NFL Player News

Hendershot is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots with an ankle injury, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Hendershot was added to the injury report Friday, which is rarely a good sign for a player's prospects of playing Sunday. The second-year tight end has averaged 32 offensive snaps per game through three weeks but has caught just one pass for three yards on two targets. Rookie Luke Schoonmaker would likely see elevated playing time behind starting tight end Jake Ferguson if Hendershot sits.

Washington (knee) practiced fully Friday and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Texans.

Washington didn't practice Thursday but alleviated any fears about his knee injury with a full session Friday. The rookie tight end has played between 38 and 48 percent of offensive snaps in each of Pittsburgh's first three games, but Washington has been used exclusively as a blocker, having yet to garner a target.

Moreau (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Moreau was a limited participant in practice Thursday and Friday after Wednesday's DNP. He's looking to return after a one-game absence. If the tight end suits up, it remains to be seen who will be throwing him the ball, as Derek Carr (shoulder) is also questionable.

Everett (illness) returned to practice Friday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Everett didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, but his return to the field Friday bodes well for his chances of playing Sunday against the Raiders. The Chargers' upcoming injury report will determine whether the tight end approaches the contest with a designation or cleared for Week 4 action.

Higbee (Achilles) will practice Friday as a limited participant and will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.

Head coach Sean McVay revealed Higbee's Week 4 game status Friday just a few minutes after the team announced that the tight end agreed to a three-year contract extension that guarantees him $17 million. The new contract and the questionable designation are both strong hints that Higbee isn't expected to miss much time with the Achilles issue, if any, and it also means he'll likely be back with the Rams in 2024 even if they dive into a rebuild. If Higbee can't play this week, Brycen Hopkins likely would fill in as the starter and might even have an every-down role, given McVay's preference for a lack of diversity in personnel groupings. Rookie fifth-round pick Davis Allen is the other tight end on the roster.

Higbee (Achilles) will return to practice Friday as a limited participant and be listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Indianapolis, Stu Jackson of the team's official site reports.

Coach Sean McVay revealed Higbee's game status Friday just a few minutes after the team announced a contract extension with the tight end. It's a strong hint Higbee isn't expected to miss much time with the Achilles issue, if any, and also means he'll likely be back with the Rams next year even if they dive into a rebuild. If Higbee can't play this week, Brycen Hopkins likely would fill in as the starter and might even have an every-down role given McVay's preference for a lack of diversity in personnel groupings. Rookie fifth-round pick Davis Allen is the other tight end on the roster.

Higbee (Achilles) agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension with the Rams on Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Higbee is one of the Rams' three remaining starters from the Jeff Fisher era and previously was scheduled for free agency this coming spring. A top-heavy roster with an older quarterback means talk of a rebuild may spark up again this offseason if the current season doesn't go well for the Rams, but Higbee now looks to be part of the franchise's future even if that happens. While he's never come close to matching his torrid finish to the 2019 season -- 522 yards on 56 targets the final five weeks -- Higbee is prized by the Rams because he's one of the few tight ends in the league that can truly claim competence as a pass catcher, run blocker and pass blocker. As for the immediate future, he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with an Achilles injury, creating some question about his status for Sunday's game at Indianapolis.

Thomas (concussion) will be available to play Sunday against the Eagles, Matthew Paras of The Washington Times reports.

After missing a week of practice and one game, Thomas returned to limited practice participation Wednesday before upgrading to full activity Thursday. He now heads into Sunday without an injury designation, pushing fellow Washington tight ends Cole Turner and John Bates back to complementary roles. Thomas surprisingly had a team-high 11 targets through his six quarters of play this season before exiting early with the concussion Week 2, though in the long run, he probably won't get as many looks as wideouts Terry McLaurin or Jahan Dotson. Challenging slot man Curtis Samuel to be third on the team in targets is a more reasonable goal for the 32-year-old tight end.

Wright was not targeted with a pass during Thursday's 34-20 win over Green Bay.

Wright logged over half of the offensive snaps, but the Notre Dame product has not been targeted in three games since his two-reception performance in Week 1. Meanwhile, rookie Sam LaPorta has exceeded all expectations as the Lions' top pass-catching tight end. As long as LaPorta is healthy, there probably won't be any need for Wright to catch passes on a regular basis.

Smith (hamstring) won't play Sunday at Tennessee, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Smith will miss a second consecutive game after failing to practice at all during the week. Tanner Hudson was elevated from the practice squad with Smith out in Week 3 against the Rams and proceeded to lead Cincinnati's tight ends with 30 yards on four targets, while Mitchell Wilcox gained 10 yards on three targets and Drew Sample turned his only target into a seven-yard gain. If Hudson is brought up from the practice squad again, he would likely work as Cincinnati's top pass-catching tight end against the Titans.