NFL Player News

Giants tight end Larry Donnell caught four of his six targets for 28 yards and a touchdown.

He'll be in the mix most weeks, and he'll see some red-zone looks, but the tight end typically isn't a major part of the Giants offense.

Texans tight end Garrett Graham caught one of five targets for seven yards and a touchdown in Houston's loss to Carolina in Week 2.

Graham was an afterthought in Houston's season-opening loss, but had a greater role this week when Ryan Griffin (knee) was unavailable.

Tight end Joseph Fauria was released by the Cardinals on Saturday. 

The Cardinals dropped Fauria from the 53-man roster in order to make room for running back Kerwynn Williams, who was added from the practice squad with the impending absence of Andre Ellington for Sunday's game against the Bears. Fauria was inactive for the Cardinals' Week 1 win over the Saints.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew will be out for Sunday's game, leaving tight end Tim Wright as the team's only tight end aside from Eric Ebron, Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News reports.

After being inactive in Week 1, Wright figures to make his debut for Detroit on Sunday. A very different player than Pettigrew, who is more of a blocker, it will be interesting to see whether Wright will get some opportunities flexed out while Ebron plays a more traditional Y role.

Cardinals tight end Troy Niklas (hamstring) is probable for Sunday's game against the Bears.

With three consecutive full practices to his name, Niklas should be fine to serve as the Cardinals' No. 3 tight end, after logging just three snaps in Week 1.

The 52nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Niklas has a 6-6, 270-pound frame that should at least make him useful as a blocker, but he's struggled to stay healthy thus far.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew (hamstring) is out for Sunday's game in Minnesota.

Pettigrew was a non-participant throughout the week of practice, after drawing just one target and suffering a hamstring injury during Week 1 against the Chargers. Eric Ebron impressed as the primary receiving tight end, with four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown on five targets. Pettigrew's absence may impact the Detroit running game a bit, even though he's not a particularly good blocker.

With undersized Tim Wright the only other tight end on the roster, Ebron will presumably handle the in-line role, unless the Lions sign a blocking specialist before Sunday's game.

A foot injury has ruled out Giants tight end Daniel Fells (foot) from the game Sunday against Atlanta, per Tom Rock of Newsday.

Fells split reps with Larry Donnell in Week 1, catching three passes for 33 yards on four targets. Donnell thus gets a boost in Fells' absence, though targets might still be hard to come by.

A finger injury will keep Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas (finger) sidelined Sunday against Miami, per Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union. He has officially been ruled out.

This news comes as no surprise as the team is not expecting to have Thomas back until Week 4 at the earliest. Marcedes Lewis, who did not record a catch in Week 1, will again be its starting tight end.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew completed a week of absence from practice Friday, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

That means his chances of playing Sunday against the Vikings are not great. The Lions will provide an update on his status when they release their injury report Friday.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught four passes for 58 yards on five targets in Thursday's 31-24 loss to the Broncos.

With the Chiefs either leading or tied until the final 30 seconds, Alex Smith only attempted 25 passes. Kelce played nearly every snap and had an efficient night that included an impressive 29-yard catch-and-run, but his volume was disappointing in the wake of a 6-106-2 receiving line (six targets) in Week 1.

Kelce should be more involved in the coming weeks, starting with a Week 3 Monday Night Football game in Green Bay.