NFL Player News

Mariota has worked exclusively with the starters in training camp, Steve Wyche of NFL Network reports.

It's possible rookie third-round pick Desmond Ridder will get a chance to play at some point in 2022 if Mariota struggles or gets hurt, but the latter is the team's clear-cut starter heading into the season. Mariota has logged 61 career NFL starts since being selected second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Titans, and Atlanta appears content to lean on his experience early on rather than rush Ridder's development.

Wilson has been up and down early in training camp, Andy Vasquez of NJ.com reports.

Wilson completed 10 of 13 passes during 11-on-11 drills, but he threw two interceptions to go with his trio of touchdown passes in the session. Two of the three touchdowns were caught by Corey Davis, and the third went to rookie first-round pick Garrett Wilson. Interceptions were an issue for Wilson early in his rookie season, but he didn't throw one over his final five starts after tossing 11 in his first eight. Taking care of the football will be a key part of Wilson's development in his second NFL season.

Allen received extra snaps under center during Wednesday's training camp sessions while starting quarterback Joe Burrow was sidelined due to surgery, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.

Allen and third-stringer Jake Browning were the only two quarterbacks to see action during Cincinnati's practice Wednesday. The two should continue to log additional reps with Burrow's availability uncertain after undergoing emergency surgery to remove his appendix Tuesday. It's unknown if the starter's status for Week 1 is under duress given the uncommon nature of this procedure, but Allen should be the next in line under center in the meantime.

Coach Bill Belichick noted Tuesday that he has observed "dramatic improvement" from Jones, who is approaching his second campaign as a pro, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. "He did a great job last year, but he's starting from a much, much higher point this year from where he started last year," Belichick noted of the 2021 first-rounder.

After overtaking veteran signal-caller Cam Newton ahead of Week 1 last year, Jones completed 352 of his 521 passing attempts for 3,801 yards, with 22 TDs and 13 interceptions. In addition to having a full season as an NFL starter under his belt, Jones has, according to Belichick, made strides in terms of his "physical work and conditioning, mechanics, footwork, understanding of our offense [and] opponent defenses." While Jones figures to helm a New England attack fueled by the RB duo of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson, the offseason trade for DeVante Parker and the drafting of speedy Tyquan Thornton has added to a solid array of pass catching targets that also includes returning WRs Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne, as well as TEs Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. With that in mind, there's room for Jones to improve as a fantasy producer in 2022, but his upside on that front hinges in large part upon the team's approach on offense now that long-time coordinator Josh McDaniels has moved on to coach the Raiders.

Lock played with the second-team offense during Wednesday's practice, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Head coach Pete Carroll believes Lock still has a chance to win the starting job over Geno Smith, who is heading into his fourth season with the Seahawks. Carroll stated earlier in the offseason that Smith's knowledge of the system gives him an edge in the competition. However, Lock has enough tools relative to Smith to make this competition extend through the final preseason game. Through three seasons in the league, Lock has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 4,740 yards (6.7 YPA), 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Smith handled all the first-team reps during Wednesday's practice while Drew Lock practiced with the second team, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports. "Geno is in the lead," head coach Pete Carroll said. "He's ahead and he ain't looking back."

Carroll admitted that Lock still has an opportunity to win the starting job, but he seems optimistic that Smith can secure the starting role by the end of the preseason. Smith was serviceable over four games (three starts) last season, as he completed 68 percent of his passes for 702 yards (7.4 YPA), five touchdowns and an interception. He also ran nine times for 42 yards and a score. The run game figures to be the focal point of Seattle's offense, but Smith will have some excellent receiving weapons -- Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Noah Fant -- if he does win the job.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Watson and Jacoby Brissett will share the Browns' first-team quarterback snaps to begin training camp, Jake Trotter of ESPN reports. "I wouldn't get into the exact percentage," Stefanski said, when asked about the extent to which the two quarterbacks will split work in practice. "But they're both going to get a ton of reps."

Additionally, Stefanski reiterated Wednesday that Brissett would serve as Cleveland's starting signal-caller in the event Watson is suspended by the NFL. Trotter adds that league disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson continues to weigh whether Watson violated the league's personal conduct policy. At this time, there is no timetable for when her determination on the matter will occur.

Pickett has been the third quarterback through drills at training camp, behind presumed Week 1 starter Mitchell Trubisky and fourth-year pro Mason Rudolph, John Luciew of The Harrisburg Patriot-News reports.

Rudolph already has two years of experience with offensive coordinator Matt Canada but has thrown for only 2,366 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 384 career attempts (6.2 YPA). The Steelers went 5-4-1 in Rudolph's starts filling in for Ben Roethlisberger over the past three years, so it isn't a given that Pickett eclipses Rudolph on the depth chart by Week 1, even with a clear advantage in athleticism and draft status. The bigger question, of course, is when the rookie first-round pick will get his shot to start, which largely depends on the performance and health of Trubisky, who joined Pittsburgh on a two-year deal early in the offseason. The Steelers have deployed Trubisky as their first-team quarterback since the spring, now continuing the trend in the opening days of camp. Pickett will have a chance to shake up the competition Aug. 13, when the Steelers host the Seahawks in their preseason opener.

Trubisky was consistently the first quarterback through the rotation at Wednesday's practice, with Mason Rudolph second and Kenny Pickett third, Josh Rowntree of Newsradio KDKA Pittsburgh reports.

Pickett, a rookie first-round pick, represents the real threat to Trubisky's job security, be it early in the season or later on. Most reports out of Pittsburgh have Trubisky as a heavy favorite for the Week 1 start, and he's taken the bulk of first-team reps dating back to spring practices. Rudolph is the only one of the three who has any experience working in the Steelers offense under offensive coordinator Matt Canada, but Trubisky and Pickett both are more athletic and have stronger arms.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Dobbs has a leg up on Josh Rosen to be the team's third quarterback behind Jacoby Brissett, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

If Deshaun Watson is suspended prior to Week 1 as expected, that would make Dobbs the Browns' de facto No. 2 option. That might make him worthy of stashing in uber-deep two-quarterback leagues, as Cleveland figures to be playing from behind often as long as Watson is out, and Dobbs does possess the tools to produce as a rusher if nothing else.