Healthy to enter Week 13

Shaheen (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Shaheen suffered a head injury during Chicago's win over the Vikings in Week 11 and has now cleared the league-mandated concussion protocol. The 2017 second-round pick is on track to suit up against the Giants on Sunday and will serve as the primary backup to Trey Burton. He'll look to earn his first target of the season.

Won't play Thursday

Shaheen (concussion) isn't traveling with the team to Detroit for Thursday's game.

Analysis: Shaheen's absence Thursday was to be expected since he was unable to practice this week after suffering the concussion in Sunday's win over the Vikings. Ben Braunecker should serve as the Bears' No. 2 tight end Thursday against the Lions.

Doesn't practice Wednesday

Shaheen (concussion) didn't participate in practice Wednesday.

Analysis: Shaheen sustained the concussion in the fourth quarter of Sunday's matchup with the Vikings. It seems unlikely that Shaheen will recover and clear the league's concussion protocol before Chicago's matchup with the Lions on Thursday. As long as Shaheen's sidelined, Ben Braunecker could see an increase in work.

No practice Tuesday

Shaheen is under the league's concussion protocol and sat out Tuesday's practice.

Analysis: Shaheen suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of Sunday's matchup with the Vikings. The tight end will need to clear the league's concussion protocol before he's eligible to play, though with the Bears set to face off with the Lions on Thursday, that seems like a long shot. Ben Braunecker will likely see an increased workload if Shaheen is inactive.

Being evaluated for concussion

Shaheen exited Sunday's game against the Vikings to be evaluated for a concussion, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Shaheen's head snapped against the turf while the tight end came down with a reception in the corner of the end zone on a successful two-point conversion. Given how little time remains in the game, Shaheen is likely done for the day.

Returns from injured reserve

Shaheen (foot/ankle) was activated off injured reserve Saturday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Shaheen resumed practice Nov. 7 and coach Matt Nagy indicated earlier this week he was still considered day-to-day, but the placement of fellow tight end Dion Sims (concussion) on IR prompted the move. Shaheen isn't a lock to play Sunday's game against the Vikings given his recent return to practice, but his quick activation is a great sign for how the team sees his situation. The 2017 second-round pick should be considered questionable for Sunday's divisional tilt for now, and will likely slot…read more

Status uncertain for Week 11

Coach Matt Nagy wouldn't commit to Shaheen (foot/ankle) being activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against the Vikings, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports. "I hope so, but I don't know," Nagy said, when asked if the tight end was ready to make his season debut.

Analysis: Shaheen resumed practicing Nov. 7, but because he hasn't been added back to the 53-man roster yet, the Bears aren't obligated to reveal the extent of his on-field participation. It thus remains unclear how well Shaheen is progressing from the sprained right foot and ankle that he first suffered in August. Nagy recently labeled Shaheen as day-to-day, which at least implies that the 25-year-old remains under consideration for an activation from IR at some point. The Bears have until Nov. 28 to…read more

Viewed as day-to-day

Coach Matt Nagy labeled Shaheen (foot) as "day-to-day" Thursday, Adam Hoge of WGN Radio 720 AM Chicago reports. "We're just making sure if he does play [Sunday against the Vikings], give us what we need," Nagy said of the tight end.

Analysis: The Bears designated Shaheen to return from injured reserve last Wednesday, giving the team until Nov. 28 to decide whether he's fit for a return to the active roster or if he'll be shut down for the rest of the season. Nagy's comments cast some doubt on Shaheen's readiness to contribute in Week 11, but the Bears will presumably wait and see what he's able to do at practices Thursday and Friday before making a call on his status.

Designated to return from IR

Shaheen (foot/ankle) practiced Wednesday, officially opening a three-week window in which he can be added to the 53-man roster, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Analysis: Shaheen is nearing the end of the road in his recovery from a sprained right foot and ankle, which he sustained during the second week of the preseason. Now back on the practice field, he'll have 21 days to prove that he's healthy enough to contribute during the second half of the campaign. If he does gets activated, Shaheen will play second fiddle -- at best -- to starting tight end Trey Burton.

Nearing return to practice

Coach Matt Nagy said that Shaheen (foot) is "getting very close" and could return to practice this week, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Shaheen has lingered on injured reserve since the start of the season and has not yet been cleared to practice, despite participating in pregame warmups since Week 7. Whenever the 2017 second-round pick is able to retake the field, he's expected to serve as the team's No. 2 tight end behind Trey Burton. The Bears' first official practice of the week will occur Wednesday, during which time Shaheen appears to have a chance to take part.

Won't practice this week

Shaheen (foot/ankle) is making progress in his recovery but won't practice this week, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Shaheen has worked out on the field during pregame warmups the past two weeks, but he apparently hasn't shown quite enough improvement to warrant reinstatement for practice. The Bears want to be cautious about the timing of his activation from injured reserve, as they'll have only two weeks to assess his health before deciding whether to bring him back on the 53-man roster or keep him on IR for the rest of the season. If healthy at some point in November, Shaheen would likely handle a small…read more

Works out on field Sunday

Shaheen (foot/ankle) worked out on the field prior to Sunday's game against the Jets, Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Analysis: For the second week in a row, Shaheen has been active during pregame warmups. On this occasion, he was seen hopping on one foot and high-knee running. While the activity was minimal, he seems to be trending toward an appearance in practice. Whether that happens this week or not remains to be seen, but Shaheen is eligible to be activated from injured reserve and play as early as next Sunday at Buffalo.

Still not ready for practice

Shaheen (foot/ankle) still hasn't returned to practice, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Analysis: Placed on injured reserve at the start of the season, Shaheen was eligible to resume practicing last week and will first be eligible to play Week 9 in Buffalo (Nov. 4). His continued absence from the practice field suggests his target date may need to be pushed back to mid-November or perhaps even later. The 2017 second-round pick should eventually get some snaps on early downs and near the goal line, but he doesn't pose much of a threat to No. 1 tight end Trey Burton's workload.

Progressing well

Shaheen (foot, ankle) is making progress and hopes to be ready when eligible to return in Week 9, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times reports.

Analysis: Although it's great news that Shaheen is on the mend, it's fair to question how much opportunity there will be to go around in the Bears' low-volume passing attack. Until Trey Burton starts to be a strong fantasy performer, it'll be tough to see Chicago supporting two reliable fantasy options at tight end.

Placed on injured reserve

Shaheen (foot) was placed on injured reserve Sunday, Larry Meyer of the Bears' official site reports.

Analysis: Shaheen wasn't originally expected to land on IR after suffering a sprained right ankle and foot during the Bears' preseason win over the Broncos Aug. 18, but he'll be a candidate to return to the active roster after spending at least the first eight weeks of the season on the sideline. The tight end won't need surgery to repair the issue, so the Bears expect him to play at some point in 2018. Trey Burton remains the No. 1 option at TE in Chicago with Dion Sims (concussion), Ben Braunecker and…read more

Not ticketed for IR

Coach Matt Nagy doesn't expect Shaheen (foot, ankle) to be placed on injured reserve, Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "There's different things that could happen with [Shaheen]," Nagy said. "But again we're waiting for the results to come back from these different opinions and then we'll have a much clearer picture with that."

Analysis: Shaheen suffered foot and ankle sprains during the second week of the preseason, leaving his Week 1 availability in question. The nature of Nagy's conversation suggests the tight end will miss the early part of the season, but it does at least seem that the Bears aren't yet considering IR. The 2017 second-round pick was expected to fill a part-time role behind prized offseason acquisition Trey Burton, potentially sharing in-line snaps with Dion Sims (concussion).

Nursing foot sprain along with ankle issue

Bears head coach Matt Nagy said Tuesday that tests on Shaheen's sprained right ankle also revealed that the tight end is dealing with a sprained foot, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Fortunately for Shaheen, the former injury is classified as a low-ankle sprain rather than a high-ankle issue, which would necessitate a longer recovery timetable. Nagy relayed that while Shaheen also isn't dealing with any sort of fracture, the Bears don't have a clear timeline for the second-year player's return to action. In all likelihood, he'll be held out for the rest of the preseason, with Shaheen's participation level in the Bears' practices leading up to Week 1 likely to dictate his…read more

Could still play Week 1

Shaneen has been diagnosed with a low-ankle sprain but has not been ruled out to play Week 1, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Shaheen is still undergoing further testing on the injury, but it appears that the tight end avoided a serious ankle injury. Expect an update on Shaheen's timetable to come at some point later this week.

Set for further evaluation

Shaheen will undergo further testing after suffering an ankle injury in Saturday's preseason game against the Broncos, Brad Briggs of The Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Shaheen made one catch for five yards before exiting Saturday's game. The severity of the injury, which will be known within the next few days, will impact the 2017 second-round pick's ability to battle Dion Sims (concussion) for the No. 2 TE gig behind Trey Burton. Shaheen's coming off a mild rookie campaign of 12 receptions for 127 yards and three touchdowns, and will be an afterthought in the fantasy realm as long as Burton is on board.

Injures ankle

Shaheen injured his ankle and is doubtful to return to Saturday's preseason game against the Broncos, Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Analysis: Shaheen appeared to injure his right ankle after catching a five-yard pass from starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in the first quarter. The tight end was able to work his way over to the sidelines, but Shaheen was eventually carted to the locker room. We should know more about the severity of his injury in the coming days.

Hauls in three passes

Shaheen caught three passes for 53 yards in Thursday's game against the Bengals.

Analysis: Shaheen caught all of his passes on a single drive with the second-team offense, including a 29-yard catch and run on a crossing pattern. Despite the team having signed Trey Burton to a big contract, Shaheen figures to be a full-time player based on his ability as an in-line blocker. Although it's unlikely he'll be a starting-caliber fantasy option, he'll be a player to watch in the event he becomes a bigger part of the Bears offense than expected.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy sees Shaheen as a good fit as a traditional in-line tight end with added versatility, Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Analysis: With Trey Burton having been signed to man the "U" position in the offense -- the same receiver/tight end hybrid role that Travis Kelce excelled in when Nagy was the offensive coordinator with the Chiefs -- Shaheen will primarily be slotted for blocking duties. Nagy also stated that Shaheen can play Burton's hybrid role, but the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Shaheen projects to be a much better blocker. Since the odds of two tight ends seeing heavy involvement in the passing attack are small, Burton is…read more

Shaheen (chest) was inactive for the last three games of the 2017 season, and he finished the year with 12 receptions for 127 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games.

Analysis: After catching just one pass on two targets over the first eight games of the season, Shaheen posted at least 39 yards in three of his last five games while scoring twice during that span. On the season, he was targeted more than twice on just two occasions, but he certainly showed flashes that will cause fantasy managers to realize he's a player who could become a strong producer. Going into his second NFL season, he may still need another year or so to continue his development, but he could…read more

Shaheen (chest) is inactive for Sunday's Week 17 tilt against the Vikings.

Analysis: The rookie tight end will thus close out his first NFL season with three consecutive DNPs, capping off what was a reasonably successful initial foray into the NFL. Shaheen hauled in 12 of 14 targets for 127 yards and three touchdowns across 13 games, and his overall upside was undoubtedly capped to an extent by the Bears' inconsistent quarterback play and approach on offense at times. With a towering frame and ability to get downfield, he potentially has the tools to take a notable leap in Year…read more

Shaheen (chest) remained limited at practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Minnesota.

Analysis: Shaheen apparently has some chance to avoid a third straight absence to close out his rookie season, though he also was listed as questionable last week and didn't end up playing in a 20-3 win over the Browns. Dion Sims and Daniel Brown split snaps at tight end in that contest, combining to catch just one pass on four targets. The Bears once again figure to lean on their rushing attack and Kendall Wright, regardless of Shaheen's availability. The rookie second-round pick will be expected to…read more

Shaheen (chest) was limited at practice Wednesday, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Analysis: Prior to absences the last two games, Shaheen was listed as a limited participant on all three injury reports. Without an increase in activity, he appears to be an iffy candidate to return to action Sunday at Minnesota.

Shaheen (chest) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns.

Analysis: Shaheen was unable to advance past limited participation in practice this week, prompting the Bears to hold out the rookie for the second straight week. His absence leaves Dion Sims and Daniel Brown to handle most of the reps at tight end, though neither profiles as more than a fantasy dart in Week 16.

Shaheen (chest) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns.

Analysis: Shaheen was a limited participant at each practice this week, just as he was last week prior to being held out of Saturday's 20-10 loss to the Lions. A return to full participation would have instilled confidence, but it instead seems Shaheen could be a game-time decision ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. An absence would free up playing time for Daniel Brown, who caught three of four targets for 32 yards in Week 15.

Shaheen (chest) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis: Shaheen is merely replicating his activity level from a week ago, which resulted in the first DNP of his career Saturday at Detroit. The preceding indicates he may have to log a full practice before the Bears' training staff gives the all-clear for Sunday's matchup with the Browns.

Shaheen (chest) is listed as inactive Saturday at Detroit.

Analysis: Despite practicing in a limited basis all week, the Bears won't take any chances with their rookie tight end, who has shown promise the past five games with 10.4 YPT and two touchdowns. Dion Sims and Daniel Brown will handle the bulk of the tight-end reps Week 15.

Shaheen (chest) is questionable for Saturday's game at Detroit.

Analysis: Limited by a chest injury during Week 15 preparations, Shaheen will enter the weekend with a fog hanging over his status. Granted, his ability to practice makes him a decent bet to suit up, but the Bears won't confirm it until the release of their inactive list at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday. If active, his track record of late could yield fruit, as evidenced by 10.4 YPT and two touchdowns over the last five games.

Shaheen (chest) was listed as limited on Tuesday's injury report, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Analysis: Shaheen, the rookie, has been more involved in the Bears offense since a Week 9 bye. During that five-game span, he's reeled in 11 of 12 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. His usage may be a bit inconsistent behind starting tight end Dion Sims, but the end-zone visits are a nice payoff in the stretch run of the season. As for Shaheen's health, expect clarification on that front in advance of Saturday's contest at Detroit.

Shaheen caught four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Bengals.

Analysis: Shaheen was targeted a season-high five times against a Bengals secondary that was without three of its four starters, and he was wide open on three of his receptions. He should've had an even better day, but the one target he failed to haul was a drop that would've resulted in a short touchdown. It's difficult to predict continued success for the remainder of this season for the rookie tight end, as he was targeted just once over his previous two games, but his dynasty stock is sky high.

Shaheen wasn't targeted in Chicago's loss to the 49ers.

Analysis: Aside from a pair of fairly-productive performances when Dion Sims missed time, Shaheen has caught just one pass for one yard over the remaining 10 games. Although his dynasty stock is strong due to his outstanding athleticism, he won't likely have fantasy value this season unless the team goes into evaluation mode or should Sims miss additional time.

Shaheen caught all four of his targets for 41 yards and a touchdown during Chicago's 27-24 loss to Detroit.

Analysis: Shaheen helped extend the Bears' lead in the first quarter, running to the back corner of the end zone to haul in a one-yard touchdown pass -- his second of the season. Shaheen, a small-school prospect out of Ashland, was quiet to start the year with just two targets through eight games. He's seen six targets in the past two weeks and has caught them all. It seems like he's adjusting to the considerable uptick around him. With little else to play for this season, look for Chicago to see what…read more

Shaheen caught both of his targets for 39 yards in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Packers.

Analysis: Before this game, Shaheen had caught just one pass for a two-yard touchdown, but with Zach Miller (knee) out for the season and Dion Sims missing this game due to illness, he saw his most playing time of the year. He hauled in both passes thrown his way and turned one into a 31-yard gain, but once Sims returns, his target volume is likely to take a hit. Regardless, he's still an excellent player to stash in dynasty leagues.