NFL Player News

Kittle (knee/ankle) won't practice Thursday, with coach Kyle Shanahan saying that the tight end likely will be a game-time decision for Monday's contest against the Seahawks, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

A matchup with the second-place team in the NFC West might encourage an aggressive approach, but it probably isn't a great sign that Shanahan already is talking about a game-time decision. Kittle played through a knee injury in last Thursday's 28-25 win over the Cardinals, catching six of eight targets for 79 yards and a touchdown despite getting hurt on the first snap of the game. An MRI the following day brought good news, but the addition of an ankle injury is a complicating factor. If Kittle ultimately can't play in Monday's game, Ross Dwelley will step in as San Francisco's top pass-catching threat at tight end. A return to practice Friday and/or Saturday would represent a major step toward avoiding that scenario.

Brown (concussion) was spotted at the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Brown didn't practice Wednesday and missed Week 9's loss to the Broncos, so a return to practice in any capacity represents tangible progress. The depth tight end will need to fully clear the five-step concussion protocol, including meeting with an independent neurologist, before suiting up for game action.

Seals-Jones (knee) missed practice again Thursday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Unless Seals-Jones is able to get back on the practice field Friday, Demetrius Harris will likely head the Browns' tight-end corps Sunday against the Bills, with Stephen Carlson also in the mix. Additionally, it's possible that Pharaoh Brown (concussion) will be available this weekend, given that he returned to practice Thursday.

Hockenson (undisclosed) wasn't listed on the Lions' injury report Wednesday.

Hockenson was removed during the fourth quarter of this past Sunday's game at Oakland to be evaluated for a concussion. While Hockenson passed all neurological tests, coach Matt Patricia told Justin Rogers of The Detroit News afterward that the tight end had the breath taken out of him. The hit from Raiders safety Erik Harris was enough to keep Hockenson sidelined for the remainder of Sunday's game, but didn't result in any sort of designation on the Lions' initial Week 10 practice report. Hockenson thus can prepare in earnest for a Bears defense that has conceded 8.2 yards per target and 6.5 receptions per game to tight ends this season.

Tonyan (hip) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday.

Tonyan was limited on his last three practice reports leading up to being inactive for Week 9's loss to the Chargers, so it's tough to conclude anything about his status for Sunday's matchup against the Panthers. He's on the right track at least, and Thursday's practice should reveal more. The 25-year-old tight end has four catches for 66 yards over five games this season, and he may face competition from rookie Jace Sternberger when he returns.

Brown (concussion) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Brown remains in concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bills. The Browns are currently short on tight ends with Ricky Seals-Jones (knee) considered day-to-day, so Demetrius Harris and Stephen Carlson could be the top two options at the position.

Seals-Jones (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

The same applies to fellow tight end Pharaoh Brown, who remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, leaving Demetrius Harris as the team's top healthy tight end in advance of Sunday's game against the Bills. Coach Freddie Kitchens noted Wednesday that Seals-Jones is considered day-to-day at this stage of the week.

Mack signed with the Saints' practice squad Wednesday, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

The Saints' seventh-round pick in April's draft took a pitstop with Pittsburgh's practice squad before being cut and returning to New Orleans. Jared Cook (ankle) is battling an ankle injury, so Mack provides depth in case Cook's inactive Sunday against the Falcons.

Engram (foot) said Wednesday that he won't suit up in the Giants' game this weekend against the Jets, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

The injury that coach Pat Shurmur described Tuesday as a sore foot quickly became more significant than the Giants initially let on, with Engram labeling his issue Wednesday as a "low-grade" mid-foot sprain, per Vacchiano. While Engram revealed that his MRI cleared him of a dreaded Lisfranc injury, the Giants are still waiting for a second opinion on the matter from foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson before providing a timeline for the tight end's return. At least for the Week 10 matchup, Rhett Ellison will pick up the start at tight end, while Engram gets some extra time to recover as the Giants head into a bye the following week.

Engram's injury is being classified as a mid-foot strain, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports. He was spotted wearing a walking boot Wednesday at the Giants' facility.

Engram suffered a foot injury during Monday's 37-18 loss to the Cowboys that prevented him from participating on the Giants' final drive. Coach Pat Shurmur initially labeled Engram's injury as a sore foot, but the tight end's MRI revealed a more significant concern. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Engram is receiving a second opinion on the MRI results from Dr. Robert Anderson, so the Giants will likely wait and see what the specialist has to say about the matter before commenting on Engram's status for Sunday's game against the Jets. Shurmur was vague when asked again about Engram's injury Wednesday, saying the Giants are viewing him as "day-to-day, week-to-week," according to Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record.