NFL Player News

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew (knee) didn't participate in Wednesday practice.

Pettigrew has been beset by injuries to his hamstring and now knee, limiting him to two appearances in six games.

Wright caught three passes off of six targets for 17 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over Chicago.

With Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew out, Wright saw the field on 65 plays on Sunday, 23 more than his previous season high and his six targets were his most since Week 12 of last season. Wright's abilities as a flex tight end have earned him niches in Tampa Bay and New England over the past two seasons, but whether he can have a repeat performance in Week 7 largely depends on whether Eric Ebron recovers from his knee injury before then.

Ertz caught four passes for 47 yards in Monday night's 27-7 win over the Giants.

The good news for Ertz fantasy owners is that quarterback Sam Bradford continues to target Ertz in the end zone. The bad news for Ertz fantasy owners is that, through six games, the third-year tight end has yet to turn one into a touchdown. Bradford threw an interception on an end zone-bound pass to Ertz against New York, after having a touchdown pass to Ertz called back because of a penalty earlier in the season. Ertz continues to get his targets, but the starting-caliber points just haven't materialized yet.

Donnell caught three of his five targets for 29 yards against the Eagles Monday.

It was a quiet day for the entire offense, and Donnell was no exception. He's a part of the team's offense, but not a major one, and backup Will Tye also saw three looks.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen had three receptions for 23 yards, catching all three balls thrown his way, in Sunday's loss to New England.

Allen had just four receptions in two games since returning from an ankle injury as Indy hasn't been utilizing the tight ends as much recently in the offense. Coby Fleener had three receptions Sunday and has just five receptions the past two games.

Graham had a season-high eight receptions (on 12 targets) for 140 yards in Sunday's 27-23 loss to Carolina.

Graham easily had his most productive game of the season against a Panthers' defense that was familiar with him from his days in New Orleans. In fact, there was a lot of physical play and thrash talking between Graham and several members of Carolina's defense. In any case, it's nice to see Graham get going, as he's been held in check too much for a player of his caliber. He and the Seahawks will have to get ready quickly in Week 7, as they'll travel to San Francisco for Thursday Night Football.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught five passes off of seven targets for 88 yards in the Week 6 defeat to Minnesota.

Kelce had his second-highest yardage total of the season and led the team in targets for the first time this season. In the absence of featured back Jamaal Charles and given Alex Smith's tendency to dink and dunk to his backs and tight ends, it is possible that Kelce is targeted more between the 20 yard lines moving forward.

Coffman (not injury related) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Coffman seems to be healthy and available if needed, but because he's buried on the depth chart at tight end, he'll receive the inactive designation.

Wright will serve as the Lions' starting tight end in Sunday's game against the Bears.

Both Eric Ebron (knee) and Brandon Pettigrew (knee) are inactive Sunday, leaving Wright as the only tight end available for the contest. He's shown the ability to turn in some respectable performances when he worked as the starter in Tampa Bay in the past, immediately putting him on the radar as waiver wire pickup in deeper leagues.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew (knee) is inactive Sunday against Chicago.

Pettigrew wasn't listed on the injury report this week, as he apparently developed the knee ailment late in the weekend. His absence is quite untimely for Detroit, as the team will also be without the services of Eric Ebron (knee) as well.