IR until Week 11 at the earliest. However, due to a pair of injuries, Long's status now also appears uncertain for Sunday's road matchup against the Texans. He briefly exited Jacksonville's narrow win over the Raiders in Week 9 as a result of his hip and knee injuries but managed to retake the field and finish with a 66 percent snap share on offense.
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Dalton Keene TE | HOU
Dalton Keene: Out in Houston
Keene was cut from the Texans' practice squad Wednesday.
Keene signed with the Texans practice squad just one week ago, but it now appears as if the team has decided to move in a different direction. In a corresponding move, Houston added veteran kicker Matthew Wright to its practice squad Wednesday after Ka'imi Fairbairn (lower body) suffered an injury.