NFL Player News

Fant (calf) is inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Eagles.

The tight end was added to the injury report Saturday with the calf issue. Fant has yet to record a target in seven games this season. Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford should round out the tight end depth chart in his absence.

Alie-Cox (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Alie-Cox took a questionable tag into the weekend, but the Colts never seemed to have much concern about his availability after he followed up missed practices Wednesday and Thursday with a full session Friday. He'll be one of three tight ends active Sunday in what will likely be a committee approach at the position, as none of Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree or Kylen Granson has played more than two-thirds of the snaps in any game this season.

Higbee recorded two receptions on three targets for nine yards in Saturday's 13-9 win over the Cardinals.

This was Higbee's second game since returning from a torn ACL, so he was likely to be limited in his statistical output regardless of the state of the Rams' offense. However, the unit struggled to get going and ran only 54 total plays, limiting volume for Higbee and all skill-position players with the exception of Puka Nacua. Given both his personal limitations and the offense's recent struggles, expectations should be low for Higbee in Week 18 against Seattle and potentially into the postseason.

The Raiders elevated Shenker from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Shenker will be elevated to the Raiders' active roster for a second straight week. He played 16 snaps (one on offense, 15 on special teams) during the Raiders' Week 16 win over the Jaguars and logged a tackle on punt coverage.

McBride brought in 12 of 16 targets for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals' 13-9 loss to the Rams on Saturday night.

McBride paced the Cardinals in receptions, receiving yards and targets while also finally scoring his first receiving touchdown of the season on a one-yard grab to cap off the first drive of the second half. However, the star tight end also had a Kyler Murray pass bounce off his helmet just short of the goal line with 42 seconds remaining, leading to a game-sealing interception. McBride crossed both the 100-catch and 1,000-yard mark for the season with Saturday's stellar output, which included a co-season-high reception tally. McBride and the Cardinals close out the season at home against the 49ers in Week 18.

Gesicki recorded 10 receptions on 12 targets for 86 yards in Saturday's 30-24 overtime win against the Bengals.

Ja'Marr Chase drew most of Denver's defensive attention, and Gesicki took advantage by matching career highs in both targets and receptions. He was limited primarily to short gains, but he recorded key receptions of 10 and 12 yards in overtime -- the latter of which helped set up a potential game-winning field goal. While it was a solid performance, Gesicki had failed to top five targets in five straight games entering Saturday's contest.

Dissly (shoulder) caught two passes for 21 yards on three targets in Saturday's 40-7 win over the Patriots.

It's possible that Dissly was playing injured and was less than his 100 percent self, as fellow tight end Stone Smartt (two catches for 23 yards on two targets) had not previously matched Dissly's catch count in any game where the two of them were both active for the whole game. Dissly did enter the game questionable with a shoulder injury. He was originally signed by the Chargers to be a blocking specialist -- Dissly's productive season as a pass catcher was out of necessity due to a lack of alternatives -- but the more Smartt emerges, the more the Chargers might reduce Dissly's pass-catching volume in favor of more of the blocking tasks the Chargers originally had in mind for Dissly.

Hudson (knee) will not play in Saturday's matchup with the Broncos.

No surprise here, as Hudson was deemed doubtful for this contest due to a knee injury sustained in Week 15. As a result, Cam Grandy and Tanner McLachlan will be the depth tight end options for Cincinnati behind Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample.

Fant is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.

Fant was added to Saturday's injury report due to a calf injury, and he is now in danger of missing Sunday's NFC East clash. Fant hasn't registered a target across the seven games he's played in this season. Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford would serve as the Cowboys' three tight ends if Fant is ruled out for Sunday's contest.

Hurst (illness) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Patriots, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.

While Hurst is unavailable Saturday, the Chargers will welcome Will Dissly (shoulder) back to their lineup, joining Stone Smartt and Tucker Fisk in the team's Week 17 tight end corps. Hurst will thus target a potential return to action next weekend against the Raiders.