NFL Player News

Fant (toe) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Giants, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Fant has been dealing with the toe issue all season but has yet to miss a game. His role, however, has diminished with the Seahawks using all three of Fant, Pharaoh Brown and AJ Barner at tight end. Fant has just 11 catches for 111 scoreless yards nearly a quarter of the way into the 2024 campaign.

Kittle (ribs) is practicing Friday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

It's a strong hint that Kittle's injury isn't serious even though he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. The 49ers tend to be cautious with his practice workloads, as he has a lengthy history of injuries and is approaching his 31st birthday (Oct. 9).

Thomas (calf) was limited in practice Friday and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Thomas, who was designated to return to practice Wednesday, has logged three straight limited sessions. He officially remains on IR, but it sounds like the depth tight end has a fair shot to be activated to the 53-man roster and play versus Chicago on Sunday. Panthers head coach Dave Canales said all players listed as questionable are trending in the right direction to play, per Joe Person of The Athletic.

Hill (ribs) is not present for the early portion of Friday's practice open to the media, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

Hill appears set to be listed as DNP on a second consecutive practice report as he continues to tend to fractured ribs suffered during New Orleans' loss to Atlanta in Week 4. The versatile offensive weapon will have one more chance to get on the practice field before receiving a game designation for Monday's contest against the Chiefs, but Hill's injury is of a severe enough nature that it could threaten his Week 5 availability. Hill's participation level, or lack thereof, during Saturday's practice will be telling as to his chances of being able to suit up versus Kansas City.

Njoku (ankle) officially is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku will have a chance to retake the field Sunday after a three-game absence. The standout tight end returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant before he received a planned day of rest Thursday. The Browns may wait to see how Njoku looks in pregame warmups Sunday before making a final decision on his availability, in which case his status may not be made official until 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart will be available to split tight end reps again if Njoku can't go.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Friday that Oliver (wrist) will not carry an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against the Jets in London, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Oliver has been limited in practice due to a wrist injury, but he'll continue to play through the issue as he's done since Week 3. The 2019 third-round pick is coming off a Week 4 performance against Green Bay in which he played a season-high 70 percent of offensive snaps while securing both of his targets for 10 yards and one touchdown, but it's worth noting that Minnesota designated starter T.J. Hockenson (knee), who isn't a candidate to suit up versus New York, for return from the reserve/PUP list Friday.

Tremble (knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Chicago, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Tremble returned to practice Friday as a limited participant after being held out Thursday. Fellow tight end Ian Thomas (calf) is considered questionable to return from injured reserve for Sunday's game, although it isn't clear if that would impact Tremble's role. Tremble played 86 and 87 percent of snaps on offense the past two games, catching three passes for 29 yards in a Week 3 win over the Raiders before going without a target on 31 routes in last week's loss to the Bengals. He has a long track record of extremely low target rates and has topped 35 yards just once in 52 games.

Hockenson (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets after returning to practice Friday as a limited participant, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

There was probably never any chance the Vikings would rush Hockenson back into action right before a Week 6 bye. The question is whether he'll be ready for Week 7 against the Lions on Sunday, Oct. 20 or a Week 8 game against the Rams four days later. That's presumably what the Vikings expect, as it otherwise wouldn't make any sense to open Hockenson's 21-day practice window Friday instead of waiting until next week or the week after.

Coach Jonathan Gannon said Friday that McBride (concussion) will play Sunday at San Francisco, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

It sounds like McBride has either cleared concussion protocol or is on track to do so at some point Friday. He missed a Week 4 loss to Washington after suffering a concussion in a loss to the Lions a week prior.

The Vikings announced Friday that Hockenson (knee) has been designated to return to practice from the reserve/PUP list.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has made clear that Minnesota's plan was to get Hockenson back on the practice field Friday, after traveling with the team to London in preparation for Sunday's matchup against the Jets. That gives the Vikings a 21-day window to monitor Hockenson at practice. The standout tight end can be activated at any point in that span and then be eligible for game days, though it doesn't seem like he's in consideration to come back this weekend. After a Week 6 bye, the Vikings will play two games in quick succession, facing the Lions on Sunday, Oct. 20 and the Rams on Thursday, Oct. 24. Hockenson, who is recovering from right ACL and MCL tears sustained late last December, could more realistically make his return to play in one of those contests.