Fantasy Football Injury Reports for Tight Ends - Updates for Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, David Njoku, Juwan Johnson, Hunter Henry, more

Fantasy football injury updates and injury reports for tight ends (Week 18) as of 1/4/2024, including TEs Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, David Njoku, Juwan Johnson, Hunter Henry, and more.

With the final week of the regular season incoming, there are several tight ends in the injury headlines. Although many fantasy leagues have wrapped up, some extend to Week 18, and there are always DFS contests to compete in. Our fantasy football injury reports for tight ends for Week 18 as of Thursday, January 4 will give you the latest news on the statuses of Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, David Njoku, Juwan Johnson, Hunter Henry, and more.

Being up-to-date on NFL injury news can give you an edge over your league mates in fantasy football. Fantasy managers should stay locked into the latest injury headlines.

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Travis Kelce Injury Update

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (neck) is on the team's Week 18 injury report after putting in a limited practice session on Wednesday. Kelce's injury probably isn't serious enough to keep him from playing in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, but with the Chiefs having already locked up the No. 3 seed in the AFC, there's a good chance the 34-year-old All-Pro will be rested this weekend.

The Chiefs have already announced that quarterback Patrick Mahomes won't play, so Kelce's fantasy stock will be down regardless if he ends up suiting up against LA. Kelce is currently 16 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark for his eighth straight season, so perhaps he'll start and get the necessary yards needed before taking a seat. Tight ends Noah Gray and Blake Bell figure to see more playing time on Sunday.

Sam LaPorta Injury Update

Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury and was limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. It's a new injury for LaPorta, who could face playing-time restrictions or even be held out entirely in the Week 18 regular season finale on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings with the Lions already locked into the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

LaPorta has been a high-end TE1 for fantasy managers all year, so it would be a shame if the 22-year-old wasn't available for those still playing for a championship. Brock Wright (hip) was a non-participant in practice, so if both LaPorta and Wright are held out this weekend, the Lions would be down to James Mitchell and Anthony Firkser at the position.

David Njoku Injury Update

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (illness) did not take part in practice on Wednesday due to an illness. Njoku should be feeling better by Sunday's Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, but with the Browns being locked into the No. 5 seed for the playoffs, they could choose to rest Njoku. Cleveland already announced that quarterback Joe Flacco will be rested in favor of Jeff Driskel, so Njoku's fantasy appeal has already taken a big hit with that news.

The 27-year-old has caught 28 passes for 373 yards and four touchdowns in the last four games and has become a must-start fantasy tight end, but that could change in Week 18 if he's out or limited this Sunday. If Njoku is rested, Harrison Bryant would become Cleveland's top pass-catching tight end.

Juwan Johnson Injury Update

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (shoulder) was not seen on the practice field with the rest of the team on Wednesday. Apparently, Johnson picked up a shoulder injury in the Week 17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Aside from his injury, the 27-year-old had his best performance of the year, catching eight of his 12 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown.

Although Johnson has been an inconsistent, touchdown-dependent fantasy streamer at the tight end position this year, he's on the rise after finding the end zone in each of the last three games for the Saints. Johnson's status for the Week 18 regular season finale against the Atlanta Falcons is in question, but if he can return to practice this week and play on Sunday, he'll be in play as a low-end, touchdown-dependent TE1 for fantasy managers.

Hunter Henry, Pharaoh Brown Injury Update

New England Patriots tight ends Pharaoh Brown (ribs) and Hunter Henry (knee) were both listed as limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Henry has missed the last two games with a knee injury but appears closer to returning for the Week 18 regular season finale on Sunday against the New York Jets. With Henry out the last two weeks, Mike Gesicki has caught six of eight targets for 50 yards and one touchdown.

Henry was on a roll in his last two games before getting hurt, hauling in 10 of his 12 targets for 106 yards and three touchdowns. If he's able to make it back for the final game of the regular season, the 29-year-old could be in play as a touchdown-dependent sleeper option in DFS formats, although the matchup isn't the greatest. In Week 3 against the Jets, Henry caught two passes for 17 yards.

Luke Musgrave Injury Update

Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Luke Musgrave (kidney), who remains on Injured Reserve, was listed as limited in the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday. Musgrave was also limited in practices last week before picking up a doubtful tag before the Week 17 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

The 23-year-old is recovering from a lacerated kidney that he suffered in Week 11, so he's likely going to need to put in a full practice later this week to be cleared to play in a must-win game this Sunday in Week 18 against the division-rival Chicago Bears. Even if the 23-year-old is able to play this weekend, he'll be a risky choice for fantasy lineups while likely being eased in. Fellow rookie Tucker Kraft has stepped up in Musgrave's absence and has a decent 18 catches (22 targets) for 229 yards and one touchdown in the last four weeks.

Tyler Higbee Injury Update

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday as his team began preparing to take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18. Higbee has already been ruled out of action for this Sunday as the Rams already have a playoff spot locked up and have nothing to play for in Week 18.

Rookie tight end Davis Allen will step into the starting role with Higbee sidelined. Allen started for an injured Higbee back in Week 14 and caught four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, making him an interesting low-cost DFS target this weekend.

Michael Mayer Injury Update

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed practice on Wednesday as his team gears up to face off against the Denver Broncos in Week 18. Mayer has missed the past two games with his toe injury and could be in line to sit out of the regular-season finale with a missed practice to begin the week.

The rookie tight end will have to get onto the practice field at least in a limited capacity by Friday if he wants to suit up in Week 18. If Mayer doesn't wind up playing, veteran Austin Hooper would operate as the Raiders' No. 1 TE.

Greg Dulcich Injury Update

Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich (foot) was not officially activated from Injured Reserve by his 21-day deadline on Wednesday and will not play in the Week 18 regular season finale against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. A hamstring injury kept Dulcich out for the vast majority of his second NFL season, although a foot injury was ultimately what prevented him from making a late-season return.

The 23-year-old caught three of his four targets for 25 yards in the two games he appeared in this year. Adam Trautman served as Denver's top pass-catching tight end all year with Dulcich sidelined, but he wasn't a realistic weekly starting option. Dulcich has some intrigue as a pass-catcher, but he's going to need to stay on the field to stay in Denver's long-term plans heading into the 2024 season.

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