NFL Player News

Kittle had three receptions on four targets for 34 yards in Friday's preseason finale against the Raiders.

Kittle sat out the 49ers' first two exhibitions as the team eased him back into action after going under the knife this past offseason. The star tight end looked like his usual self post-surgery, leaping over a stretched out defender at one point of the preseason tilt in order to make an impressive grab across the middle. Kittle's effort in Friday's exhibition confirms the physical tight end's health as San Francisco prepares to host the Jets on the first installment Monday Night Football of the 2024 season on Sept. 9.

Otton started Friday's 24-14 preseason win over the Dolphins but wasn't targeted.

Otton played only the first drive along with the rest of the first-team offense. The Buccaneers went with three wide receivers, one running back and one tight end throughout the drive, showcasing the personnel grouping that Tampa Bay will likely use the majority of the time come the regular season, which kicks off Sept. 8 against the Commanders. That heavy reliance on 11 personnel stems in part from the lack of quality tight-end options on the roster behind Otton, who exceeded a 90-percent snap share in every regular-season game last year.

Engram brought in all four of his targets for 28 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's 31-0 preseason win over the Falcons.

Engram played on two drives, both of which came with Trevor Lawrence. With Christian Kirk (calf) sidelined, Engram was Lawrence's favorite target and caught touchdown receptions of five and six yards. He has failed to top four trips to the end zone in the regular season since his rookie campaign in 2017, but this usage could suggest he'll be a favorite target in the red zone in 2024.

Knox (undisclosed) reverted to Minnesota's injured reserve list Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Knox signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in April and played in each of the team's first two preseason contests, totaling one catch (on three targets) for nine yards. The nature of his issue hasn't been disclosed, but he'll need to sit out the 2024 season unless he and Minnesota reach an injury settlement.

Wilcox (calf) was back at practice Friday, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

The tight end was out for five days after going down with a calf injury last Sunday during practice. While Wilcox is primed for a depth role this year, veteran tight ends Hunter Henry (undisclosed) and Austin Hooper (undisclosed) are dealing with injuries of their own. This could at least open up opportunities for Wilcox if he's able to play this Sunday when the Patriots finish out the preseason against the Commanders.

Woods reportedly underwent a procedure Friday to address a turf toe injury that's expected to sideline him about four months, according to Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com and James Boyd of The Athletic.

If the initial estimate for his return is accurate, the tight end could return in time for the stretch run of the coming season. For any length of time that Woods is sidelined, Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory are slated to handle the Colts' TE duties.

Wiley secured one of two targets for three yards in the Chiefs' 34-21 preseason loss to the Bears on Thursday night.

The rookie fourth-round pick finished off the preseason in quiet fashion, matching fellow reserve tight end Irv Smith's reception and yardage totals. Wiley and Smith could potentially both make the Chiefs' roster if the team decides to go four deep at the position.

All caught his lone target for 10 yards in Thursday's 27-14 preseason loss to the Colts.

All also blocked well, as the rookie fourth-round pick got a chance to showcase his versatile skill set while the Bengals' top skill players got the night off. Having recovered from a torn ACL that he suffered in October at Iowa, All will almost certainly earn a spot on Cincinnati's 53-man roster, but the tight end's likely to begin his career in a depth role behind some combination of Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson when the Bengals begin regular-season play Sept. 8 against the Patriots.

Granson caught two of three targets for 17 yards in Thursday's 27-14 preseason win over the Bengals.

Granson was the intended receiver on Anthony Richardson's pick six on the second drive, which was the result of a miscommunication between the quarterback and tight end. Despite that miscue, it was encouraging that Granson got the lion's share of playing time in the five possessions that Richardson and the first-team offense played, finishing as one of three players to catch multiple passes from Richardson. After leading all Colts tight ends with 368 receiving yards in 2023, Granson appears positioned to earn his share of targets this coming season.

Moreau is healthy in advance of the 2024 season, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.

After free agency opened in March 2023, Moreau underwent a physical with the Saints, which revealed a diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He immediately began treatment, signed a contract with New Orleans in May and was deemed to be in remission in early July. He proceeded to play in 15 regular-season games en route to a 21-193-1 line on 25 targets, but he revealed that the ankle injury that forced DNPs in Weeks 3 and 4 impacted him the rest of the way and eventually resulted in surgery in early January. With a little more than two weeks remaining before the 2024 campaign, Moreau is positioned behind Juwan Johnson on the TE depth chart, likely leaving him with a similar role to last year.