NFL Player News

Engram was a limited participant at practice Wednesday due to a back issue.

Per John Shipley of SI.com, head coach Doug Pederson previously called Engram day-to-day, but he noted that the tight end should be fine for this weekend's game against Kansas City. In this past Sunday's 27-20 win over the Raiders, Engram caught just one of his two targets for eight yards while logging a season-low 55 percent snap share and being spotted on the sideline receiving treatment on his back, according to Adam Stites of USA Today.

Long didn't practice Wednesday due to concussion protocol, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

Long presumably suffered the concussion during Miami's Week 9 win over Chicago and is in danger of missing Sunday's matchup against the Browns. The reserve tight end will have two more opportunities to practice before the Dolphins need to make a decision on his status for Week 10.

Smythe (hamstring) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Smythe continues to battle a hamstring injury, but he's suited up for three straight games. He was limited during each practice ahead of Week 9, so despite reappearing on the injury report Wednesday, the reserve tight end is likely still on track to suit up Sunday against the Browns.

Bellinger (eye) said Wednesday that he's improving and will play again this season, but still needs more time to heal, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

The tight end worked with trainers off to the side at practices Tuesday and Wednesday, but he'll miss at least one more game coming out of the Week 9 bye. The Giants haven't placed Bellinger on injured reserve, which suggests he at least has some chance to make it back within the next 3-to-4 weeks.

Alie-Cox isn't practicing Wednesday and is sporting a protective boot over his right foot, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

With Jelani Woods (shoulder) also missing practice, Kylen Granson is the only healthy tight end on the active roster as the Colts and interim head coach Jeff Saturday begin preparations for their Week 10 trip to Las Vegas. The team has deployed a three-man committee at tight end for most of the season, limiting Alie-Cox to four targets in five games since his 6-85-2 explosion Week 4 against the Titans. The three tight ends have combined for only 17.4 percent of Indianapolis' targets and 17.6 percent of the receiving yards this season, but they have five of the nine receiving touchdowns (three for Woods, two for Alie-Cox).

Woods (shoulder) did not participate at practice Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game at Las Vegas, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

Woods was forced out of Indianapolis' loss at New England in Week 9 with a shoulder injury, and it now appears he's in jeopardy of missing his first game of the season with that injury. If the rookie were to miss time, sophomore fourth-rounder Kylen Granson would probably be in line for increased reps.

Indianapolis signed Daniels to its practice squad Wednesday.

Daniels appeared in 15 games for the Cardinals last season, recording one catch for zero yards, but he failed to stick with the Texans this offseason and has remained a free agent since. The veteran tight end will get his first NFL opportunity of the campaign with Indianapolis and could be a candidate for elevation if Jelani Woods (shoulder) is unable to play in Week 10.

Njoku (ankle) isn't in line to practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

When previously asked if he would be able to play this coming Sunday against the Dolphins, the tight end told Cabot that he expected to be available. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski told Cabot on Wednesday that he isn't sure Njoku will be able to return to action this weekend. In any case, Njoku's absence in the Browns' first post-bye practice suggests that his status will need to be monitored closely ahead of the Week 10 game in Miami. In his absence during the Browns' 32-13 win over the Bengals in Week 8, Harrison Bryant and Pharaoh Brown saw added snaps at tight end, though neither player recorded a catch in the contest.

Bellinger (eye) worked with trainers on the side during the open portion of New York's practice Tuesday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Bellinger has been out of action since fracturing his left eye socket during a Week 7 win over the Jaguars. The rookie tight end has been said to be improving, and Giants general manager Joe Schoen recently indicated that the team hopes Bellinger will be able to return Week 11 versus Detroit, per Duggan.

Trautman gathered in his lone target for eight yards during Monday's 27-13 defeat to the Ravens.

Trautman caught one pass for eight yards during his return from a two-week layoff due to an ankle issue. However, the tight end still played his second-fewest offensive snaps (18) of the year, ahead of only the game in which he was injured. While the 25-year-old could see his playing time increase as he puts the ankle issue further behind him, he still figures to slot in behind Juwan Johnson in usage. As a result, don't expect Trautman to attract significantly more opportunities against Pittsburgh on Sunday.