NFL Player News

Woerner will compete with Ross Dwelley, third-round pick Cameron Latu and other camp invites for one of the backup spots behind George Kittle (groin) this preseason.

Woerner co-started alongside Dwelley in the team's first exhibition contest without Kittle, with the rookie Latu getting run in the second half. The two veterans -- and teammates for three seasons -- may end up fighting for one roster spot unless the 49ers plan on carrying four tight ends into the season. Even if he makes the cut, Woerner can be ignored in most fantasy drafts after recording just eight catches over his first three seasons as a pro.

Fant (knee) was upgraded to full participation in practice this week, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Fant opened training camp on the active/PUP list after undergoing offseason knee surgery. He was activated July 30 but had been limited in practices up until this week. The 2019 first-round selection is entering the final year of his contract and is coming off a 2022 campaign where he averaged a career-low 28.6 yards per game with four touchdowns while he was part of a three-man tight end rotation alongside Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. All three players are back in the fold for 2023, so Fant's role seems unlikely to change dramatically during his second season in Seattle.

Ogletree (shoulder) didn't practice Wednesday, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Ogletree's injury was previously unknown, but Atkins revealed it's a shoulder issue. The 2022 sixth-round pick missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL and didn't participate in Indy's first preseason game last weekend.

Bryant (undisclosed) is expected to return "pretty soon," Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.

Bryant has been battling a non-football health issue. The tight end has spent some time on the sidelines during practices, but there's optimism that he'll soon join his teammates on the practice field and resume football activities.

Likely didn't participate in Wednesday's practice due to an undisclosed injury, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Likely is dealing with a contusion and could be back later this week or next week. Assuming he avoids any further setbacks, Likely is slated to continue to work behind top tight end Mark Andrews heading into the regular season. In 16 games as a rookie in 2022, Likely recorded 36 catches (on 60 targets) for 373 yards and three touchdowns. As long as Andrews is available, Likely's fantasy upside is modest, but the 23-year-old offers streaming appeal in the event that Andrews misses time for any reason.

Ogletree (knee) missed practice Tuesday, the Indianapolis Star reports.

Ogletree didn't play in Indy's first preseason game and this may be why. He's coming back from a torn ACL that occurred during last year's training camp, so his health remains something to monitor this summer. He likely faces an uphill battle to win a roster spot amid crowded competition at tight end.

Mallory (hamstring) returned to practice Tuesday, the Indianapolis Star reports.

Mo Alie-Cox (ankle), Jelani Woods (hamstring) and Andrew Ogletree (knee) remain sidelined, so Mallory could get extra work in this week's preseason game if he's able to play. The 24-year-old, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 Draft, is likely competing with Alie-Cox and Pharaoh Brown for the team's No. 3 TE spot.

Durham brought in one of two targets for three yards while logging 24 snaps from scrimmage and another 10 on special teams in the Buccaneers' preseason-opening loss to the Steelers on Friday.

It was a solid workload for the rookie fifth-round pick, who led all Buccaneers' tight ends in both snaps from scrimmage and on special teams. Durham compiled 101 receptions in his last two college seasons alone, and with second-year pro Ko Kieft a classic blocking tight end, the former's primary competition for playing time -- and perhaps even a roster spot -- appears to be journeyman David Wells.

Saints coach Dennis Allen said Tuesday that Hill suffered a minor oblique strain during practice, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Hill dealt with a persistent rib issue through the first six weeks of last season, though he only missed one game all season when he sat out Week 3 due to that injury. Allen also mentioned that he doesn't expect the 32-year-old's oblique strain is anything serious, likely indicating that it's an isolated incident rather than anything related to a previous injury concern. Hill played just 15 total snaps in Sunday's 26-24 preseason win versus the Chiefs, and it's likely he'll continue to see relatively limited playing time whether or not he overcomes this oblique strain before Sunday's preseason contest against the Chargers.

Gilliam (groin) returned to the practice field on Tuesday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Gilliam has been sidelined since Aug. 7 with a groin injury, but his return to practice indicates he is trending in the right direction. Seeing as though he is the only fullback on Buffalo's roster, his presence alone allows them to expand their playbook with certain sets.