Fantasy Football Injury Reports For TEs: Dallas Goedert, Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth Hayden Hurst, Daniel Bellinger, Irv Smith Jr.

December 17, 2022

Fantasy football injury updates and injury reports for tight end for Week 15 (2022) as of 12/17, including Dallas Goedert, Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth, Hayden Hurst, Daniel Bellinger, and Irv Smith Jr.

NFL bye weeks are over, but the tight end position continues to be decimated by injuries. A few significant pieces of the tight end puzzle could be back for Week 15, but nothing is set in stone just yet. The statuses of Dallas Goedert, Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth Hayden Hurst, Daniel Bellinger, and Irv Smith Jr. are up in the air. We have the latest Week 15 fantasy tight end injury updates as of Saturday, December 17th.

Being up-to-date on NFL injury news can give you an edge over your league mates in fantasy football.

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Dallas Goedert Injury Update

While the Philadelphia Eagles haven't definitively said that tight end Dallas Goedert (shoulder) will play in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears after they designated him to return to practice this week, he's trending toward playing on Sunday. As long as the fracture in the glenoid bone of his shoulder is healed, he'll be able to play this weekend.

The Eagles' offense still thrived without Goedert for four games, but they'll be even more explosive when they get him back. Despite missing four full games, the 27-year-old is sixth in the league in receiving among tight ends with 544 yards in nine games. Goedert will be a bit risky if he returns to face the Bears, but before he was injured, he was a must-start TE1 in fantasy.

Darren Waller Injury Update

The Las Vegas Raiders designated tight end Darren Waller (hamstring) to return from Injured Reserve on Wednesday. It opens a 21-day practice window for the Raiders to officially activate him from IR. Depending on how he looks at practice this week, he could return in Week 15 against the New England Patriots this Sunday.

Waller hasn't played since Week 5, so the Raiders could certainly ease him back into the offense. With the fantasy playoffs beginning this week in most leagues, Waller will be a risky starting option, but he has upside at a scarce position.

Pat Freiermuth Injury Update

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (foot) was limited in Friday's practice but won't carry an injury designation into the Week 15 contest against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett (concussion) is doubtful to play this weekend, so Freiermuth will be catching passes from either Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph.

He has been a TE1 all year long in his second NFL season at fantasy's thinnest position. Keep him in your starting lineups against Carolina.

Hayden Hurst Injury Update

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (calf) will miss the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15, marking his second straight game out of action. Hurst would have been a great streaming option against a team that is a top-five matchup for tight ends, but he'll be on the shelf for at least one more week.

Wide receivers Tyler Boyd (finger) and Tee Higgins (hamstring) are questionable for this contest, so tight end Mitchell Wilcox might be worth a flyer in deep leagues. That said, he has no real floor since he's failed to produce anything at this point in his career.

Daniel Bellinger Injury Update

New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (ribs) is officially questionable to face the Washington Commanders in Week 15. Since the game is on Sunday Night Football and Bellinger likely isn't worth risking benching someone from an earlier game, he remains off the fantasy radar.

However, his absence could set up more targets for Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, and James (if active).

Irv Smith Jr. Injury Update

Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (ankle) is close to returning from injured reserve but won't play in Week 15. According to Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, Smith is close to returning from an ankle injury. The 24-year-old had been sidelined since Week 8 after suffering a high-ankle sprain in late October.

He caught 22 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns before the injury. Smit could participate in drills as soon as next week. With the Vikings acquiring tight end T.J. Hockenson from the Lions in the middle of the season, Smith's fantasy upside is limited and is mainly a stash in dynasty leagues.

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