NFL Player News

Coach Mike McCarthy has asked Rodgers to play in the Steelers' first two preseason games, according to Michael Silver of The Athletic.

As the report notes, the veteran QB last saw significant exhibition-game action eight seasons ago, but Rodgers indicated Monday that McCarthy "(wants him out there for) 30 or 40 plays." On that topic, Rodgers told his coach, "If you want me to play, I'll play. I'm not saying I want to do it. But if he wants me to, I will." The Steelers' preseason opener is Thursday, Aug. 13 against the Packers.

Coach David Canales said that Pickett is slated to start Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Cardinals, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Per Reed, none of the Panthers' key starters are in line to see action in the contest, a group that presumably includes QB Bryce Young, WR Tetairoa McMillan and RB Chuba Hubbard. Once Pickett gets his share of reps Thursday, look for rookie UDFA Haynes King to get some work in versus Arizona's reserves.

Tagovailoa (back) returned to 11-on-11 drills Monday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Tagovailoa had been dealing with some back tightness, which limited him to individual drills Friday, but the QB has progressed to the point where he's back at it for 11-on-11 work. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa's competition for the Falcons' starting signal-caller job, Michael Penix, who is bouncing back from November ACL surgery, remains limited to individual drills and 7-on-7s.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Atlanta's starters will likely see action in the team's first and third preseason games, but it remains to be seen whether Penix (knee) will be ready to take the field by then, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Penix has progressed to taking part in 7-on-7 drills, though he has yet to be cleared for full-team drills. While the 2024 first-round pick recovers from November surgery to repair a torn ACL, Tua Tagovailoa (back) has had a chance to get a leg up in Atlanta's quarterback competition by working with the starters earlier in the offseason. Atlanta's QB room also includes Jack Strand and Cooper Rush.

Maye was sharp at Friday's practice, which he started off with a long touchdown pass to A.J. Brown on the first play of the 11-on-11 period, Paul Perillo of the Patriots' official site reports.

Maye enjoyed a breakout sophomore season while facing a historically easy regular-season schedule, but the 2024 first-round pick came crashing back down to earth in the playoffs. The Patriots made the Super Bowl despite Maye posting the worst playoff performance of all time by expected points added, which finally caught up to New England in a 29-13 Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. Maye will get a chance to try to avenge that loss to Seattle in the first game of the 2026 regular season Sept. 9, and he'll have a new top target for that rematch in Brown, with whom Maye has started to build a rapport as training camp progresses.

Sanders continues to rotate first-team reps with Deshaun Watson, and the former is lined up to work with the starters in Cleveland's first padded practice Monday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Sanders and Watson have been alternating first-team reps in the early days of camp. Watson got the first-team spot for Friday's training camp practice, so Sanders is set to take his next turn Monday, when the team puts on pads for the first time. Cleveland's quarterback competition is unlikely to be decided until after Sanders and Watson play in the preseason.

Tagovailoa (back) did not take part in team drills Friday due to a "precautionary thing" related to back tightness and said he is unsure when he will be fully cleared for on-field activities, Marc Raimondi of ESPN reports.

Tagovailoa said that if the Falcons were preparing for an actual regular-season game he would likely be ready to play, but it remains to be seen whether he will be cleared to handle more than individual drills at training camp. With Michael Penix (ACL) also capped at 7-on-7 work for the moment, Jack Strand and Cooper Rush will continue piloting Atlanta's offense during the early stages of training camp. Tagovailoa and Penix are competing for the Falcons' starting quarterback job, even as both signal-callers currently deal with their respective health-related hurdles.

Watson will continue to rotate first-team reps with Shedeur Sanders as the Browns begin practicing in pads, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Watson is getting the first-team reps Friday, which lines Sanders up to work with the starters Monday in what Oyefusi reports will be Cleveland's first practice in pads. Cleveland's quarterback competition is unlikely to be decided until much closer to the regular season.

Murray continued to split first-team reps with J.J. McCarthy on Thursday, Rob Kleifield of the Vikings' official site reports.

Murray had an up-and-down practice as he continues to adjust to his new surroundings. The first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft is the perceived favorite in Minnesota's quarterback competition against McCarthy, who struggled in 2025 after sitting out his rookie campaign in 2024 due to a knee injury.

Leonard is in a competition for the No. 2 quarterback role in Indianapolis in 2026, JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site reports.

Leonard continues to split reps with Anthony Richardson with the Colts' second-team offense as training camp gets underway. The second-year pro was impressive in his only start last season, completing 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing an interception in the Colts' 38-30 loss to the Texans in Week 18. Leonard and Richardson are both expected to be members of the Colts' initial 53-man roster in 2026.