NFL Player News

Dafney (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the 49ers.

Dafney will sit out for the first time this season. The depth tight end has actually played on close to 40 percent of the Packers' offensive snaps through two weeks despite not being targeted in the passing game, so his absence could be felt in the running game.

Ertz was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, Mike Kaye of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Ertz returned to practice Saturday and was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list only five days after being placed on the aforementioned list. As a result, the veteran tight end is expected to play in Monday night's divisional contest against the Cowboys.

Hudson has been promoted to the Titans' 53-man roster ahead of Sunday's contest against the Colts, Ben Arthur of The Tennessean reports.

With Anthony Firkser (knee) sidelined, Hudson will help provide depth at tight end. Hudson will back up Geoff Swaim and MyCole Pruitt. However, Hudson's primary impact presumably will come on special teams.

Dafney (hip) didn't practice Friday and is considered questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup with the 49ers.

Dafney was added to the injury report Thursday, and his status for Sunday is questionable. Fortunately for the Packers, Josiah Deguara (concussion) was cleared from the injury report, so they will at least have three healthy tight ends with Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis and Deguara active for Sunday's contest against San Francisco.

Deguara (concussion) was a full participant in Friday's practice and doesn't have an injury designation heading into Week 3.

Deguara didn't play in Week 2 and was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, but his status took a turn for the better Friday. The 24-year-old shouldn't be on fantasy radars as he has played only five offensive snaps this season, but he may see increased reps in Week 3 if Dominique Dafney (hip) is sidelined.

Fant (ankle) participated fully in practice Friday and is expected to play Sunday against the Jets, Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports reports.

Fant logged a pair of limited sessions to start the week, but his status for Week 3 never really was in doubt. The 2019 first-round pick is looking to make the leap into the upper echelon of pass catchers at the tight end position, and he's off to a solid start, with 10 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown through two games.

Coach Mike Vrabel has ruled out Firkser (knee) for Sunday's game versus the Colts, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Firkser didn't practice at all this week and now will miss his second consecutive contest since injuring his knee during the first session of Week 2 prep. He may have to return to the field in some capacity to put himself on a reasonable path to return to action. Until that happens, though, the Titans will rely on Geoff Swaim, MyCole Pruitt and Tommy Hudson at tight end.

Engram (calf) believes he's ready to return for Sunday's game against Atlanta, but the Giants have him listed as questionable on their final injury report, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Engram said a "great" week of practice has him ready for his season debut, though the Giants listed him as a limited participant Wednesday through Friday. He does seem more likely than not to play, albeit in a potential timeshare now that the Giants have Kyle Rudolph, who has seven targets and 74 percent snap share through two weeks. The team even has a competent No. 3 TE in Kaden Smith, though his role (47 percent of snaps) is on even thinner ice than Rudolph's once Engram is back in the mix. It remains to be seen if that will happen this Sunday, with the Giants releasing their inactive list approximately 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. WR Kenny Golladay (hip) is the other prominent player listed as questionable, while RB Saquon Barkley and WR Kadarius Toney don't have injury designations for the game.

Ertz (reserve/COVID-19) isn't practicing Friday, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

It doesn't bode well for his Week 3 availability, though the Eagles haven't ruled the tight end out for Monday's game in Dallas. Ertz was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list at the beginning of the week, and it is possible the extra day ahead of MNF aids his quest to avoid an absence.

Brown played 31 offensive snaps and wasn't targeted during Thursday's 24-9 loss to the Panthers.

Brown caught four of five targets for 67 yards in the season opener, but he failed to catch his lone target across the past two games. Jordan Akins played only three more offensive snaps Thursday but caught four of five targets for 32 yards. The pair is splitting playing time and neither has been consistently involved in the aerial attack through the first three games of the season.