NFL Player News

Sternberger (concussion) practiced in limited fashion Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Sternberger has been sidelined for three consecutive games due to a concussion. His return to practice, albeit limited, is definitely a step in the right direction. Still, he will need to clear the team's concussion protocol before he has a chance to return.

Lewis (knee) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

Lewis has been nursing this knee issue for a while, so it is unsurprising to see him pop up on the injury report once again. He fought through the issue to play last week, but failed to record a reception in the Packers' victory over the Titans. His status will need to be monitored as the week progresses.

Parham didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness.

With Hunter Henry on the reserve/COVID-19 list and Parham now dealing with an unspecified ailment, Stephen Anderson is the Chargers' top healthy tight end at this stage of the week. While Henry sat out last week's win over Denver, Parham played 81 percent of the Chargers' offensive snaps and finished with two receptions for 47 yards on three targets.

Goedert (calf) didn't practice Wednesday.

Goedert left Sunday's loss at Dallas due to the injury, which is now keeping him off the practice field. He'll have two additional chances this week to fit in some reps, but if he ends up limited or sitting out this weekend against Washington, Zach Ertz may handle the majority of tight-end reps with Richard Rodgers (ankle) still unable to practice.

Engram (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

During the media-access portion of the practice, Engram was spotted working out on the side with trainers, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Engram evidently increased his activity behind the scenes, and the Giants appear optimistic about his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Cowboys. The tight end will still likely need to upgrade to full participation in practice by Friday to avoid taking a designation into the Week 17 contest.

Engram (ankle) is slated to practice in some capacity Wednesday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Head coach Joe Judge has expressed a degree of optimism that Engram will be able to play Sunday against the Cowboys, a notion supported by the tight end's presence on the practice field Wednesday. Engram suffered the ankle injury late in last week's loss to the Ravens, finishing the day with 70 yards from scrimmage on eight touches.

Bryant (reserve/COVID-19) is considered a close contact with someone outside the Browns' organization that tested positive for the virus, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Bryant was placed on the COVID-19 list Tuesday, joining wide receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and Donovan Peoples-Jones. All five players are deemed close contacts and will be eligible to play in this week's season finale against Pittsburgh, assuming they continue to test negative. The wideouts can return as early as Thursday, while Saturday is the earliest Bryant can come off the list. The Browns can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Steelers.

Smith did not receive a target during Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Ravens.

Smith has dealt with an illness and a knee issue over the past month, but he remains with only one game absence on the season. Though the tight end has inherited a workload of 30 offensive snaps per contest in 2020, it hasn't translated to significant production in the passing game. Smith's most notable fantasy outing of the year arrived via a three-catch, 15-yard performance Week 6 against Washington.

Knox secured three of four targets for 51 yards during Monday night's 38-9 win against the Patriots.

Buffalo dominated through the air during a Week 16 drubbing of the Patriots, with Knox finishing as the team's No. 2 receiver on a night that consisted of 320 passing yards and four passing scores from Josh Allen. Lee Smith hauled in one of the TDs, and star wideout Stefon Diggs the other three, as Knox remains with three scores of his own on the season (all coming since Week 12). It didn't help that he dropped an easy score from Josh Allen that was right in his hands. A regular-season finale against Miami's top-ranked scoring defense will be challenging, especially with the unit having surrendered the eighth-fewest receptions to opposing tight ends on the year.

The Vikings placed Dillon (ankle) on the practice squad COVID-19 list Tuesday, per the NFL's official transaction log.

Dillon was eligible to return from the practice squad injured list Tuesday, but he'll remain away from the team as he works through COVID-19 protocol. With the playoffs out of reach, Dillon likely won't practice again this year.