NFL Player News

Smith left Tuesday's practice due to knee soreness, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin indicated the issue doesn't seem serious, Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live reports.

Smith walked off the field with a trainer before the final period of Tuesday's practice. Not long after, Tomlin downplayed the injury when talking with reporters. Fellow tight end Darnell Washington should get more first-team reps alongside Pat Freiermuth if Smith ends up missing further time.

Smith left Tuesday's practice early with a trainer, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

It sounds like he'll miss the final period of practice but didn't have any trouble walking off the field. Smith and Pat Freiermuth give Aaron Rodgers an impressive duo of pass catchers at tight end, but it's a situation that might not work out well in terms of either player getting enough targets to offer much fantasy value.

Waller (undisclosed), who remains on the active/PUP list Tuesday, is expected to be ready for Week 1 per his agent Drew Rosenhaus, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said in late July that Waller's placement on the active/PUP list to begin training camp is a matter of getting back into "football shape," so it appears the veteran tight end's conditioning is coming along well after he spent the 2024 season away from football. Waller, who will turn 33 the day before Miami's Week 2 clash with New England, is missing valuable reps in a complicated offensive scheme while on the PUP list. Even if he's ready for Week 1, it's possible he'll need time to build up to a full starting workload.

Kraft (groin) is participating in Tuesday's practice, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Kraft missed practice Saturday due to a groin injury, but he appears to be back on the field without limitations. The 2023 third-round pick impressed in terms of YAC in 2024 while mostly garnering receptions close to the line of scrimmage, but heading into Year 3 there's been some buzz that Kraft could get more involved downfield, a development that would increase his odds of truly breaking out for fantasy purposes. Still, given Green Bay's crowded pass-catching corps, it could be a struggle for Kraft to command consistent targets on a weekly basis, especially if fellow tight end Luke Musgrave stays healthy.

Foelsch was waived by the Steelers on Tuesday, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

Foelsch signed with Pittsburgh last Tuesday, but he was cut to open up space for the signing of Daryl Porter. The 24-year-old Foelsch has bounced around five different teams since going undrafted in 2024 and will once again look for a new home.

Taylor has a high-ankle sprain, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn informed reporters of the diagnosis Tuesday, after Taylor missed a second straight practice. Glenn didn't comment on the severity of the sprain, only saying that the rookie will be out for at least a week, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. A severe high-ankle sprain would threaten Taylor's availability for the early part of the regular season, forcing the Jets to rely on the likes of Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt at tight end. Reports from the first week of training camp had Taylor working with the first-team offense, seemingly already atop the depth chart not long after the team picked him 42nd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Johnson (groin) is practicing in a limited fashion Tuesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Per Patrick McAvoy of SI.com, Johnson is working his way back from a minor groin injury sustained during practice last Wednesday. The tight end's status for the Saints' preseason opener against the Chargers on Sunday remains uncertain. With Taysom Hill (knee) and Foster Moreau (knee) both recovering from knee procedures and on the active/PUP list, Johnson has a clear path to establish himself as the No. 1 option at tight end for New Orleans once he's past his own health issue.

Fant is still learning the playbook and won't play in Thursday's preseason game against the Eagles, SI.com's James Rapien reports.

Mike Gesicki's hamstring injury may help Fant get more first-team reps in practice, but that apparently won't carry over to the first preseason game just one week after Fant signed with Cincinnati. The Bengals will instead rely on Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, Tanner McLachlan and Cam Grandy at tight end Thursday night.

Gesicki (undisclosed) won't play in Thursday's preseason game against the Eagles, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor is playing his starters Thursday, but he mentioned Gesicki as an exception due to injury. James Rapien of SI.com reported Saturday that Gesicki appeared to injure his hamstring or upper leg on a long reception during an intrasquad scrimmage. The tight end came out of the scrimmage after the big play and seems to have been absent from team drills ever since, potentially giving recent signee Noah Fant a chance to get up to speed more quickly with the first-team offense. Taylor said Tuesday that Gesicki would be listed as questionable if Thursday's exhibition were a regular-season game.

Otton (hamstring) is not practicing Tuesday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Otton has been sidelined for just over one week due to what head coach Todd Bowles indicated is a mild hamstring strain, so it's likely the Buccaneers are simply being cautious with the the fourth-year pro. The starting tight end could continue to sit out practices leading up to Tampa Bay's preseason opener against Tennessee on Aug. 9, but at this stage there still appear to be no concerns about his availability for Week 1. In the meantime, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft and Year 2 breakout candidate Devin Culp will benefit from increased chances for first-team reps.