NFL Player News

Welch could be in line for increased practice reps with teammate Giovanni Ricci expected to miss multiple weeks with a knee injury.

Multiple Browns tight ends are now dealing with injuries, including presumptive starter David Njoku (undisclosed) and Zaire Mitchell-Paden (undisclosed). It therefore wouldn't be surprising to see Welch get extended playing time during their preseason finale at Seattle on Saturday.

Wilcox departed Sunday's practice early due to an apparent calf injury, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports.

Wilcox was getting increased reps with top tight ends Hunter Henry (undisclosed) and Austin Hooper (undisclosed) dealing with injuries of their own, so the Patriots' TE room is currently short of bodies. Rookie Jaheim Bell ended up getting a long look in Sunday's practice session and caught a touchdown from three different quarterbacks, per Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. It's unclear how much time Henry, Hooper or Wilcox are expected to miss with their respective injuries.

Hooper (undisclosed) didn't practice Sunday, Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reports.

Hooper suffered an injury during practice Saturday, per Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. The Patriots' tight-end room is now dealing with injuries to each of its top three options, as Hunter Henry also sat out Sunday due to an undisclosed issue and Mitchell Wilcox departed early with an injury. Rookie Jaheim Bell consequently ended up with increased reps during the session.

Whyle entered league concussion protocol Sunday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

It's not clear when Whyle suffered the head injury. In any case, it means he's probably not going to see the field during Tennessee's preseason finale and will likely have to wait until Week 1 of the regular season to suit up again.

Conklin didn't play in Saturday's 15-12 preseason win over the Panthers.

Conklin has been rested thus far in the preseason along with the Jets' other starting skill players on offense. The Jets haven't gotten much production from the tight end position in Conklin's absence during the exhibition slate, so the 29-year-old tight end seems safely locked into the top spot on the depth chart heading into the 2024 regular season, which will commence after the Jets round out their preseason Saturday, Aug. 24 against the Giants.

Mitchell-Paden caught all four targets for 59 yards and limped off the field with an undisclosed injury late in Saturday's preseason game against the Vikings, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said following the game that he expects Mitchell-Paden to be okay. Mitchell-Paden was one of two tight ends to sustain an injury. Giovanni Ricci was removed late in the first half with a knee injury and immediately ruled out. Stefanski did not provide an update on Ricci, who projects as a special teams player and third tight end. Mitchell-Paden could move up the depth chart pending Ricci's status.

Akins caught both of his targets for 15 yards in Saturday's preseason game against Minnesota.

Akins has played the first quarters of both preseason games and caught all four targets for 40 yards. He's expected to serve as the top backup to David Njoku, while Zaire Mitchell-Paden and Giovanni Ricci (knee) battle for the third spot.

LaPorta (hamstring) did not play in the Lions' 24-23 win over Kansas City on Saturday.

LaPorta has been nursing a hamstring injury, and he was on the sideline for Detroit's second preseason matchup. None of the team's starters played in the contest, so the tight end's absence isn't necessarily an indication of where he's at with the injury. LaPorta will look to return to practice this week, but at this point, he appears unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason finale at home versus Pittsburgh.

Pruitt secured his lone target for eight yards during Saturday's 9-3 preseason loss to the Bills.

Pruitt wasn't targeted during the Steelers' preseason opener against Houston last weekend, but he recorded a catch during Saturday's low-scoring loss. He played 32 percent of the team's offensive snaps Saturday, but if he makes the 53-man roster, he's unlikely to see much playing time behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.

Bowers didn't play Saturday night's preseason game against the Cowboys due to a sore foot, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

There was no reporting of the foot issue prior to the game, nor of Davante Adams (undisclosed) "tweaking something at practice" earlier in the week prior to him missing the game as well. The practice reports this week will reveal how severe if at all this injury is.