Hunter Long Injury News & Updates

Long (hip/knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Chargers.

After missing every practice before sitting out this past Sunday in Houston due to hip and knee injuries, Long returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant and maintained that activity level Friday before the Jaguars made a ruling on his status for Week 11. With Brenton Strange (hip), who was designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday, also not cleared to play Sunday, Johnny Mundt and Quintin Morris are the available options at tight end on Jacksonville's active roster.

Long (hip) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Hip and knee injuries prevented Long from playing against the Texans in Week 10. It appears that he's past the knee issue, and his ability to return to practice Thursday -- albeit in a limited capacity -- indicates that he is progressing in his recovery from his hip injury. Long's practice participation Friday will determine whether he carries an injury designation into Sunday's tilt against the Chargers. Long has served as the Jaguars' TE1 since early October after Brenton Strange (hip) was placed on injured reserve. However, Strange's 21-day practice window to return from IR opened Wednesday, and his return would revert Long to the TE2 job. If Strange and Long are both unable to play Sunday, then Johnny Mundt and Quintin Morris would be the top options at tight end for the Jaguars.

Long (hip/knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Long didn't practice last week before being ruled out for Sunday's loss to the Texans, with another 'DNP' now clouding his Week 11 status. Fellow tight end Brenton Strange (hip) was designated to return from IR on Wednesday, and if he's able to return to action this weekend, he'd be in a position to reclaim his spot in the Jaguars' starting lineup.

Long (hip/knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Texans.

The Jaguars will be without both Long and Brenton Strange (quadriceps), who is still on IR. Johnny Mundt will likely get most of the snaps, with Quintin Morris on hand in a depth role. Jacksonville will likely elevate one or both of Jordan Akins and Patrick Herbert from the practice squad as well.

Long (hip/knee) is not participating in practice Thursday, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Long is missing a second consecutive practice, making his status for Week 10 cloudy. With Brenton Strange (quadriceps) still on IR, Johnny Mundt and Quintin Morris will operate as Jacksonville's top tight ends versus Houston on Sunday if Long is unavailable. Jordan Akins and Patrick Herbert would also be candidates to be elevated from the practice squad.

Long (hip/knee) is not participating in the early portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.comreports.

Long remains positioned as Jacksonville's incumbent top tight end with Brenton Strange (quadriceps) not expected to come off IR until Week 11 at the earliest. However, due to a tandem of injuries Long's status now also appears uncertain for Sunday's road matchup against the Texans. He briefly exited Jacksonville's narrow win over the Raiders in Week 9 as a result of his hip and knee injuries, but managed to retake the field and finish with a 66 percent snap share on offense.

Long secured one of three targets for six yards during Sunday's 30-29 win against the Raiders.

The 27-year-old led Jacksonville's tight ends with a 66 percent snap share despite briefly exiting Sunday's contest due to hip and knee injuries. Long continues to operate as Jacksonville's No. 1 tight end with Brenton Strange (quadriceps) still on injured reserve, though he has just six receptions for 44 yards since Strange sustained the injury.

Long (hip/knee) was cleared to return to Sunday's game against the Raiders, per the Fox NFL broadcast.

Long briefly left Sunday's game after sustaining hip and knee injuries, but he was cleared to return after being evaluated by medical staff. The fifth-year tight end is making his second start of the regular season after Brenton Strange (quadriceps) was placed on injured reserve Oct. 10.

Long (hip/knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Raiders, John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site reports.

Long sustained hip and knee injuries while hauling in a 24-yard pass from Trevor Lawrence midway through the second quarter. The Jaguars are already without Brenton Strange (quadriceps - IR) and Quintin Morris (groin) for Week 9. If Long is not cleared to return, that would leave Johnny Mundt as the only healthy tight end on the active roster for the rest of Sunday's contest.

Long caught two of three targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 35-7 loss to the Rams.

With Brenton Strange (hip) sidelined due to an injury, Long operated as the Jaguars' No. 1 tight end in the Week 7 loss. However, the increase in playing time didn't translate to production, as Long finished Sunday's contest with the sixth-most targets (three) and receiving yards (16) on the team. The 27-year-old is expected to remain Jacksonville's top tight end until Strange returns from injured reserve, but that likely won't yield significant fantasy value. His next opportunity to take the field will likely come in Week 9 against the Raiders.

Long caught one pass for three yards in the Jaguars' win over the Chiefs on Monday night.

With Brenton Strange (hip) missing the second half of Monday's win, Long was the biggest beneficiary in terms of playing time, as he logged a season-high 60 percent of the offensive snaps. Long did little with the added playing time and has a 7-44-2 receiving line on eight targets across five games this season.

Long caught all three of his targets for 23 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 26-21 win over the 49ers.

Long has now caught five of six targets for 35 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks while playing just 35 offensive snaps. Although the 27-year-old played fewer snaps (21) than Johnny Mundt (22) in Week 4, he appears to be emerging as Jacksonville's top reserve vertical-threat tight end. Long will likely retain a similar role in the Jaguars' Week 5 matchup with the Chiefs, working behind Brenton Strange.

Long caught two of three targets for 12 yards during Sunday's 17-10 win over the Texans.

The 27-year-old played 14 offensive snaps in Jacksonville's Week 3 win, more than doubling his total from the first two games combined (seven). Despite his increase in snaps, Long still operated as the Jaguars' No. 3 tight end, playing behind Johnny Mundt (18 offensive snaps) and Brenton Strange (54 offensive snaps). Long is expected to remain a depth option in the Jags' tight end room ahead of a Week 4 matchup against the 49ers.

Long (ankle) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Texans.

Long has played seven offensive snaps through two games and carries no fantasy value.

Long (ankle) returned to a limited practice Thursday, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Long was listed as DNP on Wednesday, but his return to the field Thursday would indicate he has a chance to play Sunday against the Texans. Long has played seven offensive snaps through two games, catching his lone target for a six-yard touchdown.

Long (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Long has played primarily on special teams through two weeks of the season, and he handled a normal allotment of snaps in Week 2. As a result, it's unclear when he suffered the injury, though he'll have the chance to get on the field twice more before Jacksonville takes on the Texans in Week 3.

Long caught his lone target for a six-yard touchdown during Sunday's 26-10 win against the Panthers.

The 27-year-old played just seven offensive snaps but cashed in for his first NFL touchdown during the second quarter. Johnny Mundt played 50 percent of the offensive snaps as Jacksonville's No. 2 tight end, so Long appears entrenched as the team's third tight end.

Long has made some standout plays early in training camp and appears to have the inside track to the No. 2 tight end job, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

The 26-year-old inked a two-year, $5 million contract with Jacksonville in March and has had a strong start to camp, giving him an early edge over Johnny Mundt (upper body) for the backup job to starting tight end Brenton Strange. Long failed to have much of an impact across his first three NFL seasons, but he played in all 17 games for the Rams last year and caught seven passes for 60 yards.

Long (undisclosed) participated in Sunday's training camp practice, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

Long suffered an unspecified injury during this past Tuesday's practice, but he has recovered enough to return to the field for Sunday's session. The 2021 third-rounder signed a two-year contract with the Jaguars in March after spending the past two seasons with the Rams. Long is competing with Johnny Mundt (upper body) and Quintin Morris for backup tight end duties behind projected starter Brenton Strange.

Long (undisclosed) suffered an apparent injury late during Tuesday's practice and limped off the field, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Long made a highlight play during Tuesday's practice, per Jamal St. Cyr and Justin Barney of News4JAGS, but he appeared to get somewhat banged up in the process. It remains to be seen how long, if at all, Long will be sidelined. He's competing for opportunities behind Brenton Strange and Johnny Mundt (upper body) in a tight end corps that saw Evan Engram depart for Denver earlier this offseason.

Long is slated to sign with the Jaguars on a two-year, $5 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Long handled a reserve role while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games with the Rams in 2024, securing seven of nine targets for 60 yards. He also played a notable role on special teams. The release of Evan Engram (shoulder) leaves ample opportunities up for grabs in Jacksonville's tight end room, though Brenton Strange seems the current favorite to benefit most. New Jaguars general manager James Gladstone boasts familiarity with Long's skillset, though, having spent nine seasons with the Rams from 2016-24, so he may have personal reasons to be optimistic that the tight end still has untapped potential for development.

Long played six snaps on offense and 24 snaps on special teams during Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.

Long's tenure with the Rams was mostly forgettable, and his stat line during the divisional-round loss echoed his stats for the majority of the regular season. Despite entering a timeshare with Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen for much of the season, Long only managed seven catches for 60 yards despite playing in all 17 regular-season contests. The Rams have significant investments in Tyler Higbee and Parkinson for 2025, and with Allen still on his rookie contract, Long looks to be the odd man out as he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Long (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Long injured his knee during the Rams' Week 18 loss to the Seahawks. He didn't return to that game, but his full practice Thursday indicates that his knee injury is not a serious matter. Unless he suffers a setback, Long should be good to go against the Vikings in Monday's NFC wild-card game.

Long (knee) is doubtful to return to Sunday's contest against the Seahawks, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Long suffered a knee injury in the first half versus Los Angeles, and he now appears to be set to be done for the day. The tight end failed to garner a target or record any stats before his departure. In Long's absence, Davis Allen stands to see an increase in workload with the Rams' offense.

Long secured both of his targets for 17 yards during Thursday's 12-6 victory against the 49ers.

The two catches by Long were his first since Week 9, despite averaging 19 snaps per game in the five contests between catches. The three-man rotation at tight end is likely to add a fourth name to that list next week as Tyler Higbee (knee) is likely to return, which will almost certainly depress Long and Davis Allen's already meager snap counts even more.

Long played nine of the Rams' 70 offensive snaps and finished with a target in Monday's 23-15 loss to the Dolphins.

Long ranked third among Los Angeles tight ends in playing time, trailing Davis Allen (56 snaps) and Colby Parkinson (11 snaps). Though he's held a modest role for much of the season, Long had recorded at least one reception in each of the past four games before seeing that streak come to an end Monday. Long should continue to remain the Rams' third tight end Sunday at New England, but he could be at risk of moving to the inactive list if/when Tyler Higbee (knee) is cleared to return from the PUP list.

Long secured both of his targets for 16 yards during Sunday's 24-19 loss to the Packers.

While Long's 17 snaps on offense was a typical week of usage for the fourth-year tight end, the two catches marked his first as a Ram. Starting tight end Colby Parkinson led the team with 13 targets, which he turned into seven catches for 52 yards. Fellow backup Davis Allen failed to secure his only target and was on the field for just three snaps, leaving Long as the primary backup to Parkinson heading into the Rams' Week 6 bye.

Long failed to bring in either of his two targets during Saturday's 13-9 victory against the Chargers.

The battle to start the season as the No. 2 tight end behind Colby Parkinson while Tyler Higbee (knee) remains on the mend seems to be leaning towards Davis Allen claiming the role. Long hasn't done anything to make himself stand out over the second-year pro, and Allen showed enough when called upon in the latter half of the 2023 campaign to secure a roster spot. Long will likely be the tertiary option at tight end to start the year unless he breaks out in a big way against the Texans in the Rams' preseason finale, and will likely struggle to find snaps on offense even before Higbee's eventual return.

Long (knee) has been an active participant at the Rams' OTA sessions, Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire reports.

Long finished the 2023 campaign on injured reserve following MCL surgery, but he now looks to be fully healthy heading into the 2024. The tight end appeared in four games last season, failing to garner a target while playing 54 offensive snaps and he projects to be a depth option behind Tyler Higbee (knee), Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen this year.

Long (knee) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.

Long was already reportedly set for season-ending MCL surgery, so this news doesn't come as much of a surprise. The Boston College product's third NFL season will come to a close with just four games played and no catches or targets. He'll now focus on his recovery and returning healthy in 2024.

Long will require season-ending MCL surgery, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic and Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register report.

Long was carted to the locker room during Sunday's game against the Ravens, and he'll be out for the rest of the season, which further taxes a Rams tight end corps that was also without Tyler Higbee (neck) in Week 14. For now, Davis Allen -- who caught four of five targets for 50 yards and a touchdown versus Baltimore -- and Brycen Hopkins are the team's healthiest options at the position.

Long (knee) was carted to the locker room and is considered doubtful to return to Sunday's game against the Ravens, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Long appears to have sustained a signficiant knee injury at some point during the first half, as his departure via a cart likely indicates he won't be available to return for the remainder of the contest. The third-year tight end appeared in just three game coming into Sunday, but his absence will now leave the Rams without their top two tight ends, as starter Tyler Higbee (neck) is already inactive. Brycen Hopkins and rookie Davis Allen will have to step up into bigger roles for the time being.

The Rams activated Long from their injured reserve list Tuesday.

Long finally appears to be on track to make his 2023 debut following the Rams' bye in Week 10. When he suits up, he'll probably poach some snaps away from Brycen Hopkins.

Long (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 9 game versus Green Bay, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Long was designated to return from IR on Oct. 25, but he wasn't activated for Week 8 against Dallas despite logging a trio of full practice sessions ahead of that contest. The third-year tight end practiced in full all three days this week as well, but the Rams are opting to hold him out for another game. Los Angeles is on bye next week, so Long's next chance to suit up will be Sunday, Nov. 19 against Seattle.

Long (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.

Long was placed on IR with a hamstring injury in early September. The Rams designated him to return this week, and the tight end was able to log three full practice sessions. However, the team isn't yet ready to activate him. Long's next chance to make his regular-season debut with Los Angeles will come Week 9 in Green Bay.

Long (hamstring) was designated to return from injured reserve and logged a full practice with the Rams on Wednesday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Long was placed on IR prior to the season with a hamstring injury, but he will now have 21 days to practice with the team and be activated. If he fails to return to the active roster prior to the end of the three-week window, he'll revert to IR for the rest of the 2023 campaign. The tight end was part of the Rams' trade with the Miami in September in which they shipped off cornerback Jalen Ramsey and he appeared in nine games with the Dolphins in 2022, failing to record a catch over 90 offensive snaps.

Long (thigh) was placed on injured reserve Saturday

Long had already been ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest against the Seahawks, and he'll now miss at least the next four weeks due to a thigh injury. The only player included in the Jalen Ramsey trade this offseason, Long's absence will now cede more playing time to Brycen Hopkins and Davis Allen behind starter Tyler Higbee.

Coach Sean McVay said Friday that Long (thigh) could be placed on injured reserve this week, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Long was part of the return from the Dolphins in the Jalen Ramsey trade, but he's been hurt ever since joining the Rams. He didn't play at all during the preseason and could be sidelined even longer. Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins and Davis Allen will handle the tight end snaps for Los Angeles.

Long (hamstring) has been ruled out Week 1 against the Seahawks, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Long was removed from the Rams' active/PUP list on Aug. 26 after passing a physical, though he'll have to wait for at least one week before making his season debut. Bryce Hopkins could see a small uptick in snaps operating behind Tyler Higbee while Davis Allen will assume the No. 3 tight end spot in Long's absence.

The Rams removed Long (undisclosed) from the PUP list Saturday after he passed a physical, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Long was placed on the active/PUP list to begin training camp, and Rams coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that there was a chance he could open the regular season on the list as well. The 25-year-old tight end will now be available to play Week 1. However, the nature of this initial injury was never revealed, leaving it unclear if Long will play Sunday, Aug. 10 versus Seattle.

Coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that the possibility of Long (undisclosed) beginning the 2023 season on the PUP list hasn't been ruled out, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.

The Rams placed Long on the active/PUP with an undisclosed injury late July. The issue has forced him to miss two preseason games and weeks of valuable training camp reps already, McVay said he hopes Long can return soon, but at this point the team may consider keeping him on the PUP list simply so he doesn't take up a spot on the 53-man roster. If Long does start Week 1 on the PUP list, he will be forced to miss at least the first four games of the season.

Long (undisclosed) was placed on the active/PUP list Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Long's injury and recovery time is unclear; however, his placement on the active, as opposed to reserve, PUP list suggests it may be minor. The 2021 third-round selection was dealt to the Rams in March as part of the Jalen Ramsey trade, and he figures to compete for the No. 3 tight-end spot behind Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins, once Long can prove he is healthy.

Long was traded Sunday along with a 2023 third-round pick to the Rams in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Long will be included as a complementary piece in one of the 2023 offseason's most notable trades up until this point. The 6-foot-5 tight end will finish his two-year career in Miami with just one career catch, as he saw extremely sparse offensive usage over 16 regular-season games during this span. Long figures to primarily slot in for the Rams as a blocking tight end behind Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins.

Long (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Texans.

Although Long missed Miami's Week 10 matchup versus Cleveland due to a concussion and has since cleared protocols, he'll still be sidelined this weekend as a result of a coach's decision. Durham Smythe and Tanner Conner are subject to receive larger workloads this weekend behind usual starter Mike Gesicki.

Long (concussion) does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Texans.

Long missed Miami's Week 10 contest against Cleveland while in concussion protocol, but he was able to recover during the team's bye in Week 11. He officially cleared the protocol Friday and will return to his rotational role in the offense while also having a significant workload on special teams.

Long (concussion) logged a full practice session Wednesday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Long landed in the NFL's concussion protocol Nov. 9 following Miami's Week 9 win over Chicago. He was unable to return for the team's Week 10 win against Cleveland but had some time to recover during the Dolphins' Week 11 bye. It appears that Long has a good chance of suiting up Sunday against Houston, though his potential return won't make much of an impact in fantasy, as he's het to receive a target or record any counting stats so far this season.

Long (concussion/illness) was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Browns, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Long was placed in concussion protocol Wednesday and was unable to practice at all during Week 10 as a result. The 24-year-old is now also dealing with an unspecified illness, though he'll have an extra week to work his way back before Miami's next contest against Houston on Sunday, Nov. 27. Long has not recorded a catch while playing 58 offensive snaps over five games this season, so his absence shouldn't play much of a factor in Sunday's game against Cleveland.

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.

Long (ankle) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Long didn't play in Week 4, marking a third straight absence due to an ankle injury, but he appears to have cleared the issue and, barring a setback, is in line to return in Week 5. If available, the second-year tight end will likely slide into his usual role behind Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe.

Long (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's contest against the Bengals, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Hunter will miss a third straight game due to an ankle injury. Fellow backup tight end Cethan Carter (concussion) has also been ruled out again, so Tanner Conner should continue to operate as the reserve tight end behind Mike Gesicki and Druham Smythe.

Long (ankle) is listed as a non-participant on Tuesday's practice report.

Long has already missed two straight games due to the ankle injury, and given his lack of on-field activity so far this week, he looks to be trending toward another absence Thursday in Cincinnati. The second-year tight end will be limited to a depth role behind Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe whenever he's healthy.

Long (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.

Long will miss a second straight game after picking up an ankle issue during the season opener. The extent of the injury remains unclear, but he hasn't practiced since before Week 1. Cethan Carter (concussion) also remains out, so Tanner Conner will continue to operate as the backup behind Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe, who both garner sizable roles in Miami's offense.

Long (ankle) is listed as inactive for Sunday's game against the Ravens.

After missing the Dolphins' first two practices of the week due to an ankle injury he sustained, Long will not travel with the team to Baltimore. With the 24-year-old off the field, Tanner Conner will will likely take over the team's No. 3 tight end role for his season debut.

Long (ankle) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Ravens.

Long will focus on his recovery and not travel with the team to Baltimore. As a result, Tanner Conner will serve as the team's No. 3 tight end behind Durham Smythe and Mike Gesicki.

Long (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel reports.

It has already been a long season for the reserve tight end on the injury front, as he played through an illness in the season opener against the Jets. Long missed Miami's first two practices of the week due to this ankle injury before returning to a limited session Friday to give himself a chance to suit up in Week 2.

Long (illness) will play Sunday against the Jets.

Long started the week absent from practice but after logging a limited practice Thursday, he was a full participant Friday. The 2021 third-round selection would likely benefit if Adam Shaheen (knee) were to sit, but he'd still at least be behind Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe on the Dolphins' tight end positional depth chart.

Long didn't participate in Wednesday's practice session due to a non-COVID illness, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

Long recorded his first reception of the season in Week 13 but is dealing with an illness ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets. Even if he's unable to suit up in Week 15, his absence wouldn't have a significant impact on Miami's offense.

Long secured his only target for eight yards during Sunday's win over the Giants.

Long began his rookie season with a significant injury suffered back in August, and it took him some time to get up to speed, but he's now been active and handled a depth role in back-to-back games. The young tight end isn't yet on the fantasy radar, as he's only seen two targets through five appearances, but in dynasty formats his development will be worth monitoring.

Long (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Long played in Week 6 against the Jaguars, but he only had one target and didn't record a single catch. He's made three appearances this season and has played just 29 snaps, so him being inactive shouldn't affect many fantasy rosters across all formats.

Long (coach's decision) is listed as inactive ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Bills.

Long is a healthy scratch Sunday after Adam Shaheen was activated from the COVID-19 list this week. The rookie registered 23 total snaps (18 offensive) during his first NFL action against the Patriots in Week 1.

Long (lower body) is participating in practice Thursday, Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald reports.

The rookie tight end was carted off the practice field due to what seemed like a worrying lower body injury roughly two weeks ago, but he's managed to quickly return to health. Long is still visibly playing through leg pain, per Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post, but it doesn't appear that the Dolphins are concerned about him aggravating any injuries. Now that he's back on the field, Long will resume competing to push Adam Shaheen and Durham Smythe for rotational reps behind top tight end Mike Gesicki.

Long (lower body) is participating in some team drills Tuesday, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Long appears to be limited at Tuesday's practice, but it's certainly encouraging to see him handle blocking drills just over a week after he had to be carted off the field due to a lower-body injury. The Dolphins have a number of reliable tight ends atop the depth chart, namely Mike Gesicki, Adam Shaheen and Durham Smythe, so the team can freely take a cautious approach to Long's recovery. Still, it looks like the rookie third-round pick could have a chance at suiting up for action at some point during the preseason.

Long (lower body) will not play Saturday against the Bears, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel reports.

The rookie was carted off the field last Sunday and was reportedly unable to put any weight on his left leg, but he evidently avoided a significant injury and has been without a brace for most of this week. The Dolphins will obviously play it safe with their third-round pick which means Long will wait to make his professional debut until later in the preseason.

Coach Brian Flores said Wednesday that Long (lower body) is considered day-to-day, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Long was carted off the field Sunday with what's being described as a lower-body injury, and he was reportedly unable to put any weight on his left leg afterward. However, the tight end has avoided a serious injury, and he was seen walking around on the sideline at Wednesday's practice without a brace or sleeve. The 2021 third-rounder will compete for a role in the Dolphins' offense behind Mike Gesicki once he's able to return to the field.

Long (lower-body) is not believed to have suffered a season-ending injury, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Long had to be carted off the field Sunday after suffering what appeared to be a left knee issue, but which Schad now describes as a lower-body injury. It was reported that Long was unable to put any weight on his left leg after suffering the injury, so it will be cause to breathe a sigh of relief if he's indeed avoided a season-ending issue. Durham Smythe and Adam Shaheen will handle reps behind top tight end Mike Gesicki in the meantime.

Long was carted off the field Sunday after suffering an apparent leg injury, Kyle Crabbs of USA TODAY Sports reports.

The report notes that the rookie tight end couldn't put any weight on his left leg after suffering the injury, so it looks like Long could miss some time. The 2021 third-rounder had been looking to carve out a role in the Dolphins' passing offense behind top option Mike Gesicki (who is on the Reserve/COVID 19 list), while competing with Durham Smythe and Adam Shaheen for slotting.