NFL Player News

With Cardinals tight end Troy Niklas (ankle) on injured reserve, the team will turn to tight end Darren Fells to fill his role, reports Fox Sports. "Darren will take Troy's job, and he's more than capable," coach Bruce Arians said.

"He's shown flashes of being a very dominant blocker. This is a great opportunity for him, and we need him to step up."

Arizona visits Seattle on Sunday.

Six Chiefs are listed as probable for Thursday's game at Oakland, including tight end Travis Kelce, who's dealing with rib and shoulder injuries. Joining Kelce are guard Mike McGlynn (knee), outside linebacker Tamba Hali (knee), guard Zach Fulton (ankle), cornerback Phillip Gaines (ankle, quad) and cornerback Sean Smith (groin).

The Vikings have cut tight end MarQueis Gray to make room on the roster for just-claimed running back Ben Tate.

Gray has participated in all but two games this season, but has just one catch for 16 yards.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen, who sprained his ankle in the Week 11 loss to New England, is not practicing Wednesday, reports RTV6 in Indianapolis. The Colts host the Jaguars on Sunday.

Cardinals tight end Troy Niklas needs surgery after severely spraining his ankle in Sunday's win over the Lions, reports Fox Sports. The team put him on IR on Tuesday.

The Cardinals officially placed tight end Troy Niklas on the season-ending injured reserve list with a  "badly" sprained ankle, according to the team's official website. His season comes to an end with only three catches for 38 yards. In a corresponding move, Arizona signed tight end Matthew Mulligan Tuesday.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin has plenty to be upset about as New York heads into Week 12 amid a five-game losing streak. The Giants had plenty of chances to end their losing skid during a 16-10 loss Week 11 vs. San Francisco, but the team was hurt by quarterback Eli Manning's five interceptions.

Coughlin voiced his displeasure after the loss about the Giants' failed attempt to score a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter on four plays from the 4-yard line. On Monday, however, Coughlin expressed disappointment with another failed play earlier in the game, which he believes would have resulted in a 76-yard touchdown reception by rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

On their second offensive drive, the Giants had a second-and-8 from the 24-yard line. Manning faked the handoff to running back Rashad Jennings and had two receivers -- Beckham and tight end Larry Donnell -- running downfield. Unfortunately, Manning locked in on Donnell, who was running a corner fade, and missed Beckham, who ran a deep post and appeared to have two San Francisco defenders beat. Manning threw an incomplete pass to Donnell and two plays later they punted the football.

"On the seventh play of the game -- we scored on the fifth -- we had another opportunity for a score there," Coughlin said Monday, per NJ.com. "We had Odell running open on that play."

Titans tight end Chase Coffman, who entered Monday's game with two catches all season, got more receiving chances than normal with starter Delanie Walker sidelined by a concussion. Coffman responded, catching three of four targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Steelers.

Late in the third quarter, Coffman skied for a 4-yard catch in the end zone and held on despite landing hard. He'll visit the Eagles in Week 12.

Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and tight end Jace Amaro did not practice Monday due to illness, reports ESPN.com. New York is preparing to visit Buffalo on Sunday.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen told reporters Monday he suffered a low ankle sprain during Sunday's loss against the Patriots. He considers himself "day to day" and hopeful to play Week 12 against the Jaguars.

Coach Chuck Pagano echoed Allen's comments Monday and called Allen "day to day" as well.

Allen suffered the injury early in Sunday's game, and his absence allowed tight end Coby Fleener to have a career day. Fleener led the team with 144 receiving yards on seven catches.