NFL Player News

Conklin (hamstring) practiced fully Thursday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.

Conklin didn't suit up during the preseason due to a minor hamstring injury, which also limited him at Wednesday's practice. Now that he's put together an uncapped showing on the field, the Vikings will be going with Conklin, Chris Herndon, Brandon Dillon and Ben Ellefson at tight end, with Irv Smith out for the season following a meniscectomy.

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

Smith's knee injury popped up this week, leaving all the Giants' TEs with health concerns in advance of Week 1. With Evan Engram yet to practice due to a calf injury he sustained in the exhibition finale, the team maybe forced to roll with Smith and Kyle Rudolph (foot) -- who has been limited all week like Smith -- at tight end Sunday versus the Broncos.

Coach Vic Fangio expects Fant (knee) to be a full practice participant Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

If that's the case, the tight end clearly will be trending in the right direction as Sunday's season opener against the Giants approaches. Thursday's injury report will reveal whether or not Fant's on-field activity matches up with Fangio's pre-practice expectations.

Engram (calf) didn't participate in Thursday's practice, Tom Rock of Newsday reports.

For the second day in a row, Engram was relegated to working out on a side field and didn't mix into team drills. Giants head coach Joe Judge has yet to make an official call on Engram's status for Sunday's season opener versus the Broncos, but the tight end looks to be trending toward sitting out Week 1. Kyle Rudolph, who is managing a foot injury of his own but is expected to play Sunday, looks poised to handle the bulk of the tight end reps sans Engram.

Hesse was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

Hesse was away from the team for just over a week, but he'll rejoin the Falcons ahead of the season opener against Philadelphia. The 26-year-old is unlikely to play a significant role to begin the year since Kyle Pitts and Hayden Hurst are the team's clear top options at tight end.

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.