NFL Player News

Cager (groin) was considered a non-participant on the Giants' estimated injury report Friday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Cager did not practice Thursday, and he remained on the sidelines Friday. He'll look to participate in some capacity during Saturday's session. If he can't suit up versus the Eagles on Monday night, his absence wouldn't carry much of an offensive impact.

Higgins played 25 of 74 snaps on offense and recorded four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown on four targets in Sunday's 45-29 loss to the 49ers.

Starter Trey McBride has rightfully drawn most of the attention among Arizona tight ends since moving into a full-time role Week 8, but the rookie Higgins is beginning to make some waves of his own. With Arizona having since waived Zach Ertz and with Geoff Swaim (calf) recently landing on injured reserve, Higgins should be locked in as the clear No. 2 tight end for the final three weeks of the season. He turned in his best outing yet in the loss to San Francisco, but Higgins had already drawn two targets in each of the preceding three contests and contributed a pair of 20-plus-yard receptions.

Thomas (ankle) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers.

Thomas upgraded to full participation in Friday's practice after a pair of limited sessions, which suggests he's trending in the right direction heading into Sunday's game. With Hayden Hurst (concussion) on IR, Thomas could play a prominent role alongside Tommy Tremble and Stephen Sullivan if Thomas is given the green light to return against Green Bay following a one-game absence.

Henry (knee) was present for the start of Friday's practice, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports.

Henry was also spotted during the media-access portion of Thursday's practice, but he ended up being listed as a non-participant on the Patriots' official injury report, as he was Wednesday. The Patriots will release their final injury report of the week later Friday, when it will be known whether or not Henry carries a designation into Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Tremble (illness) isn't listed on the final injury report for Sunday's game against Green Bay.

Tremble dealt with an illness earlier in the week but returned to health by Friday. While yet to see more than three targets in a game this season, he's been getting most of the TE snaps and routes ever since Hayden Hurst suffered a season-ending concussion.

Higbee secured all three targets for 30 yards during Thursday's 30-22 victory over the Saints.

Although the Rams' offense has been humming along in recent weeks, the veteran tight end's production has remained stagnant, with a meager amount of targets compared to the wideouts and fairly mediocre receiving stats overall. Of Matthew Stafford's 34 passing attempts against the Saints, 31 were targeted to the receiving trio of Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson, while Higbee was the only other player on the team to earn any targets at all. The Giants, who have been fairly stingy against tight ends, are up next for the suddenly surging Rams in Week 17.

Johnson secured four of seven targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' 30-22 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.

The talented tight end was third in receptions, receiving yards and targets for the Saints, and the latter two figures set and tied a season high, respectively. Johnson's catch total was his highest since Week 12 as well, and he scored for the second time in four days on a five-yard touchdown grab just past the midway point of the fourth quarter. Johnson next takes aim at a Buccaneers defense that's been vulnerable to tight ends all season when the Saints square off with their division rival in a Week 17 road matchup on New Year's Eve.

Dwelley (ankle) did not participate in practice Thursday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The third-string tight end has missed two straight games and appears to be trending that way again heading into Monday's matchup with the Ravens. Dwelley has one catch for 12 yards this season.

Wright (hip) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.

Wright has been a spectator for both of the Lions' first two Week 16 practices, so he'll likely need to log some on-field reps Friday to have a shot at playing Sunday in Minnesota. If Wright is sidelined this weekend, James Mitchell would step in as the top backup to starting tight end Sam LaPorta.

Smythe (ankle) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

Smythe's practice reps were capped for the second day in a row, but he could still end up approaching Sunday's game against the Cowboys without a designation if he's able to participate fully in Friday's session. The tight end turned in his best receiving performance since Week 4 in this past Sunday's 30-0 win over the Jets, finishing with four catches for 32 yards on four targets.