NFL Player News

Higgins is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Houston after missing Friday's practice with an illness, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

He hasn't seen enough targets to warrant fantasy consideration, but Higgins has taken over more playing time recently due to Arizona's numerous WR injuries. Josiah Deguara and Pharaoh Brown could be tasked with larger roles if Higgins is declared inactive before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday.

Bates (ankle) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bears, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Bates was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, but he was a full participant Friday. He is now ready to play Sunday against the Bears for the first time since Week 12 versus the Raiders. The 26-year-old has had minimal impact on offense when healthy this season, hauling in two receptions on two targets for 23 yards in five games played (three with the Texans and two with the Browns).

Arroyo (knee) is ruled out for Sunday's game against Indianapolis, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Arroyo will miss at least one game due to the knee injury he suffered Week 14 against Atlanta. With the rookie second-round pick sidelined, Nick Kallerup will stand to operate as the No. 2 tight end behind AJ Barner.

Andrews (glute) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Cincinnati.

Andrews showed up on the Ravens' Week 15 injury report Thursday as a limited practice participant due to a glute injury, but after getting back to all activity one day later, he's in the clear ahead of the weekend. Since he scored his last touchdown Week 11 at Cleveland, he's managed just a 6-65-0 line on 14 targets and recorded two carries for two yards over the last three contests, but facing a Bengals defense that has been the most yielding to opposing TEs in all statistical categories this season may aid in a bounce-back effort Sunday.

Johnson (toe) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Washington, Matt Citak of the Giants' official site reports.

Johnson upgraded to full practice Friday after limited sessions the previous two days. He should be ready for his usual near-every-down role, against a Washington defense that's allowing a league-high 8.7 yards per pass attempt.

Hockenson (shin) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

Hockenson missed Wednesday's practice but returned to limited participation Thursday. He's apparently fine to play this week, after catching two of three targets for 12 yards and a TD in the 31-0 blowout of Washington last Sunday.

Miami signed Rucci to the practice squad Friday.

Rucci previously appeared in four games with Miami between Week 8 and Week 11, in which span he wasn't targeted a single time and mostly contributed on special teams. Now back with the team on the practice squad, he'll resume providing the Dolphins with emergency depth at tight end.

Woerner caught both of his targets for 12 yards in Thursday night's 29-28 win over the Buccaneers.

Woerner wasn't targeted in either of the Falcons' last two games, but he finished with the fifth-most receiving yards on the team during Thursday night's win. The 28-year-old has appeared in all 14 of Atlanta's contests this season, catching seven of eight targets for 45 yards across 417 offensive snaps. He's expected to remain a depth option in the team's tight-end corps in the Week 16 matchup against the Cardinals.

Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bears, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, and it's been confirmed that he'll sit out Sunday's contest and eye a potential return to action Sunday, Dec. 21 against the Bills. In Njoku's absence this weekend, fellow TE Harold Fannin figures to be busy versus Chicago, with Blake Whiteheart available to mix in.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn ruled Taylor (neck) out for Sunday's game in Jacksonville.

Taylor was unable to practice in any fashion this week and now will miss his first game of the season as he tends to the neck injury. The timing of the absence is a tough break for Taylor, who had recorded five catches for 51 yards -- his most since Week 5 -- on eight targets in this past Sunday's loss to the Dolphins. With Taylor sidelined this weekend, the Jets will likely turn to Jeremy Ruckert as their starting tight end.