NFL Player News

Kittle (knee) feels healthy enough to play Sunday night versus the Packers, despite recovering from a broken bone in his ankle, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

All the talk has been about Kittle's left knee since he got injured Oct. 31 at Arizona and missed the next 49ers' two games, but the ankle issue lingered on the injury report without any mention. After practicing Thursday and Friday, albeit in a blue no-contact jersey, he was given a 'questionable' designation for Week 12 by coach Kyle Shanahan, who told Eric Branch of the San Francisco, "This week, I think with a normal person, I'd probably make him doubtful. But Kittle is different than most people." The 49ers will determine whether or not Kittle is active about 90 minutes before Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. If he does not go, it'll throw a wrench into fantasy lineups, with San Fran teammate Ross Dwelley, Packers TE Jimmy Graham and Rams TE Gerald Everett the potential top available options at the position.

Hockenson has a shoulder injury and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Redskins.

The shoulder injury is a recent development as Hockenson wasn't present on the injury report all week, leaving his status for Sunday firmly up in the air. Jesse James and Logan Thomas would see increased work at tight end should Hockenson be unable to face Washington.

Kittle (knee/ankle) has a good shot to return for Sunday's game against the Packers, though he's still dealing with significant pain, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "This week, I think with a normal person, I'd probably make him doubtful," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "But Kittle is different than most people."

The quote from Shanahan is interesting, as it creates optimism for Kittle's availability while also acknowledging that he still isn't healthy. The tight end was a limited practice participant Thursday and Friday, earning a 'questionable' designation on the final injury report after he was 'doubtful' (and didn't end up playing) the past two weeks. An 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff may be nerve-racking for fantasy managers, leaving just two games to choose a tight end from if Kittle is declared inactive. The list of potential replacements is led by 49ers teammate Ross Dwelley, Packers TE Jimmy Graham and Rams TE Gerald Everett, while lower-end options include Nick Boyle and Hayden Hurst from the Ravens or Tyler Higbee from the Rams.

Tonyan (hip) is questionable for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Olivia Reiner of the Journal Sentinel reports.

Tonyan is expected to play but is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's highly anticipated game against the 49ers. The 25-year-old has been targeted only six times in five games, but Aaron Rodgers likes to spread the ball around, so Tonyan could sneak his way into the box score if he's able to take the field. If he plays, expect the depth tight end to see a 15-25 snap workload.

Hollister and Tyrone Swoopes are the only healthy tight ends on the Seattle roster for Sunday's game in Philadelphia, Brent Stecker of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Swoopes was promoted Friday from the practice squad after Ed Dickson (knee) was sent back to injured reserve. A few hours later, the Seahawks listed Luke Willson (hamstring) as doubtful on their final injury report, setting up a situation where Hollister's snap share could stretch even higher than the 80 and 78 percent he saw in his past two games. He took full advantage of those opportunities to the tune of 12 catches for 99 yards and three touchdowns on 16 targets, picking up where Will Dissly (Achilles) had left off in earning Russell Wilson's favor near the goal line. The Eagles have given up the seventh-fewest receiving yards per game to tight ends (41.9) and generally have played well on defense in recent weeks, but there's a lot to be said for simply take a large number of snaps in an offense with Wilson at the helm.

Kittle (knee/ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

The same goes for wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders (ribs) and Deebo Samuel (shoulder), with each of the three sporting no-contact jerseys at Friday's practice. Kittle was a non-participant Wednesday after missing the past two games, but his ability to close out the week with back-to-back limited practices hints at a legitimate shot to return for the Sunday night battle between NFC heavyweights. Fantasy managers hoping for a return would be wise to have another option available from the primetime games, with potential choices including 49ers teammate Ross Dwelley, Packers TE Jimmy Graham and Rams TE Gerald Everett. Desperation options include Nick Boyle and Hayden Hurst from the Ravens or Tyler Higbee from the Rams.

Njoku (wrist) won't be activated off IR for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Njoku, who's been out due to a wrist injury that he suffered in Week 2, returned to practice Wednesday, but the Browns will elect to give the tight end another week to ready himself for the team's Dec. 1 game against the Steelers. Upon his return, Njoku should reclaim his status as Cleveland's top pass-catching threat at his position, a context that gives the 2017 first-rounder some stretch-run fantasy value.

Hooper (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.

An early report suggested Hooper would be out for about a month with an MCL sprain, and his absence now has been confirmed for a second straight week, with the tight end still unable to practice. Jaeden Graham and Luke Stocker figure to share Week 12 snaps, while Hooper's usual target workload could be directed toward the team's wide receivers.

Hooper (knee) was not present for Friday's practice, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.

Hooper's status continues to be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, but a report last week indicated he would likely be out a month as a result of his injury, so it should not come as much surprise that he is still unable to practice. Hooper has not been ruled out for Week 12 just yet, but it seems likely he will miss a second straight game.

Engram (foot) will not play Sunday against the Bears, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports.

It was reported earlier this week that Engram had a chance to play Sunday, but he did not make the required progress in his recovery over the last two weeks and now will miss a second straight game. Fellow tight end Rhett Ellison has also been ruled out for Week 12, which leaves Scott Simonson as the likely starter at the position in Sunday's contest. Simonson is more blocker than pass catcher, though, so the targets Engram usually sees could be mainly distributed among the wide receiver corps.