NFL Player News

Bryant (thigh) was limited at practice Thursday.

Bryant was added to the Browns' Week 9 injury report Thursday, which suggests that he may have sustained an in-practice injury. Either way, Bryant's fantasy ceiling is limited with Austin Hooper and David Njoku also in the team's tight end mix.

Smith (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Smith played through a knee injury in Monday's loss to Kansas City and has been limited in each of the two practice sessions ahead of Week 9. If he hopes to avoid the injury report, he'll likely need to practice fully Friday.

Hill (concussion) practiced in full Thursday.

Considering he was limited Wednesday in his first practice since sustaining a concussion Week 5, Hill likely still has to meet with an independent neurologist to be cleared for game action, but he's inched closer to making his return. The Saints have yet to make a decision on who will be under center Sunday against the Falcons in the wake of Jameis Winston's season-ending knee injury from Week 8. Coach Sean Payton may want to see where Hill stands as of Friday, but Hill and Trevor Siemian remain in play to be the Saints' starting quarterback this weekend.

Fant (illness), who landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday following a positive test for the virus, could still have a chance to play Sunday in Dallas, George Stoia III of The Denver Gazette reports.

According to Stoia, Fant is vaccinated, which gives him a chance for a quicker return than an unvaccinated player, who would be forced to remain away from the team for at least 10 days following a positive test. Fant has continued to test positive since entering quarantine, so he'll still need to submit two negative test results at least 24 hours apart and display no symptoms of the virus before he's eligible to rejoin the Broncos. The team should have more clarity heading into Sunday whether Fant is available or not, but Albert Okwuegbunam would be the next man up to fill in as Denver's starting tight end, assuming Okwuegbunam can overcome the knee injury that limited him in practice to begin the week.

Knox (hand) remained sidelined at Thursday's practice, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Knox, who is bouncing back from a hand procedure, is considered day-to-day, but back-to-back practice absences cloud his status for Sunday's game against the Jaguars. If he's unable to gain clearance to play this weekend, Tommy Sweeney once again would be in line to head the Bills' tight end corps Week 9.

Wesco (knee) is expected to play in the Jets' Week 9 contest Thursday against the Colts, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Wesco injured his knee at practice ahead of Week 8 and was unable to suit up Sunday against the Bengals. The tight end managed to log a limited practice Tuesday then a full practice Wednesday. If Wesco is unable to suit up, expect Ryan Griffin to see extended snaps behind Tyler Kroft on Thursday.

Okwuegbunam was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Okwuegbunam was previously sidelined Weeks 5 through 7 due to a hamstring injury, but he returned to action in Sunday's win over Washington and played 49 percent of the Broncos' offensive snaps and hauled in all three of his targets for 34 yards. He's now contending with a new injury, but the fact that he was on the practice field in any capacity to begin Week 9 suggests he'll likely be ready to go for this weekend's game in Dallas. If cleared to play, Okwuegbunam could step into a larger role in Denver's passing attack after top tight end Noah Fant (illness) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.

The 49ers designated Kittle (calf) for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Keiana Martin of the team's official site reports.

San Francisco made the first of two procedural moves to get Kittle back on the active roster, the second of which will be his outright activation to the 53-man. For the time being, his 21-day window has opened for him to practice and test out his previously sore calf. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that the 49ers will reintegrate Kittle slowly, with the "real test" to happen at Thursday's session. Shanahan also said they are "not counting on it 100 percent" for Kittle to suit up Sunday versus the Cardinals, so the aforementioned test may be the selling point, one way or another.

Waller (ankle) is not listed on the Raiders' Week 9 injury report.

Waller, who was a late addition to the team's Week 7 injury report, ended up missing Las Vegas' Oct. 24 win over Philadelphia, but it appears as though he has recovered from his ankle issue following the Raiders' Week 8 bye. With Waller on track to reclaim his starting tight end position Sunday against the Giants, Foster Moreau -- who logged a 6/60/1 stat line versus the Eagles -- figures to return to a complementary role in Week 9.

Smith (shoulder) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.

Smith was limited in practice last week before suiting up for Sunday's win over the Chargers, playing 49 of the Patriots' 77 snaps on offense and catching both of his targets for 13 yards. With no reported setbacks in that contest, Smith is expected to continue working in a timeshare with Hunter Henry this weekend against the Panthers. He'll likely need to practice fully by the end of the week in order to avoid taking an injury designation into Sunday.