NFL Player News

Njoku didn't participate in Wednesday's practice due to listed knee and ankle injuries.

After missing three games due to a high-ankle sprain, Njoku returned to action for the Browns' Week 5 loss to the Commanders, only to pick up a knee injury at some point during the contest. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is viewing Njoku as day-to-day heading into a Week 6 road game in Philadelphia. If Njoku is forced to miss his fourth game in five weeks, Jordan Akins and Geoff Swaim will likely absorb the vacated snaps at tight end.

Hill (ribs) didn't participate in Wednesday's walk-through practice.

On the heels of Monday's loss at Kansas City, the Saints didn't hold a full session to begin Week 6 prep, but Hill still was listed as a non-participant for a fourth consecutive injury report due to the rib fractures that he sustained Week 4 in Atlanta. He'll have two more opportunities this week to mix into drills before New Orleans potentially makes a ruling on his status for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.

Hurst (Achilles) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Hurst is still a little banged up coming out of the Chargers' Week 5 bye, though he has two opportunities to upgrade to full participation in practice and avoid an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Broncos. He has been splitting snaps with Will Dissly in a Chargers offense that hasn't thrown the ball much to its tight ends this season.

Musgrave (ankle) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Musgrave was active for this past Sunday's 24-19 win over the Rams, but he didn't play any snaps while he contended with the ankle injury. Assuming he experiences no setbacks coming out of another week of practice, Musgrave should get some playing time this Sunday against the Cardinals, but he still looks destined to handle a minimal role behind top tight end Tucker Kraft, who has recorded 10 receptions for 141 yards and three touchdowns over the past two contests.

Willis signed with the 49ers' active roster from their practice squad Wednesday.

Willis was only elevated from the practice squad once before in Week 3, so he was still eligible to be bumped up two more times. However, San Francisco will opt to sign the Oklahoma product to its active roster with the spot opened up by Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) being placed on IR.

Kolar was a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to a toe injury.

Kolar has emerged from this past Sunday's 41-38 overtime win over the Bengals nursing an injury. He played 21 snaps on offense and 27 on special teams in the victory, finishing the day with three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown on four targets while adding a two-yard carry. He still has two opportunities to return to full practice participation and avoid taking a designation into Sunday's game against the Commanders. Even if he's cleared in advance of Sunday, Kolar still looks to be third on the depth chart at tight end behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.

Kittle (ribs) doesn't have a designation for Thursday's game at Seattle, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Kittle was listed as a limited participant on Monday's estimated practice report due to a lingering rib injury. He then had his reps capped at Tuesday's walkthrough before upgrading to full activity Wednesday, which was enough for the eighth-year pro to gain clearance to suit up Week 6. Kittle thus will be facing a Seahawks defense Thursday that has allowed the 10th-most yards per target (7.7) to opposing tight ends this season.

Gesicki didn't practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Gesicki was on the field for 29 of the Bengals' 67 snaps on offense in this past Sunday's 41-38 overtime loss to the Ravens, finishing with two catches for 31 yards on two targets. After logging 18 targets in his first three games this season, the veteran has seen just three over his last two outings, with the emergence of rookie Erick All (14-92-0 receiving line on 14 targets over the last four games) having begun to hamper Gesicki's fantasy upside.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski labeled Njoku (knee) "day-to-day" after the tight end didn't participate in practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

While the day-to-day label suggests Njoku isn't dealing with anything serious, he'll still likely need to practice in some fashion Thursday and/or Friday to have a realistic chance of avoiding a fourth absence in a five-game span Sunday against the Eagles. He returned from an ankle injury in Week 5 against the Commanders, but the knee injury doesn't seem to be related.

Engram (hamstring) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.

Engram hasn't played in a game since injuring his hamstring in pregame warmups ahead of the Jaguars' Week 2 loss to the Browns, but head coach Doug Pederson said earlier this week that the tight end has a "pretty good" chance of playing this weekend against the Bears in London, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Jaguars will wait and see if Engram is able to upgrade to full participation in practice Thursday or Friday before deciding whether he takes a designation into Sunday.