NFL Player News
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Daniel Bellinger TE | NYG
Giants' Daniel Bellinger: Stays limited Thursday
Bellinger (neck) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Bellinger has been limited in both of the Giants' first two Week 8 practices, so he may need to upgrade to full participation in Friday's session to avoid taking a questionable tag into this Sunday's game in Philadelphia. Though Bellinger has played second fiddle to Theo Johnson throughout the season, the Giants' depleted receiver depth has prompted head coach Brian Daboll to deploy two-tight-end sets more frequently in recent weeks. Bellinger has played more than half of the Giants' offensive snaps in three straight games, recording seven catches for 140 yards and a touchdown on eight targets during that stretch.
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Dalton Kincaid TE | BUF
Bills' Dalton Kincaid: Still limited Thursday
Kincaid (oblique) remained limited at practice Thursday.
Kincaid, who missed the Bills' Week 6 loss to the Falcons after being limited at practice three consecutive days, thus far has been unable to upgrade his participation level as Sunday's game against the Panthers approaches. Unless that happens Friday, he'll presumably carry an injury designation into the weekend. If Kincaid is limited or out versus Carolina, fellow TEs Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes would be in line for added snaps Week 8.
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Cole Kmet TE | CHI
Bears' Cole Kmet: Sits out another practice
Kmet (back) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.
Kmet didn't take any reps for the second day in a row and may be trending toward missing Sunday's game in Baltimore. Before the Bears decide whether Kmet takes a designation into the weekend or gets ruled out for Sunday's contest, the team will wait and see if he's able to log any on-field work Friday. Rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland would be in line for a hefty snap count at tight end if Kmet is unable to play in Baltimore.
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Julian Hill TE | MIA
Dolphins' Julian Hill: Not at Thursday's practice
Hill (ankle) is not participating in the early portion of Thursday's practice open to the media, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Hill is on track to miss back-to-back practices due to an ankle injury, which makes his availability for Sunday's road matchup against the Falcons uncertain. If Hill is unable to suit up Week 8, the bulk of targets made available to the TE position by Miami's placement of Darren Waller (pectoral) on IR will go to Tanner Conner, as well as recent practice-squad signee Greg Dulcich.
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Cade Stover TE | HOU
Texans' Cade Stover: Nearing return
Stover (foot) is expected back within the next few weeks, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Wilson reports Stover is recovering well from a broken foot and surgery. He's already missed the four-game minimum and can be activated at any time, but it appears the tight end will be out until some point in November at the earliest. Stover's return will bolster the position, which has been impacted by injuries to several of its personnel going back to training camp.
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Brenden Bates TE | CLE
Texans' Brenden Bates: Dealing with wrist injury
Bates was limited in Wednesday's practice due to a wrist injury.
Bates likely picked up the injury during the Texans' 27-19 loss to the Seahawks on Wednesday, when he played nine snaps (one on offense, eight on special teams) without showing up on the box score otherwise. He'll have two more opportunities to upgrade his practice participation ahead of Sunday's game against the 49ers.
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Grant Calcaterra TE | PHI
Eagles' Grant Calcaterra: Logs limited practice Wednesday
Calcaterra (oblique) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Calcaterra has sat out Philadelphia's last two games due to an oblique issue he picked up in Week 5 versus the Broncos, but it now appears he could be on track to suit up again soon. He'll get two more chances to upgrade to a full practice before the Eagles release their final practice report of the week Friday.
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Dalton Schultz TE | HOU
Texans' Dalton Schultz: Limited practice Wednesday
Schultz (back/shoulder) was limited at practice Wednesday.
While logging a 75 percent snap share in Monday's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks, Schultz racked up nine catches on 10 targets for a team-high 98 yards. However, with the tight end managing a pair of injuries, his status will need to be monitored ahead of this weekend's contest against the 49ers. If Schultz is available, he could remain busy in Week 8, with WRs Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) both banged up and having missed Wednesday's practice.
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Eric Saubert TE | SEA
Eric Saubert: Getting released
Seattle released Saubert on Wednesday, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
Per Henderson, the move is believed to be purely procedural, and the Seahawks are expected to sign Saubert again soon. Through seven games so far this season, he's drawn just one target over 145 offensive snaps.
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Stone Smartt TE | NYJ
Jets' Stone Smartt: Nursing quadriceps injury
Smartt did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to a quadriceps injury.
Smartt served exclusively on special teams during the Jets' Week 7 loss to the Panthers, and he appears to have picked up a quad injury in the process. He'll have two more opportunities to practice and avoid an injury tag ahead of Sunday's game against the Bengals.