Sports

The Latest Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy Football Tight Ends

By Cory Bonini Athlon Sports

Updated May 12, 2026 7:02 PM

These notable tight end injury situations to watch warrant fantasy football attention before 2026 drafts heat up. Some players should be ready for Week 1, while others may need managed summer workloads or longer recovery timelines. These updates can affect draft cost, early-season usage and the depth of a position that already comes with limited dependable starters.

Tight End Injury Updates

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

Bowers played through a PCL injury and bone bruise in his left knee that dated back to Week 1, and the Raiders finally shut him down in late December to get him healthy for 2026. As long as there is no setback, the expectation should be that he is ready for the start of the season and back to functioning as a top-tier fantasy tight end.

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

General manager John Lynch has said he is hopeful for Kittle (Achilles) being back on the field as of Week 1. A more cautious approach is to expect he'll open the year on the Reserve/PUP and miss the first month of play. Between the late-season timing of the injury and Kittle turning 33 years old in October, consider a fringe TE1 finish to be borderline miraculous.

Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

Kraft was lost for the season in early November due to an ACL tear. There's enough time to expect he'll be on the field for Week 1, barring a setback, but his fantasy offerings might be weaker than we're accustomed to seeing. Fortunately, he has a nose for the end zone, and savvy play can create separation even if physical limitations persist into the early regular season.

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

Detroit placed LaPorta on IR in November after the herniated disc in his back worsened. He is aiming to be fully cleared by training camp. The present read is that LaPorta will be ready for Week 1, but back injuries can be tricky. Expect Dan Campbell to take it easy on the Iowa product throughout the summer.

David Njoku, Los Angeles Chargers

Njoku missed the final month of the regular season on IR after suffering a minor knee sprain. He's healthy and joined the Chargers' crowded offense in May, which tamps down his fantasy upside entering Njoku's age-30 season.

This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 6:52 PM.