NFL Player News

Likely brought in nine of 11 targets for 127 yards and a touchdown and fumbled once but recovered in the Giants' 24-21 loss to the Commanders on Thursday.

Likely set the pace for the Giants across the board in receptions, receiving yards and targets, and his figure in the middle category was also a career high. The veteran tight end now has five double-digit target tallies on the campaign, and Thursday's production pushed his season line to a robust 55-575-7 line across nine games. All three components are already career-high figures, affording Likely massive momentum heading into a Week 11 home showdown against the Jaguars on Sunday, Nov. 22.

Okonkwo (back) returned to Thursday's eventual 24-21 win at the Giants, finishing with four catches (on eight targets) for 24 yards.

Okonkwo exited in the second quarter due to a back injury, but he was back out there on the field after halftime and was the target on both of Jayden Daniels' two interceptions with less than six minutes remaining in the contest. Overall, Okonkwo's eight targets marked a season high, but he also mustered his fewest receiving yards since Week 4. He'll look to build upon his season-long line of 27-263-0 on 39 targets in the Commanders' next game Monday, Nov. 23 versus the Bengals.

Okonkwo (back) is questionable to return to Thursday's game against the Giants, Ralph Vacchiano of FoxSports.com reports.

Okonkwo caught two passes for 17 yards before he had to go to the locker room during the second quarter of Thursday's contest with a back injury. It's unclear whether he'll be able to check back into the game, but for as long as he remains out, 2024 second-rounder Ben Sinnott figures to see an increased snap count at tight end.

Allen (oblique) did not participate at practice Thursday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Allen popped up on the Rams' injury report Wednesday with an oblique issue, and now his availability for Week 10 appears to be in serious jeopardy. With teammates Tyler Higbee (illness), Colby Parkinson (ribs) and Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) also dealing with health concerns, rookie second-rounder Max Klare currently seems to be the only Rams tight end who is a lock to suit up for Sunday's game at Arizona.

Parkinson (ribs) was limited at Thursday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

While Parkinson continues to operate with a cap on his practice reps due to the rib issue that sidelined him in Week 8 against the Chargers, fellow TE Tyler Higbee showed up on Thursday's injury report as a DNP due to an illness, and reserve option Davis Allen went from limited Wednesday to no activity one day later. Friday's practice report will unveil the odds of each player to suit up Sunday at Arizona.

Higbee didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

With Higbee's addition to the Rams' Week 10 injury report Thursday, the team's top three tight ends on the active roster are dealing with health concerns, as Colby Parkinson has been limited by a rib injury, while Davis Allen downgraded from limited Wednesday to no activity one day later due to an oblique issue. As a result, Friday's practice report will be telling for who among the trio may be available Sunday in Arizona.

Njoku (fibula) was a limited participant at the Chargers' practice Thursday.

Njoku remained limited at the team's first practice of the week as he continues to work his way back from a fibula injury that has sidelined him since Week 2. The tight end was a limited participant at the team's three practices last week, and he'll have two more chances to log a full practice prior to Monday night's matchup with the Ravens.

Hockenson (wrist/chest) didn't take part in Thursday's practice.

Hockenson now has logged back-to-back DNPs to begin Week 10 prep as he tends to wrist and chest injuries. The Vikings may make a ruling on the tight end's status as soon as they post their final practice report of the week Friday, but if Hockenson is inhibited to sidelined Sunday at Green Bay, Ben Yurosek and Gavin Bartholomew are the next players up at the position.

Fannin (groin) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The same applies to Fannin's Wednesday practice participation, but it's worth noting that the tight end was also limited by his groin issue last Thursday and Friday before approaching the Browns' Week 9 overtime loss to the Saints without an injury designation. Friday's practice/injury report will reveal whether that pattern is repeated ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans.

Fant Donaldson (back) upgraded to full participation at Thursday's practice.

Fant was limited at Wednesday's practice, but the veteran TE faced no limitations Thursday, suggesting that he'll be good to go for Sunday's game against the Panthers. He has worked as the Saints' No. 2 option at the position behind Juwan Johnson.