NFL Player News

Fant (knee) was limited at Wednesday's practice, Ben Swanson of the Broncos' official site reports.

Per Aric DiLalla of the team's official site, head coach Vic Fangio previously suggested that Fant should be available Sunday against the Giants. However, it's still worth monitoring the tight end's progress as the week progresses to see if he approaches the season with or without an official injury designation.

Trautman (ankle) wasn't listed on the Saints' injury report Wednesday.

A 2020 third-round pick, Trautman was poised to take a bigger role in the offense following the offseason departures of Jared Cook and Josh Hill, but his first preseason in that role was less than desirable. First, Trautman wasn't targeted while playing 16 snaps on offense in the Saints' first preseason game. In New Orleans' second exhibition contest, he again was blanked before leaving the field on a cart with a left ankle injury. With an expected recovery timetable of 1-to-3 weeks, Trautman's Week 1 availability initially looked to be in the air, but his ability to avoid the first injury report of the campaign entirely clears him for Sunday's game against the Packers in Jacksonville.

Conklin (hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.

Conklin dealt with a pair of injury concerns in training camp and the preseason. The current one is a mild hamstring injury, which kept him out of all three of Minnesota's exhibition games last month. In the wake of Irv Smith's season-ending meniscectomy in late August, Conklin elevated to the top of the depth chart at tight end, but ex-Jet Chris Herndon has since joined the group. Conklin, Herndon, Brandon Dillon and Ben Ellefson compose the Minnesota tight-end group heading into the campaign.

Henry (shoulder) isn't listed on the Patriots' Week 1 injury report released Wednesday.

With that, Henry is in line to make his Patriots debut in Sunday's season opener against the Dolphins. In a passing attack helmed by rookie quarterback Mac Jones, Henry is being counted on to combine with fellow newcomer Jonnu Smith to form a potent one-two pass-catching punch at tight end.

Smith practiced on a limited basis Wednesday due to a knee injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Meanwhile, top tight end Evan Engram (calf) spent the session on a side field with the training staff, and offseason pickup Kyle Rudolph (foot) joined Smith as a limited participant. Assuming Engram is unable to go Sunday against the Broncos, Smith and Rudolph seem poised to work as a tight-end tandem in the Giants' opener.

Engram (calf) didn't practice Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

At Monday's session, there was a glimmer of hope that Engram was taking a step in the right direction by catching passes in pads. However, his calf issue contained him to a side field with the Giants' training staff Wednesday, giving him just two more practices to prove his health. If Engram is unable to go Sunday against the Broncos, Kyle Rudolph (foot, limited) and Kaden Smith (knee, limited) are the prime candidates to cover for him at tight end.

Hockenson (shoulder) was a full practice participant Wednesday.

Hockenson suffered an AC joint sprain Aug. 10 and missed the entire preseason, but his availability for Week 1 was never in serious doubt. He's one of the few tight ends with a decent shot to lead his team in targets, albeit in what likely will be a bottom-10 offense. Hockenson and the Lions start off with a tricky matchup, hosting a 49ers defense that has defensive ends Nick Bosa and Dee Ford coming off the edge and linebacker Fred Warner covering the middle of the field.

Engram (calf) isn't in line to practice Wednesday, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

The report adds that the tight end will work with the Giants' training staff while his teammates practice Wednesday, and then his status will be revisited Thursday. At this point, Engram looks iffy, at best, for Sunday's season opener against the Broncos.

The Seahawks placed Parkinson (foot) on injured reserve Tuesday, John Boyle of Seahawks.com reports.

During training camp, Parkinson re-injured the same foot that kept him out of the majority of his rookie season, so it's no surprise that the Seahawks are being cautious to start the season. He will only have to miss the first three weeks of the 2021 campaign and will be eligible to return Week 4 if he is healthy.

Coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Parkinson (foot) won't be ready to return this week, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

The Seahawks were hopeful they would get Parkinson back by the start of the regular season, but they will elect to be cautious, as he broke the same foot last year. Tyler Mabry has been promoted to the active roster ahead of Week 1 and will serve as the third tight end behind Will Dissly and Gerald Everett.