NFL Player News

Garoppolo (knee) anticipates having no restrictions for the start of training camp July 27, Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 27-year-old quarterback mostly was limited to 7-on-7 drills throughout the offseason program, eventually taking one snap in 11-on-11s at the end of June minicamp. The 49ers presumably will monitor his workload throughout training camp and preseason, but Garoppolo appears set to gain clearance for full-team drills. He'll be surrounded by a deep group of pass catchers, with second-team All-Pro George Kittle locked in at tight end while a slew of players compete for snaps at running back and wide receiver.

Allen is competing with Taylor Heinicke and Will Grier for the Panthers' No. 2 quarterback job, Brendan Marks of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Allen is the underdog in the competition, with Heinicke looking good in the spring and Grier coming in as a third-round pick. Allen did perform well in his lone start last season Week 17 against the Saints, completing 16 of 27 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns while also adding a rushing score. Despite that performance, the 23-year-old is a long shot to crack Carolina's 53-man roster and may end up on the practice squad instead.

Dobbs is facing competition from Mason Rudolph for the Steelers' backup quarerback job, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Dobbs held down the No. 2 role in 2018 while Rudolph got accustomed to NFL life as a rookie, but the Tennessee product was unimpressive when pressed into action and ultimately logged the lowest passer rating among all quarterbacks who attempted at least 10 passes in 2019. With a strong showing in his second preseason, Rudolph could very well surpass Dobbs on the depth chart heading into Week 1.

Rudolph is competing with Joshua Dobbs for the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback job, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Dobbs, a 2017 fourth-round pick, served as the team's top backup in 2018 while Rudolph, a 2018 third-round selection, got used to life in the NFL. Now that both have had a chance to learn the ropes, there could be more of a competition for the No. 2 role this time around. It's not clear if the Steelers are again open to carrying three quarterbacks on the active roster in 2019.

Driskel is facing competition from rookie Ryan Finley for the backup quarterback job, Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Driskel served as a third-string option in 2016 and 2017 before moving up a spot on the depth chart in 2018. While the Bengals' decision to draft Finley in the fourth round threatens Driskel's status, the possibility exists that Cincinnati carries all three signal-callers on the 53-man roster when the regular season arrives. In any case, Finley would likely need to submit a strong preseason for the organization to feel comfortable with him as the top backup to Andy Dalton, who's coming off thumb surgery.

Barkley appears to hold an early edge over Tyree Jackson for the Bills' No. 2 quarterback role, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

Though he boasts some intriguing physical tools, Jackson went undrafted in April, ensuring that he would face an uphill battle in his efforts to break camp with the Bills. While Jackson will still have the opportunity to showcase his skills in the preseason, Barkley has already shown he can be a serviceable No. 2 should something happen to Josh Allen. The USC product notably guided the Bills to a 41-10 victory Week 10 over the Jets last season, tossing two touchdowns in the outing.

Savage is expected to enter the upcoming season as the Lions' No. 2 quarterback, Chris Burke of The Athletic reports.

Savage reportedly operated as the top backup throughout OTAs and minicamp. Connor Cook is no longer in town and only David Fales is around to compete for the No. 2 gig entering training camp. Given Fales' lack of starting experience, Savage seems like Detroit's best option if something were to happen to Matthew Stafford.

Brissett worked with the starting offense throughout the offseason program and isn't likely to be traded, Kevin Bowen of ESPN 1070 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

A calf strain held Andrew Luck out of practice throughout the spring, allowing Brissett to take regular snaps with the first unit. The Colts presumably received some trade offers for the 26-year-old quarterback during the offseason, but coach Frank Reich and general manager Chris Ballard both have made it clear that they value Brissett, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. There hasn't been any suggestion that Luck's injury will still be an issue in late July, when training camp begins.

Hoyer is one of three quarterbacks CSN New England's Phil Perry expects to make the Patriots' 53-man roster.

The only real question here is whether the Patriots elect to carry one or two quarterbacks behind starter Tom Brady. Given that Jarrett Stidham was a fourth-round draft pick this past April, he looks like a roster lock. Meanwhile, Hoyer, who is under contract through the 2019 season, provides the team with an experienced backup option who knows the Patriots' schemes well and can mentor the rookie. The veteran signal-caller, who turns 34 in October, logged just two regular-season passing attempts in 2018, but Hoyer did start six games for the 49ers in 2017.

Murray impressed his Cardinals teammates during the offseason program, ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss reports.

Starting right guard Justin Pugh said Murray lives up to the hype, and left guard J.R. Sweezy -- formerly of the Seahawks -- said he sees "hundreds of similarities" between the rookie and Russell Wilson. Running back David Johnson also jumped on the hype train, noting that Murray is faster, quicker and more accurate than he'd expected. With no competition for the starting job, the No. 1 overall pick will dominate first-team reps throughout training camp and preseason as he gears up for a Week 1 start against the Lions. His supporting cast at the skill positions appears promising, while the offensive line relies on a tenuous mix of players that have struggled to stay healthy, including Pugh, LT D.J. Humphries, RT Marcus Gilbert, C A.Q. Shipley and G Max Garcia. New coach Kliff Kingsbury will install an offense that relies heavily on quick passes, potentially mitigating the impact of any deficiencies in pass blocking. Murray didn't have any trouble with batted passes at Oklahoma, but the scheme could create some issues in that regard for a 5-foot-10 quarterback facing larger, savvier defenders in the NFL.