NFL Player News

Allen (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Doug Kyed of NESN.com reports.

Allen was able to progress to full practice participation Friday, yet he was unable to avoid the questionable tag. Regardless, the 28-year-old appears on track to return to his block-heavy role at tight end for the Patriots after missing the last two games.

Njoku (knee) practiced fully Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Panthers, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Since he was able to practice in limited fashion on back-to-back days to open the Browns' Week 14 preparations, Njoku never seemed in major jeopardy of missing game action. Njoku's fantasy value peaked when he earned double-digit targets in both Weeks 5 and 6, but he's earned no more than six looks in any of the Browns' subsequent six contests.

Paulsen (knee/ankle) is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Paulsen suffered knee and ankle injuries during last week's loss to the Ravens, and he will remain sidelined during Sunday's tilt against the Chargers. Second-year tight end Eric Saubert is expected to see an uptick in offensive snaps in Paulsen's absence.

Alie-Cox (calf) was ruled out for Sunday's game at Houston, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.

Alie-Cox has been battling the calf injury for the last few weeks and will miss his third straight game. Eric Ebron (illness) and Erik Swoope (knee) have also faced injury issues this week, leaving the Colts dangerously thin at tight end.

Brown is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Panthers with a shoulder injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Brown was added to the injury report Friday as a limited practice participant with the shoulder issue. The 24-year-old has been on the roster since being promoted from the practice squad in late October, though he has yet to be active on gameday.

Smith (knee) was diagnosed Friday with a season-ending MCL injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The report doesn't specify if a playoff run would change the outlook; it's within the realm of possibility Smith could be ready for the postseason, given the recovery timetable of 2-to-4 weeks that often accompanies MCL injuries. With Smith sidelined for at least the remainder of the regular season, Tennessee will turn to some combination of Anthony Firkser, Luke Stocker and MyCole Pruitt at tight end. Stocker led the group with 39 snaps in Sunday's 31-9 win over the Jaguars, but Firkser is far more likely to contribute in the passing game, boasting 16 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown on just 16 targets this year.

Paulsen (knee/ankle) did not participate in Thursday's practice session, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.

The veteran blocking tight end has logged consecutive missed practices after being pulled midway through the second quarter of Sunday's loss to Baltimore with knee and ankle injuries. As his status for a Week 14 tilt against the Packers remains very much in doubt, 2017 fifth-round draft choice Eric Saubert is primed to see an increase in his season-long offensive snap count percentage of 11.3.

Firkser caught all three of his targets for 27 yards in Thursday's 30-9 win over the Jaguars.

Firkser's night was highlighted by a 16-yard reception late in the game that gave the Titans a new set of downs and allowed them to run out the clock to end the contest. He has now recorded at least three receptions in four consecutive games, and has become at a consistent part of the Titans' passing attack. Jonnu Smith (knee) exited the game early, and if he misses any game action, Firkser appears likely to serve as the primary tight end.

Smith (knee) is out for the remainder of Thursday's game against the Jaguars, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Smith was seemingly injured on Derrick Henry's 99-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The injury immediately appeared as though it could be serious, but tests on the knee will ultimately determine the severity in the near future. Anthony Firkser and MyCole Pruitt stand in line to see additional tight end reps with Smith out.

Smith is questionable to return to Thursday's contest against the Jaguars with a knee injury, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Smith headed to the locker room almost immediately after Derrick Henry's historic 99-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, a sign that the injury could be serious. With the Titans already down Delanie Walker (ankle), Anthony Firkser and MyCole Pruitt should fill in for Smith as long as he is out.