NFL Player News

The Broncos decided to waive Derby (shoulder) on Saturday, Mike Klis of 9 News Denver reports.

The move is somewhat surprising, as Derby led all Broncos tight ends with 19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The team acquired the tight end from the Patriots last season for a 2017 fifth-round pick, but the move never panned out. He will revert to the Broncos' injured reserve if he clears waivers.

Swaim (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Swaim was a limited participant in practice this week after sitting out last Sunday's loss to the Falcons. Blake Jarwin would fill in as the Cowboys' No. 3 tight end again if Swaim is unable to suit up.

Graham (knee) put in a full practice Friday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of SeattlePI.com reports.

The knee injury never presented much concern about Graham's availability for Monday's matchup with the Falcons, but the tight end's full practice Thursday likely removes any doubt that he'll play in Week 11. Graham hasn't cracked the 60-yard barrier in any of his last five outings, but has made up for it by being quarterback Russell Wilson's go-to option in the red zone. He's racked up six touchdowns on 13 red-zone targets over that span.

Ertz (hamstring) doesn't carry an injury designation on the Eagles' final injury report for Sunday's contest in Dallas.

Ertz was surprisingly held out for a Week 9 win over the Broncos, but a bye gave him more than enough time to heal up. He was a full practice participant throughout the week and can safely be returned to all lineups.

Derby (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Jeff Heuerman (knee) will also miss the contest, which means that Virgil Green will work as the Broncos' top tight end Sunday. Renck speculates that the Broncos will likely add Austin Traylor from the practice squad to offer an additional option at the position behind Green.

Lewis (knee) doesn't carry an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the Browns.

Lewis was listed as a limited participant in each of the Jaguars' practices this week, but the fact that he isn't listed as questionable heading into the weekend suggests his workload may have been restricted for maintenance purposes rather than out of legitimate concern about the knee injury. The 33-year-old tight end is set to make his 150th career start Sunday, tying him for the second-most caps in franchise history. With cold conditions projected to hit Cleveland on Sunday, the Jaguars may neglect the passing game more than usual, thereby limiting the veteran's already modest upside.

James brought in five of eight targets for 21 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 40-17 win over the Titans.

The third-year tight end equaled his largest target share of the season with position mate Vance McDonald (ankle) inactive, parlaying it into his first touchdown since Week 1 in the process. James hadn't been targeted in three of the prior four contests, so Thursday's relative success could have at least partly been attributed to McDonald's status. However, the tight end position isn't an overly integral one in the 2017 version of the Steelers' offense, as Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell and, as of late, JuJu Smith-Schuster are commanding a majority of the looks in the passing game. James remains a hit-or-miss fantasy option each week and will look to build on Thursday's success versus the Packers in Week 12.

Graham (knee) was limited in Thursday's practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Graham's medical chart includes a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, which forced five DNPs at the end of the 2015 season and an entire offseason devoted to rehabilitation. In 25 regular-season games in the meantime, he's posted 8.1 YPT and 12 touchdowns while averaging 51.1 yards receiving per outing. Assuming he brushes off the current injury in time for Monday's game, Graham will look to become the second tight end this season to reach the end zone against the Falcons.

James' teammate, Vance McDonald (ankle), is inactive for Thursday night's game against the Titans.

James' production has been spotty of late, but with McDonald out Thursday, James and Xavier Grimble could see added opportunities in the Steelers offense. James is still a Week 11 fantasy dart, but he is an option for those in deep leagues scrambling for tight end help this week due to byes and/or injuries.

Lewis (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

The Jaguars have monitored Lewis' practice reps through the first two days of the week, but there has been no indication from the team that the knee issue will put the tight end's status in jeopardy for Sunday's game against the Browns. Since his three-touchdown outburst in Week 3, Lewis has managed only eight catches for 121 yards and a touchdown in his subsequent six appearances, rendering him a lower-tier fantasy option at the position.