NFL Player News

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.

Hudson had four catches for 45 yards on five targets in Sunday night's win over the Bills.

This production came completely out of the blue from Hudson, as he had been inactive the three previous games and only signed from the practice squad on Wednesday. But the Bengals got production from all three tight ends in the passing game, seeing an opening against the Bills.

Sample caught three passes for 30 yards and his first touchdown of the year against the Bills on Sunday night. He was targeted a season-high four times.

All three Bengals tight ends -- Sample, Irv Smith and Tanner Hudson -- were targeted more than usual against the Bills. Prior to Sunday night, most of Sample's snaps required him to stay in and block, a tendency that the Bengals exploited on a clever play for his touchdown. The fifth-year TE could see an expanded pass-catching role again in Week 10 against a Texans defense that just gave up two TDs to the Bucs' Cade Otton.

Ruckert caught his only target for seven yards in Monday's 27-6 loss to the Chargers.

Ruckert was targeted exactly once for the fourth consecutive game. Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah each saw at least five targets Monday, so Ruckert remains third on New York's tight end depth chart when it comes to involvement in the passing game.

Smith had three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Bills.

The Bengals gave their tight ends more targets collectively, even though that only translated into four targets for Smith. The Bengals face the Texans next, a team that gave up two touchdown receptions to Cade Otton last week. Perhaps that will encourage the Bengals to incorporate Smith and the other tight ends more heavily once again in Week 10.

Uzomah caught two of five targets for 11 yards in Monday's 27-6 loss to the Chargers.

Uzomah dropped what should have been an easy touchdown on a ball that hit him in the chest in the final minute. Monday marked the first time this season that Uzomah was targeted more than twice, but he was unable to take advantage of the additional volume.