NFL Player News

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Sunday that he expects Kittle (groin) will return to practice at some point during this coming week, Lindsey Pallares of the team's official site reports.

Kittle has been dealing with an adductor strain that left him sidelined for the 49ers' first two preseason contests, including Saturday's 21-20 win versus Denver. The 29-year-old caught 60 passes and a career-high 11 touchdown passes over 15 games last season, so there should be no reason to rush him back prematurely this preseason. Therefore, it's possible Kittle could still sit out Friday's preseason finale against the Chargers, even if he does return to practice ahead of the contest.

Bills coach Sean McDermott said that Knox (finger) is expected to participate in the team's walk-through Sunday, Ryan O'Halloran of The Buffalo News reports.

Knox did not suit up for Saturday's 27-15 preseason loss to the Steelers due to an injury to one of his pinkie fingers. The 26-year-old is currently considered day-to-day with this issue, and it's unclear if he'd be ready to participate in a full practice yet. The Bills' preseason finale will arrive this coming Saturday against the Bears, and Knox's potential absence could leave more opportunities for rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid, who just caught three passes for 45 yards against Pittsburgh.

Stephens is out for the season with a torn ACL, Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Stephens injured his knee in the third quarter of Saturday's loss to Seattle and will now miss the entirety of the season. Signed as an undrafted free agent in May, the 23-year-old was making a strong push for a spot on the Week 1 roster, but he will now have to wait until next year to try to make his NFL debut.

Washington secured his lone target for six yards during Saturday's 27-15 preseason win over the Bills.

Washington has had a limited impact over the first two games of the preseason, as he's been limited to one reception in each matchup and has been held under 10 yards in both games. The Steelers haven't had multiple fantasy-relevant tight ends in recent seasons, but Washington should have a chance to compete with Zach Gentry and Connor Heyward for a role behind starter Pat Freiermuth to begin the 2023 campaign.

Heyward secured both of his targets for 12 yards and a touchdown during Saturday's 27-15 preseason win over the Bills.

Heyward recorded fewer yards Saturday than he did during the team's preseason opener, but he reached the end zone during the victory. While he's had an encouraging start to the preseason, he played mainly on special teams last year and will have increased competition for a role in the offense this season now that rookie third-rounder Darnell Washington is in the fold.

Quitoriano caught one of three targets for 14 yards in Saturday's 28-3 preseason loss to Miami.

Quitoriano made his preseason debut after being removed from the active/PUP list last week. All of his target activity came in the fourth quarter Saturday, which suggests a minor role for the tight end, but Quitoriano was used in a goal-line package on Hosuton's opening possession. He was also on the field during the team's second possession, which led to a field goal. Brevin Jordan's continued absence due to a hamstring injury opens the door for Quitoriano to become the primary backup to Dalton Schultz.

Schultz caught two of three targets for 10 yards in Saturday's 28-3 preseason loss to the Dolphins.

Schultz appears to be over any issue with his ribs after playing in Houston's first two preseason contests. All three targets were from projected starting quarterback C.J. Stroud, including a fourth-down incompletion in the red zone. Stroud showed progress from his performance in preseason Week 1, including a quick adjustment under pressure for a six-yard completion to Schultz on Houston's lone scoring drive. Schultz lined up as a traditional tight end, in the slot and out wide during his time on the field. Brevin Jordan's continued absence due to a hamstring injury leaves Schultz as the team's clear No. 1 TE.

Johnson logged another notable performance during Friday's joint practice with the Chargers, Luke Johnson of NOLA.com reports.

Johnson has continued to improve heading into his fourth season with the Saints, per Luke Johnson. On Friday, the 6-foot-4 tight end beat veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks on a vertical seam route before hauling in a 40-yard, walk-in touchdown during Friday's 11-on-11 sessions. The converted wide receiver, who caught a team-high seven touchdowns last season, has consistently showcased the unique athleticism that makes him a mismatch for opposing linebackers. Johnson has also reportedly taken a jump as a blocker this offseason. This would likely allow him to stay on the field more than he did in 2022, when he played just over 61 percent of New Orleans' offensive snaps. The Saints don't have any proven receiving options outside of Chris Olave, as former star wideout Michael Thomas has played just 10 regular-season games since 2019. This lack of tried-and-true pass catchers could make Johnson a top receiving option for new quarterback Derek Carr.

Fant brought in his only target for a 21-yard reception in the Seahawks' 22-14 preseason win over the Cowboys on Saturday night.

The veteran tight end had progressed from opening camp on the active/PUP list to jumping into full practice participation this past week, so Saturday was the culmination of his recovery process. Fant checked in behind fellow tight end Will Dissly, and his reception came on a pass from Drew Lock during the Seahawks' fourth possession. Given he just made his exhibition debut Saturday, Fant could be given some run again during next Saturday afternoon's preseason finale against the Packers.

Musgrave caught two of his three targets for 13 yards in Saturday's preseason loss to New England.

Musgrave didn't finish with a stat line to write home about, but his three targets did lead all active starters Saturday. The athletic tight end has appeared in both of Green Bay's preseason contests, as he appears to be over the knee injury that limited him to two games in his final year with Oregon State. Musgrave is expected to start and see the lion's share of TE targets with little competition behind him on the depth chart.