NFL Player News

Kolar (forearm) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against Cleveland.

Kolar was designated to return from injured reserve Tuesday, and he's been a full participant in practice all week. If he's activated off IR ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale, he would serve as the Ravens' No. 3 tight end behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. Prior to his forearm injury, Kolar registered nine catches (on 11 targets) for 131 yards and one touchdown across 12 games.

Kittle (ankle/hamstring) was limited at practice Thursday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

One day removed from not practicing due to ankle and hamstring issues, Kittle was back on the field, albeit with a cap on his reps. The 49ers may tag the tight end with an injury designation once they post their final Week 18 injury report Friday, but if he's ultimately able to suit up Sunday at Arizona, he'll be working with Joshua Dobbs under center instead of typical No. 1 option Brock Purdy, who is dealing a contusion and nerve inflammation in his right throwing elbow.

Durham (quadricep) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Durham and fellow tight end Cade Otton (knee) have followed the same pattern of practice activity to begin Week 18, with both following up absences Wednesday with limited sessions Thursday. Otton has missed the Buccaneers' past two games, but if he can maintain limited activity or upgrade to full participation Friday, he could have a good chance at making it back for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Saints. If both Otton and Durham are cleared to play, Durham would likely fade back into a secondary role at tight end after playing more than three quarters of the offensive snaps in both of the past two contests while producing a 7-65-1 receiving line on 10 targets.

Johnson (knee) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

Johnson maintained his activity level from one day prior, giving him just one more opportunity to return to full participation Friday, or else risk heading into the weekend with a designation ahead of Sunday's contest at Tampa Bay. He's been splitting TE reps with Foster Moreau over the last four games since Taysom Hill was lost for the season due to a torn ACL, and Johnson has compiled a 14-155-1 line on 20 targets during that span.

Sample (groin) is listed as questionable for Saturday night's game against Pittsburgh.

Head coach Zac Taylor relayed Thursday that Sample is expected to play despite missing practice all week due to a groin injury, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. In the five games since the Bengals' Week 12 bye, Sample has caught seven passes on as many targets for 44 yards while serving as the No. 2 tight end behind Mike Gesicki. Tanner Hudson would see an increased snap count on offense if Sample was limited in his playing time or ruled out entirely.

Culp (ribs) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Culp was limited in the Buccaneers' first Week 18 practice due to the injury, but his ability to take every rep a day later clears the way for him to suit up in Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Saints. The rookie seventh-round pick played a season-high 19 snaps in last week's blowout win over the Panthers, finishing with three catches for 52 yards on four targets. With the Week 18 statuses of both Cade Otton (knee) and Payne Durham (quadricep) in flux with neither tight end having yet turned in a full practice this week, Culp could once again be headed for a meaningful role Sunday.

Hudson (knee) has no injury designation ahead of Saturday's game against the Steelers after logging a full practice Thursday.

Hudson missed the Bengals' last two games due to a knee injury that he suffered against the Titans in Week 15. He had an LP/LP/FP practice squad this week, and he's progressed enough in his recovery to suit up for Saturday's regular-season finale. Hudson would serve as the No. 2 tight end behind Mike Gesicki if Drew Sample (groin) is unable to play.

Goedert (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Since being designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Goedert hasn't had any restrictions in the Eagles' first two Week 18 practices. Though head coach Nick Sirianni has already said that quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion/finger), running back Saquon Barkley and other key starters will be held out of Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Giants, Goedert said that he hasn't yet been told whether or not he'll play in Week 18, per Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Goedert added that he's fully confident that he'll be ready to go for the start of the Eagles' postseason run, but it could be beneficial for the team to activate him this week and have him see some game action against the Giants, given that he hasn't played since Week 13.

Whiteheart (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's regular-season finale against the Ravens, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Whiteheart was limited in practice all week due to a knee injury he likely picked up during the Browns' Week 17 loss to the Dolphins. With David Njoku (knee) ruled out for Saturday's game, Whiteheart would (if healthy) have the chance to serve as the backup tight end behind Jordan Akins; otherwise Brenden Bates would climb up to the No. 2 role.

Okonkwo was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to an abdominal injury.

Tennessee didn't include Okonkwo on its initial Week 18 injury report, so his abdominal injury may have been something that cropped up late in Wednesday's practice or during Thursday's session. The Titans will wait and see what Okonkwo is able to do in their final practice of the week Friday before deciding whether he carries a designation into Sunday's season finale versus the Texans. Though his third NFL season has been a relatively quiet one, Okonkwo has picked up the pace over the last three games, producing a 22-182-0 line on 28 targets while also adding 17 yards on a rushing attempt.