NFL Player News

Donnell has looked healthy and made plays during training camp, but he's still in a battle with Will Tye, and to a lesser extent Matt LaCosse, for the team's starting tight end job.

At 6-6, 265, Donnell has the red-zone size the team needs, while Tye stands only 6-2. But Donnell has struggled with ball security in the past, and he's not a good blocker. Tye probably has a slight edge, but this battle might go down to the wire this preseason.

Allen did not have a reception and played just six snaps in Saturday's preseason win over Buffalo.

Allen got some work early in the first quarter, but the better gauge of his new role in the offense will be when Andrew Luck plays in a preseason game. After the Colts used two-tight end formations the past few years with Allen and Coby Fleener, Allen should be the featured tight end in the offense with Fleener departing in free agency. The Colts have said they are moving to a base offense with three receivers and one tight end, so Allen should vastly improve on his 16 receptions last season.

Swaim dropped two catchable passes in Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams, finishing the game with one catch on three targets for 10 yards.

He's fighting for a spot on the depth chart behind Jason Witten, but the 2015 seventh round pick isn't doing himself any favors with performances like this. With Gavin Escobar (Achilles) on track to be ready for Week 1 and James Hanna signed to a new contract, Swaim has little margin for error when it comes to making the 53-man roster.

Dray (ankle) won't suit up for Saturday's preseason game versus the Colts, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.

Dray sustained an ankle injury more than a week ago and will remain on the pine during the Bills' exhibition opener. Whenever he's cleared to return to the field, he'll commence the competition for the No. 2 tight job behind Charles Clay.

Graham missed Saturday's practice with an undisclosed injury, the Denver Post reports.

In the offseason, Graham joined forces with head coach Gary Kubiak for the second time in his career. Embedded in a TE corps without a clear-cut No. 1, Graham has an opportunity to secure a consistent role in the Broncos' offense. During Thursday's preseason game at Chicago, Virgil Green (three catches for 26 yards) and Jeff Heuerman (one reception for six yards) were both on the receiving end of passes, while Graham wasn't targeted once. With an unknown ailment forcing Graham to the sideline Saturday, the lack of production may have an explanation.

Graham (knee) will not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Chiefs.

Having just returned to practice Wednesday, Graham will likely miss at least the first two preseason games. His progress will need to be monitored even after he gets on the field, as players often lack their prior explosiveness when returning from major patella injuries.

Quarless has been suspended two games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, Ian Rapoport reports.

Quarless was not re-signed by the Packers after last season, when he missed virtually all of the campaign due to a knee injury. Now with a two-game suspension stemming from a July 2015 incident in which he discharged a firearm in public, Quarless has been dealt a tough blow as he remains unsigned ahead of this season.

Ertz caught three passes for 26 yards on five targets in Thursday's preseason opener against Tampa Bay.

Ertz was one of the Eagles' few productive players in the passing game as the team threw for just 114 yards on 36 attempts. Locked in as the top tight end and one of the team's leading targets, Ertz will look to pick up where he left off last season, when he remarkably posted a 35-450-1 receiving line over the final four weeks.

Niklas has drawn praise from head coach Bruce Arians this training camp, the Cardinals' official site reports. "He's made a really nice move," Arians said Wednesday. "He's looking like the player we drafted and wanted. He had all those injuries and had bad luck, and knock on wood I don't want to jinx him, but he's where I want him to be right now."

If Niklas has been lingering on dynasty benches since the Cardinals selected him in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, owners may be able to deploy the hulking tight this season. His first two campaigns weren't friendly from an injury standpoint, but avoiding the bug so far, he's showed off his blocking capability, which is a staple for tight ends within Arians' offense. Niklas has four preseason tilts to move past Darren Fells and Jermaine Gresham (hamstring) in the TE pecking order. However, when Niklas received 16 percent of the offensive snaps last year, he had a measly four catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns.

James is in line to start in Friday's preseason debut against the Lions with Ladarius Green still on the physically unable to perform list, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "He needs these opportunities to grow and develop himself," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "He's a young guy working to improve, so he needs the reps."

As the Steelers' TE1 in training camp, James is getting an opportunity to work with Ben Roethlisberger much more than he would if Green (ankle), who underwent surgery in January, was available. With no timetable for Green's return, James could be a sneaky play in deep fantasy leagues.