NFL Player News

Njoku (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice Friday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Njoku also missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, and the tight end's continued absence Friday doesn't bode well for his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Chiefs. If Njoku is ruled out for the contest, Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart would be in line to see added Week 15 snaps, with Tre' McKitty and Cameron Latu representing potential practice-squad elevations.

Strange is set for a larger role on offense to close out the 2024 campaign, with head coach Doug Pederson having announced Friday that Evan Engram will miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

Strange has recently played 40-plus percent of offensive snaps even with Engram available, and his involvement maxed out at 70-plus percent of snaps when Engram missed Week 2 through 5. Now, beginning Sunday versus the Jets, Strange will be in a position to operate as Jacksonville's top option at tight end with Mac Jones under center. The second-year pro has compiled 23 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns on 32 targets so far this season across 13 appearances.

Engram (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season due to a torn labrum, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson made the announcement Friday, after the tight end missed consecutive practices. Brenton Strange figures to step in as Jacksonville's starter, just as he did earlier this season when Engram was out with a hamstring injury. Engram will have surgery soon and should be ready for Week 1 of 2025, but his future in Jacksonville is uncertain with one year remaining on his contract and no current guarantees for a $14.75 million base salary.

Kittle secured four of seven targets for 61 yards in the 49ers' 12-6 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.

Kittle co-led the 49ers in receptions while comfortably setting the pace in receiving yards. While the talented tight end's performance was nowhere near the caliber of the season-best 151-yard effort he put up against the Bears in Week 14, he's now eclipsed 60 receiving yards in five of the last seven contests heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Dolphins on Sunday, Dec. 22.

Musgrave (ankle) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

The Packers designated Musgrave for return from injured reserve Wednesday, and he's followed up the transaction with a pair of capped sessions to begin Week 15 prep. He's seeking his first game action since Week 4 as he closes in on completion of his recovery from ankle surgery that was performed in early October. Whenever Musgrave is back in action, he'll slot in behind Green Bay's top TE Tucker Kraft.

Allen (shoulder) is active for Thursday night's contest against the 49ers, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official website reports.

Allen was a limited participant at practice Wednesday due to a shoulder injury, but he's now all set to play in Week 15. The tight end hasn't caught a pass since Week 10 while garnering just one target over the last four contests.

Johnson (foot) was limited at Thursday's practice.

For a second week in a row, the Saints are placing a cap on Johnson's reps due to a foot issue. Despite being limited all of last week, though, he entered the weekend without a designation for this past Sunday's game at the Giants, when both he and Foster Moreau played 49 of 68 offensive snaps. Johnson was the more productive of the duo in the team's first contest without Taysom Hill (torn ACL): Johnson had a 4-50-1 line on five targets, while Moreau went for 2-40-0 on two targets. Friday's practice report will unveil whether or not Johnson has a designation ahead of Sunday's contest versus the Commanders.

McBride (knee) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

McBride so far is operating with a cap on his reps during Week 15 prep, and he'll have one more chance Friday to get back to full participation before the Cardinals potentially give him a designation for Sunday's contest against the Patriots. Since Arizona's Week 11 bye, he's been running on all cylinders over the last three games, gathering in 31 of 41 targets for 299 yards, but he hasn't yet recorded a receiving TD through 12 outings this season.

Engram (shoulder) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Head coach Doug Pederson noted Wednesday that he anticipated Engram being available for Sunday's game against the Jets, but back-to-back absences from practice make the tight end's status worth tracking, nonetheless. If Engram ends up limited or out this weekend, Brenton Strange and Luke Farrell would be in line to see added snaps Week 15.

Njoku (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Back-to-back absences from practice cloud Njoku's status for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, with offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey noting Thursday that if the Browns' top tight end is unavailable this weekend, the team would employ a committee approach at the position, per Cabot. In that scenario, Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart would see added Week 15 opportunities, with Tre' McKitty and Cameron Latu being potential practice-squad elevations.