Tight end health will be a key factor heading into the 2026 NFL season, with several impact players returning from significant injuries or continuing to recover from offseason surgeries. From ACL tears and back procedures to Achilles and knee injuries, each recovery presents unique questions about availability, workload and early-season effectiveness. Here's the latest injury outlook, recovery progress and SIC Health Scores for the tight ends with the biggest medical storylines heading into the 2026 season.

George Kittle - Achilles Rupture - SIC Score 76

Kittle is currently recovering after tearing his Achilles during the wild-card round of last year's playoffs, an injury that required surgery and sidelined him for six games in 2025. He's targeting a Week 1 return and has provided encouraging updates throughout the offseason, including resuming running at notable speeds, with his head coach and general manager echoing optimism for the opener. Even if he avoids PUP and makes his Week 1 target, he may look more like a run blocker early on than a downfield pass catcher, with his pre-injury explosiveness taking longer to return. Kittle enters his age-33 season with a history of frequent ailments, including past knee, foot, calf, shoulder, and core issues, though he's typically managed to play through them.Tucker Kraft

Sam LaPorta - Back - SIC Score 86

Sam LaPorta enters the 2026 season recovering from surgery to repair a fully herniated spinal disc that ended his 2025 campaign. The injury developed from the cumulative effects of repeated hits before fully herniating around Week 10 against Washington, leading to surgery in November and a season-ending stint on injured reserve. LaPorta finished the year with 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. During the Lions' mandatory minicamp, he was a limited participant, taking part in walkthrough and jog-through periods with the first-team offense while sitting out full-speed position, 7-on-7, and team drills. Head coach Dan Campbell said LaPorta was "trending the right way," and the expectation is that he will be fully available when training camp begins. Recent reports confirm LaPorta is fully cleared for the start of camp.

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David Njoku - Left Knee - SIC Score 88

David Njoku is fully healthy after suffering a left PCL sprain during a Week 14 game against the Titans. The injury occurred while making a diving touchdown catch and ultimately caused him to miss the remainder of the regular season. Despite the setback, Njoku finished the year with 33 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games.

After signing with the Chargers this offseason, he was a full participant throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp with no apparent lingering effects from the knee injury. Njoku enters training camp with no structural limitations and is expected to play a key role in Mike McDaniel's offense. The only caveat is that the severity of the PCL sprain was never disclosed. While the fact that surgery was not required is encouraging, we still want to see him regain his full explosiveness before giving him a complete green light.

Harold Fannin Jr. - Groin - SIC Score 95

Harold Fannin Jr. battled a lingering groin injury late in his standout rookie season after first tweaking the muscle during a Week 17 practice. Although he started the game against the Steelers and caught a touchdown on the opening drive, he aggravated the injury and was forced to leave early. The groin strain ultimately kept him out of the regular-season finale, but he still finished his rookie campaign with a team-leading 72 receptions for 731 yards and six touchdowns.

Fannin did not participate in OTAs or mandatory minicamp as he continued recovering from an undisclosed injury that is widely believed to be related to the late-season groin issue. His status will be worth monitoring entering training camp, though based on the recovery timeline, he is expected to be healthy and ready to participate.

Tucker Kraft - Right Knee (ACL/LCL/Meniscus) - SIC Score 72

Tucker Kraft enters the 2026 season in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL suffered during a Week 9 game against the Panthers in November 2025. The injury also included minor damage to his LCL and meniscus, ending his season. Kraft did not participate in team drills during mandatory minicamp, instead remaining in the rehab group while continuing to make significant progress. He was observed sprinting on the field during workouts, reaching speeds of approximately 21.5 mph, an encouraging milestone in his recovery. Kraft is expected to begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, but both he and head coach Matt LaFleur have expressed optimism that he will be ready for Week 1 without restrictions. 7/27 Has officially been placed on the PUP list

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