Chargers' game status

QUESTIONABLE — Nick Vannett, Zion Johnson, Deane Leonard

DOUBTFUL — Kenneth Murray Jr., Tanner Muse, Nick Williams

OUT — Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer, Joey Bosa

Related Players: Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton, Alex Erickson

The Chargers offense is circling the drain, and one more lost WR isn't going to help things. Avoiding everyone but Austin Ekeler is probably the best course of action.

Saints TE Adam Trautman has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Related Player: Nick Vannett

If Trautman cannot play Week 16, Vannett will be the only viable tight end available for New Orleans.

Saints’ TE Adam Trautman suffered a sprained MCL during Sunday’s loss to the Eagles that is expected to sideline him 4-6 weeks, per source.

Related players: Juwan Johnson, Nick Vannett

Trautman was having a nice game before the injury, catching five balls for 58 yards and a TD. Vannett caught one ball for 20 yards and likely sees an increased role. Johnson is a name to watch as well, having a 2-36-0 line back on Nov. 14, with his best game a 3-21-2 line Sept. 12. He has three TDs total on the season but has never had more than three targets in a game this year.

The New Orleans Saints will be without TE Nick Vannett (knee) for 2-4 weeks, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. He joins Adam Trautman on the sidelines for the immediate future.

Related Player: Juwan Johnson

Bad news for Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Trautman was/is expected to be the main catching tight end, while Vannett the main blocking tight end. Word out of camp has Juwan Johnson as a wild card following an impressive showing the past few weeks and could be the starting tight end to open 2021. The converted wide receiver saw a snap increase during New Orleans's Week 2 preseason game following injuries to Trautman and Vannett.

Broncos tight end Albert Okwuegbunam sustained a torn right ACL in Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, a source confirmed Monday.

Related players: Noah Fant, Nick Vannett

Okwuegbunam, who was slowed by a hip injury late in training camp, played 15 snaps against the Falcons and was injured on his only target (and reception) of the game. On a seven-yard catch, Okwuegbunam was tackled by cornerback A.J. Terrell and defensive tackle Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. It appeared that Okwuegbunam’s right knee planted into the turf awkwardly. Fant and Vannett will look to lead the way at TE, with Fant the guy to own on fantasy teams.

The Broncos have the players to roll two tight ends in and out of the game. Nick Vannett and Noah Fant would be the starters in “12.” Jake Butt is healthy and versatile. Rookie Albert Okwuegbunam is a receiving threat. And Andrew Beck can play fullback and tight end.

Projected third receiver K.J. Hamler (hamstring) remains out. The first month of the season presents edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney (Titans), T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh) and Shaq Barrett (Tampa Bay), which means using the tight end in protection. And the best way to ease a young offense into the season is by having an effective running game. The extra tight end helps there, too, the story all said.

Through two weeks of training camp practices, Nick Vannett has often lined up in a three-point stance next to right tackle Elijah Wilkinson or left tackle Garett Bolles. But Vannett has looked comfortable as a downfield receiver, too, which should be another wrinkle for offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to utilize.

Related players Noah Fant

Vannett projected as more of a blocking TE but is starting to show signs as a receiving threat. Most of that work is supposed to go to Fant and probably still will. Even the story said Vannett isn’t going to be a 30- or 40-catch guy — there are too many other players to get touches, led by Fant, receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy and running backs Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay. But he has 12, 29 and 17 catches the past three years so his sweet spot might be 20 to 25 receptions, the story projected

Noah Fant hopes to parlay the momentum he built over the second half of last year into 2020, as he’s the leading man in a deep tight end room that also features free-agent acquisition Nick Vannett, returnee Troy Fumagalli and rookie Albert Okwuegbunam. Fant put on about 5 to 10 pounds and is ready for a versatile role within new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s system.

Fant was quoted in the story as saying he'll be in the slot, in-line and outside as a wide receiver, adding he loves playing outside as a WR. However, Fant would be ranked higher if not for the Broncos’ offseason acquisitions of Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, who are likely to pinch Fant’s targets, which weren’t that high to start with (4.1 per game in 2019). He was also a sub 60%-snap player in the final month of the season, which is a bit worrisome. Fant is ranked 20th on our TE list.