NFL Player News

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (foot) will likely be a gametime decision for Week 8 against the Bills, after making his return to practice Friday. Graham participated in Friday's practice on a limited basis, and is officially considered questionable for Sunday's game.

The confirmation that wideout Santonio Holmes will not play Sunday in Cincinnati highlighted the injury report released Friday by the Jets.

All other offensive players should participate, though center Nick Mangold (ribs) and wide receiver Greg Salas (knee) are questionable.

Among the probables are wide receivers David Nelson (hamstring), Josh Cribbs (knee) and Jeremy Kerley (hamstring) and tight ends Jeff Cumberland (hamstring) and Konrad Reuland (knee).

Falcons tight end Chase Coffman (knee) was able to practice Friday, and has been listed as probable for Week 8 against the Cardinals.

Redskins tight ends Jordan Reed (hip) and Logan Paulsen (knee) made it through practice without any concerns Friday, and are bother officially listed as probable for Week 8 against the Broncos Sunday. 

Buccaneers tight end Timothy Wright got off to a slow start in Week 8 against the Panthers, but came up with a big fourth quarter to salvage his game in a 31-13 loss Thursday.

Wright had just one catch for 10 yards at halftime, and was held without a catch in the third quarter. Fortunately, as the Buccaneers rallied in an attempt to make the score more respectable late, Wright and Glennon started to get on the same page. Wright brought in four receptions in the fourth quarter, one of which went for a 10-yard touchdown, the first of his career.

Wright finished with five receptions for 48 yards to go along with his touchdown. He has 19 catches for 195 yards in four games since Glennon took over as quarterback. He will try to continue his solid play in Week 9 against the Seahawks. 

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was limited in practice Thursday because of a sore hamstring, according to MLive.com. The Lions host the Cowboys Week 8.

Saints coach Sean Payton said Thursday tight end Jimmy Graham (foot) is day to day as the team prepares for Week 8 vs. Buffalo. Payton said Friday will be an important day for Graham, according to The Times-Picayune.

Graham did not practice for a second straight day Thursday.

With Packers tight end Jermichael Finley sidelined indefinitely by a neck injury, tight end Andrew Quarless is expected to see a bigger role on offense.

"I didn't want it like this. That's real. But it is what it is. You have to step up like a professional," Quarless said, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I'm going to be ready, I'm going to be ready. At the end of the day, I have to be. All I can do is pray for him. The preparation and approach doesn't change."

Quarless is setting the bar high and hoping to make as big of an impact as Finley had on offense for Green Bay.

"He was definitely a big threat lost," Quarless said. "But I can only match the way he was playing with that intensity. But maybe as the game progresses, I can get to that level where they start doubling me, they start thinking about me. Right now, they might not be thinking about No. 81 too much.

"It's not a bad thing. I'll be able to sneak up on them and catch a couple passes."

The Chiefs have released tight end Tony Moeaki with an injury settlement from injured reserve Wednesday, according to the National Football Post.

Moeaki was placed on injured reserve in late August after suffering a fractured scapula (shouder). It was the second time he was placed on IR in the past four seasons. Moeaki missed all of the 2011 season with a knee injury.

Lions dancing tight end Joseph Fauria leads all NFL rookies with five touchdowns as he enters Week 8 at home against Dallas. Fantasy owners hope he keeps dancing on Sunday.

His matchup against the Cowboys suggests he can. Fauria, who has needed just four games to reach five TDs and didn't score last week against Cincinnati with just one catch for 15 yards, is facing a team allowing the fourth-most Fantasy points per game to opposing TEs on the year.

The Cowboys have allowed 47 receptions to the tight end position, second-most in the league behind only Chicago. Denver's Julius Thomas went for nine grabs for 122 yards and two scores against them back in Week 5. That said, Dallas has been tougher on TEs in recent weeks.

We can't promise Fauria will go for a lot of yardage on Sunday, but you can expect a few red zone targets at the least. He's a low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 Fantasy TE for Week 8.