NFL Player News
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T.J. Hockenson TE | MIN
Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: No activity Tuesday
Hockenson (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice.
Hockenson hasn't logged any practice activity this week, so he'll likely need to be listed as at least a limited participant in Wednesday's session to have a shot at playing Thursday against the Lions. If Hockenson is able to play through the shoulder issue, he'll be working with undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer with J.J. McCarthy (hand) ruled out. In Brosmer's lone start this season, a Week 13 blowout loss to the Seahawks, Hockenson was one of the few Minnesota skill-position players to deliver a useful fantasy line with six catches for 59 yards on six targets.
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George Kittle TE | SF
49ers' George Kittle: Avoids high-ankle sprain
Kittle was diagnosed with a low-to-mid-grade left ankle sprain following an MRI on Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
After he was forced out of Monday's 48-27 win over the Colts in the middle of the third quarter with the injury, Kittle said that he believed that he had avoided a high-ankle sprain, and follow-up tests have confirmed that's indeed the case. Though he isn't facing a long-term injury, the star tight end could still be at risk of missing a game Sunday versus the Bears that has important playoff-positioning implications at stake. Before departing late in the third quarter Monday, Kittle still delivered for his fantasy managers, posting seven catches for a season-high 115 yards and a touchdown on eight targets.
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Zaire Mitchell-Paden TE | NO
Saints' Zaire Mitchell-Paden: DNP in unofficial practice
Mitchell-Paden (knee) was not present during the portion of Tuesday's practice that was open to the media, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Mitchell-Paden did not play in the Week 16 over the Jets due to a knee injury he sustained in Friday's practice. The Saints play Sunday against the Titans, so the 26-year-old still has three opportunities to elevate his practice participation and dodge an injury designation ahead of the game.
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Nate Adkins TE | DEN
Broncos' Nate Adkins: DNP in Tuesday walkthrough
Adkins (knee) did not participate in Tuesday's walkthrough practice, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
Adkins has suited up in consecutive games after missing five due to a knee injury, which he potentially reaggravated last Sunday against the Jaguars. The tight end left in the first half and was unable to return to the game, a report that, combined with Tuesday's practice participation, does not bode well for his chances of playing in Thursday night's game against the Chiefs. Adkins will have one more chance to increase his participation level in the hopes of avoiding an injury designation ahead of Thursday's contest.
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Josh Whyle TE | GB
Packers' Josh Whyle: Limited in Tuesday's practice
Whyle (concussion) will be a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
Whyle missed the Packers' Week 16 overtime loss to the Bears due to the concussion he sustained in the Week 15 loss to the Broncos. The tight end's potential return for Week 17 comes at a perfect time, as Tucker Kraft (ACL) and John FitzPatrick (Achilles) both have suffered season-ending injuries, leaving Luke Musgrave as the sole healthy tight end on the 53-man roster. If Whyle can clear the league's concussion protocol in time for Saturday's game against the Ravens, he will likely have a spot as the tight end No. 2, set to contribute in both the passing game as a receiver and the run game as a blocker.
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Jake Tonges TE | SF
49ers' Jake Tonges: Steps in for injured starter Monday
Tonges caught one of two targets for seven yards in Monday's 48-27 win over the Colts.
George Kittle (ankle) suffered an ankle injury in the second half of Monday's win, opening the door for Tonges to record his first reception since Week 8. The severity of Kittle's injury isn't yet known, but Tonges would be in line for an expanded role should the Niners' starting tight end miss Sunday's tilt against the Bears. Tonges started in place of an injured Kittle back in Weeks 2 through 6, averaging 4.4 receptions and 41.8 yards per game with two touchdowns scored over that span. Fantasy managers in deeper formats in need of tight end help for Week 17 may want to take a flyer on Tonges in the event Kittle is ruled out for Sunday Night Football.
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Cade Otton TE | TB
Buccaneers' Cade Otton: Just two short grabs in Week 16
Otton recorded two catches for 15 yards on two targets in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Panthers.
With the Tampa Bay pass-catching corps getting healthier following the returns of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan from injured reserve, Otton appears set to occupy a more muted role in the aerial attack. The tight end has drawn four targets or fewer in each of the Buccaneers' last three games, producing seven catches for 43 yards during that stretch. The lack of reliable target volume makes Otton tough to rely upon in fantasy lineups heading into Tampa Bay's Week 17 matchup with the Dolphins.
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Michael Mayer TE | LV
Raiders' Michael Mayer: Earns three targets in loss
Mayer caught one of three targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 23-21 loss to the Texans.
Mayer has not caught more than one pass in a single contest since Week 11, though he played 36 of 54 offensive snaps for the Raiders on Sunday. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Brock Bowers paced the team with five receptions on as many targets for 33 yards and a score.
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Tyler Warren TE | IND
Colts' Tyler Warren: Inefficient with nine targets
Warren brought in three of nine targets for 30 yards in the Colts' 48-27 loss to the 49ers on Monday night.
Warren tied Josh Downs for the team lead in targets, but he wasn't anywhere near as productive as his teammate. The rookie tight end now has been at 45 receiving yards or fewer in five straight games, a far cry from the 61.7 receiving yards he averaged over his first 10 career contests. Warren has seen 15 targets over his first two games with Philip Rivers, however, affording him upside despite recent struggles in a Week 17 home matchup versus the Jaguars.
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George Kittle TE | SF
49ers' George Kittle: Severity of ankle injury TBD
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said after Monday's 48-27 win against the Colts that it's too early to know the severity of Kittle's ankle injury, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kittle missed all of the fourth quarter and some of the third due to the ankle issue, and the outcome of the contest wasn't certain until late, so it appears there's at least some chance the star tight end will miss next Sunday's game against Chicago. With that said, further evaluation is needed to determine how serious of an issue Kittle is dealing with, and he will likely do everything he can to play next week given that there is a lot at stake for San Francisco against the Bears. Despite his early exit Monday, Kittle did plenty for fantasy managers who started him, amassing 115 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Jake Tonges was effective as the 49ers' pass-catching tight end following Kittle's departure and would be a viable fantasy asset in Week 17 if Kittle is forced to sit out.