NFL Player News

Freiermuth (hamstring) plans to resume practicing next week and hopes to be ready to play when first eligible to return from injured reserve Nov. 19 at Cleveland, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

Freiermuth has been dealing with a hamstring injury since Week 4 and was placed on IR before Week 7. He'll miss a fourth straight game when the Steelers host the Packers this Sunday, but after that he's eligible to return and apparently has a realistic chance to do so. He worked out to the side Wednesday while his teammates practiced, telling reporters afterward that he didn't want to "jinx" anything by being too optimistic or hopeful about his health. Connor Heyward and Darnell Washington have been filling in at tight end, with Heyward running the most routes but losing a bit more playing time to the rookie of late.

Hockenson (ribs) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

In the wake of the Vikings' 31-28 win in Atlanta this past Sunday, head coach Kevin O'Connell told Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Hockenson was dealing with an oblique or rib issue. O'Connell also expressed hope Monday that the tight end would be able to play through the injury, according to Goessling. Hockenson is being listed with only the rib issue on the Vikings' official Week 10 injury report, and the tight end will have two more chances to get back to full activity in practice before the team potentially makes a ruling on his availability for Sunday's game against the Saints.

Ogletree (foot) was listed as a nonparticipant on the Colts' practice estimate Wednesday.

Ogletree was forced out of Sunday's game at Carolina early with a foot injury, which is now also keeping him sidelined to begin Indianapolis' new week of practice. He'll probably have to return to practice Thursday or Friday to give himself a chance to play in Week 10.

Jordan (foot) didn't practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Jordan is reportedly making solid progress in his recovery from plantar fasciitis, but whatever improvement he's made isn't enough for him to step back on the practice field. If he can't practice in any capacity Thursday or Friday, Jordan will probably be ruled out for a third consecutive game this Sunday in Cincinnati.

Sullivan (shoulder) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bears.

Sullivan suffered the injury Sunday against the Colts and has logged a DNP each day this week. Carolina signed Jordan Matthews from their practice squad Tuesday, who will likely fill in as the team's No. 3 tight end against Chicago.

Njoku won't practice Wednesday due to a knee injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku didn't practice last Wednesday due to an ankle issue, but he ended up without a Week 9 injury designation before logging 56 of a possible 73 snaps in the Browns' 27-0 win over the Cardinals on Sunday. While the tight end's listed injury is a new one, it's possible that his absence from Wednesday's session is maintenance-related.

Buffalo cut Wilson from its practice squad Tuesday.

Just a week after signing Wilson to their practice squad, the Bills have now decided to part ways with him. Unless he's claimed by another team during the current waiver period, Wilson will become a free agent again.

Buffalo signed McKitty to its practice squad Tuesday.

Just a week after being waived by the Chargers, McKitty has already found another opportunity with a new team. With Dawson Knox (wrist) and Zach Davidson (undisclosed) both on the Bills' injured reserve list, McKitty could be called up as soon as Monday versus Denver.

Cleveland cut Asiasi from its practice squad Tuesday.

The Browns originally brought Asiasi onto their practice squad ahead of Week 4 versus Baltimore, but they never elevated him to the active roster, and now they've decided to part ways with him ahead of Week 10. Provided he's not claimed by another team during the current waiver period, he's on track to once again become a free agent.

Stoll could play a more important role in the absence of Dallas Goedert (forearm), though he didn't catch a single pass in Sunday's win over the Cowboys.

Goedert fractured his forearm late in the third quarter, which didn't leave Stoll much time as the Eagles' top tight end. Goedert is expected to miss four weeks, which should cause Stoll to play a larger role in the offense, albeit presumably still a minor one. In five games without Goedert last season, Stoll averaged 1.4 receptions.