NFL Player News

The Panthers put tight end Richie Brockel (ankle) on injured reserve, ending his season, and re-signed cornerback James Dockery, the team announced. Dockery played in five games for Carolina last year and was cut right before this season.

The Jaguars signed tight end Mickey Shuler to their practice squad and waived wideout Kerry Taylor from the squad, the team announced.

Redskins tight ends Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen didn't do much as receivers or as blockers in Monday's loss to the Seahawks. Paul caught one of two targets for 6 yards, while Paulsen brought in two of three targets for 11 yards. Neither was effective in clearing running room for Alfred Morris, either.

Washington hopes to get starting tight end Jordan Reed back for Week 6 at Arizona.

The Seahawks got offensive contributions from several role players in their Week 5 win at Washington. Tight end Cooper Helfet made a 36-yard catch on two targets, and tight end Luke Willson caught three of four targets for 28 yards.

Holder Jon Ryan executed a fake field goal, picking up a first down with a 5-yard run.

After playing a minimal role on offense the first four weeks, Patriots tight end Timothy Wright suddenly became a favorite target of quarterback Tom Brady Week 5 against Cincinnati, catching all five balls thrown his way for 85 yards.

And yet he may not be the answer to your prayers at tight end.

For one thing, five targets normally wouldn't be enough to sustain any player, much less a tight end. You can't expect Wright to catch every ball thrown to him every week. And a big reason why Wright got only five targets is because he played only 22 percent of the Patriots' snaps. Of the 19 plays he was on the field, he got the ball on five of them. Pretty wild.

That said, the Patriots obviously made more of an effort to get him the ball, and the results speak for themselves. Over the last few years, Brady has been at his best when he's had two tight ends he can trust, and Wright took a big step toward becoming that second guy in Week 5.

So you certainly wouldn't be crazy to add him in Fantasy. Just understand that he has to be on the field more to continue making this sort of impact.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Monday he feels either quarterback Carson Palmer (shoulder) or quarterback Drew Stanton (concussion) will be available Week 6 vs. Washington. Arians won't know until Wednesday, but if both players are out, then Logan Thomas will start Sunday.

Palmer has missed the last three games, while Stanton was injured Sunday against the Broncos.

If you weren't happy with Drew Stanton in Fantasy -- and you'd have to be pretty desperate at quarterback to have even given him a shot -- you probably won't like what rookie Logan Thomas has to offer.

His line Week 5 at Denver after entering the game for a concussed Stanton early in the third quarter pretty much tells the story. He completed an ill-advised throw to Andre Ellington that the explosive running back turned into an 81 yard touchdown, but otherwise, he was 0 for 7.

Thomas did have a strong showing in his preseason debut that earned him some admirers, but he's not the type of rookie who's expected to thrive at the NFL level right away. The Cardinals simply have nowhere else to turn with Carson Palmer and now Stanton injured.

Which may hasten the return of one of those quarterbacks. Having suffered a concussion, Stanton has to follow protocol, but Palmer has already missed four weeks, including a bye, with his bad shoulder. He doesn't seem like he's particularly close to returning, but he doesn't have a clear timetable either.

If those two continue to sit, though, Thomas should be your very last resort in Fantasy. 

Saints coach Sean Payton declined to comment Monday about the status of tight end Jimmy Graham, who left Sunday's game against the Bucs due to a shoulder injury, according to The Times-Picayune. The Saints are on a bye Week 6 and are back in action Week 7 at Detroit.

Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said Monday tight end Troy Niklas suffered a high ankle sprain Week 5 at Denver, according to the team's official website. Niklas will undergo an MRI.

Niklas has one catch for 16 yards through four games.

Patriots tight end Timothy Wright, acquired via trade right before the season, entered Week 5 with four catches for 35 scoreless yards. He exploded against the Bengals for five catches, 85 yards and a touchdown.

Wright caught each of his targets and proved dangerous down the seam, as he showed on a 17-yard, first-quarter score. The Patriots used two tight ends often Sunday night, and the formation paid big dividends. Wright and Rob Gronkowski combined for 11 catches, 185 yards and two scores.

Wright visits the Bills in Week 6.