NFL Player News

The Rams placed Blanton on the practice squad COVID-19 list Monday.

This is Blanton's second placement on the list. Last time, he was a close contact to an infected person. It's unclear if he tested positive for the virus or came into close contact with an infected person this time.

Schultz caught all three of his targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 30-7 win over the Bengals.

The Cowboys' passing game didn't need to do much after three early Cincinnati fumbles led to 17 first-half points for Dallas, limiting Schultz's production. The tight end hasn't reached 50 receiving yards in five straight games heading into a Week 15 clash with the 49ers.

Fant (illness) returned negative PRC/POC tests for COVID-19 on Monday and will travel back to Denver, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Fant exited Sunday's win over the Panthers before drawing a target. Per Klis, Fant began to feel ill early, prompting the Broncos to take precautions for COVID-19. Coach Vic Fangio said after the game that Fant's illness may have been food poisoning, and now that he's tested negative for two straight days it looks like the second-year tight end will avoid a stint on the COVID list.

Dissly caught both his targets for 23 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 40-3 win over the Jets.

Dissly found the end zone for the second time since rupturing his Achilles in Week 6 of the 2019 season. He continues to look more comfortable on the field, and he likely would've played more than 49 percent of the snaps if coach Pete Carroll didn't rest his starters in the fourth quarter. Dissly's still a touchdown-dependent fantasy option, but his role in the passing game has ticked up slightly since Greg Olsen (foot) was injured.

Firkser recorded a reception on his lone target for five yards in Week 14 against the Jaguars.

After a one-game absence, Jonnu Smith returned to the field. Firkser's role decreased as a result, as he tallied only one target for the second time in his past three games. He won't have enough volume to be trustworthy in Week 15 against the Lions.

Swaim recorded three receptions on three targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in Week 14 against the Jaguars.

Swaim was the most involved Titans tight end in terms of targets and yardage, though he was out-snapped by both MyCole Pruitt and Jonnu Smith. His biggest contribution came on a five-yard touchdown catch early in the third quarter. This was Swaim's most productive performance of the season, making it difficult to trust him moving forward to any matchups to close out the campaign.

Hockenson caught six of 11 targets for 43 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 31-24 loss to Green Bay.

With Kenny Golladay (hip) still out and Detroit playing from behind most of the day, Hockenson was busy and saw a new season high in targets. The Packers didn't let him do much with those opportunities though, and Hockenson's touchdown came on a designed shovel pass from one yard out. While the potential absence of Matthew Stafford (ribs) in Week 15 is not good news for the young tight end, a downgrade in quarterback play isn't the end of the world for a top-shelf talent like Hockenson against a Titans defense that has given up the fourth-most yards per target to tight ends (8.1) in 2020.

Thomas caught three of four targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 32-27 loss to the Broncos.

Thomas matched his season high in receptions, enabling him to reach 20 yards for just the second time this term. Despite clearly having restricted upside, Thomas' outing Sunday was at least some sign of progress.

The Dolphins fear Gesicki (shoulder) will miss at least one game, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald reports.

Gesicki was injured in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 33-27 loss to the Chiefs, finishing with five catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. He appeared to be dealing with a lot of pain when he came off the field, and he wasn't able to re-enter the game. An MRI scheduled for Monday should give the Dolphins a better idea of how much time Gesicki will miss.

Akins caught three of six targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 36-7 loss to the Bears.

Akins once again led Houston's tight ends in targets while finishing second among all Texans receivers in the loss. The team was without its top three wide receivers from the start the season -- Will Fuller (suspension), Brandin Cooks (foot) and Randall Cobb (toe) -- which jumbled up the targeting options for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Cooks could return for Week 15 against the Colts, which would bring some normalcy, but Fuller is done for the year and Cobb is considering shutting down. That could open the door for Akins, who leads the team's tight ends in targets, to maintain a significant role in the game plan going forward.