NFL Player News
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Kyle Pitts TE | ATL
Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Does nothing with two targets
Pitts didn't record a catch on two targets during Sunday's 17-13 loss to the Chargers.
Pitts was held without a catch for the second time this season, and over the last four games, he has totaled six receptions on 12 targets for 75 yards. From Weeks 5 to 8, the tight end caught 21 of 27 targets for 314 yards and two touchdowns. However, that stretch is starting to look like an outlier compared to the rest of his season -- 14 catches on 27 targets for 180 yards and a TD across his other eight appearances. It's worth noting Kirk Cousins had his worst game of the season against the Chargers, throwing four interceptions and zero touchdowns, so a bounce-back effort from the veteran QB could mean better production from Pitts moving forward.
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Lucas Krull TE | DEN
Broncos' Lucas Krull: Three grabs against Cleveland
Krull caught all three of his targets for 24 yards in Monday's 41-32 win over the Browns.
Krull paced all Denver tight ends in targets, receptions and yards Monday, though he played fewer offensive snaps (22) then both Adam Trautman (37) and Nate Adkins (26). The 26-year-old's involvement in the passing game, though minimal, was an improvement over his last two weeks in which he failed to earn a single target on 38 snaps in that span. Nonetheless, Krull is not seeing enough usage to garner any attention for fantasy purposes. The Broncos will host the Colts on Dec. 15 when they return from their Week 14 bye.
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Jordan Akins TE | CLE
Browns' Jordan Akins: Little impact in loss
Akins did not catch his lone target in Monday's 41-32 loss to Denver in Week 13.
Like many of Cleveland's receivers, Akins has experienced an uptick in activity and production with Jameis Winston at quarterback. The tight end had a limited role Monday however, even though Winston attempted 58 passes and David Njoku had a team-high 17 targets. Winston's not afraid to spread the ball around, so Akins, who averaged four targets over the three preceding games, could get some looks in Week 14 against the Steelers.
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David Njoku TE | CLE
Browns' David Njoku: Pair of TDs in loss
Njoku brought in nine of 17 targets for 52 yards and two touchdowns in the Browns' 41-32 loss to the Broncos on Monday night.
Njoku recorded his first touchdown since Jameis Winston's first game as a starter in Week 8 when he brought in an eight-yard grab late in the first quarter to erase an early 7-0 deficit and added a four-yard touchdown reception to cap off an 11-play, 70-yard march late in the first half. Njoku also was the target on Winston's third and final interception of the night with 44 seconds remaining, and he led the Browns in targets with a career-high figure. The veteran tight end will look to build on his second nine-catch effort of the last three games when Cleveland faces the Steelers on the road Week 14.
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Grant Calcaterra TE | PHI
Eagles' Grant Calcaterra: Expected to start next week
Calcaterra finished Sunday's 24-19 win over the Ravens without a reception but could step into a starting role next week after Dallas Goedert left with a knee injury in the fourth quarter.
Calcaterra typically doesn't get many looks while Goedert is on the field, so it was no surprise to see him finish without a catch across his 27 offensive snaps in a game where Goedert was largely available. Goedert's injury doesn't appear to be season-ending but could cost him at least a week, opening up an opportunity for Calcaterra. When Goedert missed four games with a hamstring injury earlier in the year, Calcaterra averaged 3.3 catches for 40.0 yards.
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Michael Mayer TE | LV
Raiders' Michael Mayer: Nabs one catch in Week 13 loss
Mayer recorded one reception (on two targets) for five yards in Friday's Week 13 loss to the Chiefs.
Mayer logged 62 percent of Las Vegas' offensive snaps -- his highest count since returning from a six-game absence Week 11 -- but he wasn't able to do much in the close contest. He's caught just four passes for 21 yards over three contests since returning from the hiatus, so he's not on the fantasy radar as the Raiders' No. 2 tight end. Meanwhile, rookie Brock Bowers has gone over 125 receiving yards in two of his past three games, further cementing his already tight grasp on his role as the team's most dangerous pass catcher.
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Chigoziem Okonkwo TE | TEN
Titans' Chigoziem Okonkwo: Season-high six targets
Okonkwo recorded three receptions (on six targets) for 27 yards in Sunday's 42-19 loss to the Commanders.
Okonkwo saw a season-high six targets and matched his highest catch total of the campaign. He was used primarily in the short areas of the field, with his longest gain going for 14 yards. Nevertheless, he surpassed 20 receiving yards in consecutive games for the first time on the campaign.
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Tyler Higbee TE | LAR
Rams' Tyler Higbee: Unlikely to play Week 14
Higbee (knee) isn't expected to play next Sunday versus Buffalo, Cameron DaSilva of RamsWire reports.
On Monday, head coach Sean McVay deemed Higbee's chances of suiting up Week 14 as "less than likely," so fantasy managers shouldn't expect to have the tight end back for Sunday's battle against the Bills. Higbee is waiting to make his season debut, as he's spent the season up to this point on the reserve/PUP list after tearing his ACL and MCL in a wild-card loss to the Lions in mid-January. While Higbee has been out, Davis Allen has worked as Los Angeles' top tight end, with Colby Parkinson and Hunter Long chipping in behind him. Higbee was designated to return Nov. 27, so the Rams have until Dec. 17 to activate him before his 21-day practice window closes.
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C.J. Uzomah TE | PHI
C.J. Uzomah: Back to practice squad
Uzomah reverted to the Eagles' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Uzomah played 33 snaps (20 on offense, 13 on special teams) during the Eagles' 24-19 win over the Ravens on Sunday. Uzomah has reached the three-game maximum of elevations from the practice squad, but he could be signed to the Eagles' active roster if Dallas Goedert is placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. If Goedert does get placed on IR and Uzomah is signed to the active roster, the latter would be slated to serve as the Eagles' No. 2 tight end behind Grant Calcaterra.
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Nick Muse TE | MIN
Nick Muse: Moved back to practice squad
Muse reverted to the Vikings' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Muse was the Vikings' No. 3 tight end behind T.J. Hockenson and Johnny Mundt on Sunday against the Cardinals due to Josh Oliver (ankle) being sidelined. Muse played 20 total snaps (eight on offense, 12 on special teams) and did not record a stat. The 2022 seventh-round pick has just one catch for 22 yards in 16 regular-season games across his three-year NFL career.