Hurst caught his only target for eight yards in Thursday's 34-27 Week 16 win over Denver.

Hurst suited up for the first time since Week 10 after missing five games due to a hip injury. He logged eight offensive snaps for Los Angeles, much fewer than fellow tight ends Stone Smartt (39 offensive snaps) and Tucker Fisk (28). Hurst's snap share could become more aligned to that of Smartt and Fisk as the former further distances himself from the hip issue, though Will Dissly figures to regain his role as the starter at the position once he's ready to return from a shoulder injury.

Smartt caught all three of his targets for 37 yards in the 34-27 win over the Broncos on Thursday.

Hayden Hurst returned off injured reserve after missing the past five weeks due to a hip injury, but the veteran played only eight snaps, hardly carving into Smartt's playing time. In addition, Will Dissly appears closer to returning after missing the past two games due to a shoulder injury, which would also relegate Smartt to at minimum the No. 2 spot in the tight end rotation come Week 16. Given the compiling playing time factors, Smartt's run as a productive fantasy option could be coming to a close.

The Chiefs elevated Firkser to their active roster Friday.

Firker's elevation ensures depth at tight end, with Jared Wiley (knee), Jody Fortson (knee) and Peyton Hendershot (calf) all sidelined for Kansas City's Week 16 matchup against the Texans on Saturday. Expect Firkser to serve as a depth piece in the Chiefs' TE corps, playing behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray.

Cupp (undisclosed) was placed on the Chiefs' practice squad injured list Friday.

The 24-year-old tight end from Texas Tech made his NFL regular-season debut in the Chiefs' Week 14 win over the Chargers, failing to catch his lone target while playing 10 total snaps (six offensive and four on special teams). Cupp will now be forced to miss the remainder of the regular season after being placed on the practice squad injured list Friday, though he could potentially return during the playoffs.

Alie-Cox (hip) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans.

After logging a pair of DNPs to open the practice week, Alie-Cox was able to get in a full session Friday. The veteran tight end has played in all 14 games this season but has done little in the box score, accruing 11-132-1 receiving on 18 targets. He's well off the fantasy radar in a Colts offense that likes to use multiple tight ends.

Durham could have an expanded role Sunday in Dallas with Cade Otton (knee) listed as doubtful for the contest, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

More snaps for Durham may not result in an expanded role in the passing game, as he's earned just two targets in 13 games this season. Position mates Ko Kieft and Devin Culp, a rookie seventh-round pick, haven't been targeted at all, though, so Durham at least should be an option for QB Baker Mayfield considering the workload he likely will be taking on. In 26 appearances as a pro to date, Durham has a 7-92-0 line on nine targets, which is good for a 77.8 percent catch rate and 10.2 YPT.

Strange (shoulder) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Strange was limited in practice all week but is good to go for Week 16. With Evan Engram (shoulder) done for the season, Strange sits atop the depth chart at tight end and is coming off an 11-73-0 line on 12 targets and 82 percent of the offensive snaps last week against the Jets. Strange has consistently produced useful fantasy box scores when Engram has missed games this season, and he gets a juicy matchup Sunday versus Las Vegas.

The Texans signed Smith to their active roster Friday.

Smith, a 2019 second-round pick from Alabama, has already played in two games with the Texans this season, failing to record a stat across 48 total snaps (39 offensive and nine on special teams). He's expected to serve as Houston's No. 2 tight end in Saturday's matchup against the Chiefs, playing behind Dalton Schultz.

Higbee (knee/illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Jets, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

The Rams listed Higbee as a full participant on seven consecutive practice reports before an illness sidelined him Thursday. He was back to full participation Friday and now appears set to make his 2024 debut, returning from the ACL and MCL tears he suffered in a playoff loss to the Lions in January. Higbee has a long track record of handling huge snap counts but probably won't be tasked with that type of workload in his first game back from major surgery and a prolonged absence.

Ertz (concussion/shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Eagles, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.

Ertz was diagnosed with a concussion during the Commanders' Week 15 win at New Orleans, but after missing Wednesday's practice, he was limited Thursday while wearing a black, non-contact jersey and maintained that activity level one day later. He still must gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to suit up this weekend, and ultimately his status will be clarified about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, at the latest. John Bates and Ben Sinnott are on hand to cover for Ertz if the latter is inactive.