NFL Player News
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Justin Herbert QB | LAC
Chargers' Justin Herbert: Carves up AFC Champ's defense
Herbert completed 25 of 34 pass attempts for 318 yards and three touchdowns while taking seven carries for 32 yards in Friday's 27-21 victory over Kansas City.
Herbert and the Chargers' aerial attack put on a show in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday, generating five lengthy scoring drives in a decisive victory over last year's AFC Champions. Head coach Jim Harbaugh let his star quarterback air it out right out of the gates, resulting in Herbert's first 300-yard, three-touchdown performance since Harbaugh took over at the start of last season. If this is truly a shift in offensive philosophy from the three yards and a cloud of dust scheme that L.A. implemented in 2024, then Herbert's fantasy ceiling could rise somewhere closer to the elite production we witnessed from 2020-2022. Next Monday's tilt against the Raiders should be telling on whether Herbert can keep up this type volume.
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Patrick Mahomes QB | KC
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes: Solid all-around numbers in loss
Mahomes completed 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and added six rushes for 57 yards and another score in the Chiefs' 27-21 loss to the Chargers on Friday night. He also recovered a fumble.
Mahomes quickly lost his most explosive playmaker when Xavier Worthy went down with a shoulder injury just four plays into the game. The two-time MVP battled throughout the rest of the contest while repeatedly leading the Chiefs from behind, and he offered some hope with an 11-yard touchdown run and 37-yard scoring strike to Travis Kelce in the third and fourth quarter, respectively. In the absence of Worthy, Mahomes recorded completions to seven different targets, focusing the bulk of his attention on Hollywood Brown (10-99-0) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (5-55-0), who were the targets on 21 of his pass attempts. Following this season-opening stumble, Mahomes and the Chiefs will have to quickly turn their focus to a Super Bowl LIX rematch with the Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium in a Week 2 matchup on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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Skylar Thompson QB | PIT
Steelers' Skylar Thompson: Questionable due to hamstring
Thompson (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Thompson popped up on Friday's injury report with a hamstring injury that limited his practice participation Friday. Even if he gains clearance to play, Thompson isn't expected to be anything more than the emergency third quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
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Michael Penix Jr. QB | ATL
Falcons' Michael Penix: Well prepared for Week 1
Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said Thursday that Penix, who did not suit up for any preseason action, is "ready to go" for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Buccaneers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
Penix said, "I pride myself to make sure that each and every week I'm always ready come game day," though he acknowledged that "the biggest difference is the reps," or lack thereof, as he prepares for the fourth regular-season start of his NFL career. The presence of star playmakers Bijan Robinson and Drake London will assist Penix in his goal of hitting the ground running, and it's encouraging that Darnell Mooney (shoulder) has returned to practice in a limited capacity and seems to have a shot at playing Week 1. On the other hand, Atlanta's offensive line had looked like one of the team's major strengths the entire offseason, but with Kaleb McGary (leg) now done for the year and swing backup Storm Norton (ankle) out 6-to-8 weeks, third-stringer Elijah Wilkinson is expected to start at right tackle. The lack of reliable blindside protection will be a notable hurdle for the southpaw signal-caller to overcome Sunday and throughout the 2025 campaign.
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Dak Prescott QB | DAL
Cowboys' Dak Prescott: Quiet in Week 1 loss
Prescott completed 21 of 34 passes for 188 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions while adding one rush for three yards in the Cowboys' 34-20 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night.
Prescott spearheaded the upset-minded Cowboys through a productive first two quarters that had Dallas up by a 14-7 margin at one point. The initial two drives culminated in Javonte Williams rushing touchdowns, and Prescott played mistake-free football while frequently focusing on top target CeeDee Lamb. However, Prescott and new addition George Pickens had some trouble connecting in their first game together -- albeit because of defensive pass interference in one instance -- and Lamb then failed to find the handle on a couple of the quarterback's throws in the fourth quarter, including on a perfectly thrown fourth-down lob down the left side of the field that Lamb dove for but couldn't secure. Prescott and Pickens will have some extra time to build chemistry ahead of the Cowboys' Week 2 game, which will be their home opener against the Giants on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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Jalen Hurts QB | PHI
Eagles' Jalen Hurts: Leads Eagles through difficult win
Hurts completed 19 of 23 passes for 152 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed 14 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles' 24-20 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night.
As his final indicates, Hurts was near perfect through the air, but he averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt and saw top two wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith finish with a combined 4-24-0 line on four targets. However, Hurts was a force on the ground, logging the second-most carries for the Eagles behind Saquon Barkley and outpacing his fellow star by two yards for the team rushing lead while also scoring from four and eight yards out on the ground in the first half. Hurts also converted several key short-yardage opportunities, including a third-and-3 with 1:45 remaining via a four-yard scramble that essentially sealed the game for Philadelphia. Hurts completed passes to six different targets overall, and considering he only went without a touchdown toss in two games last season during which he played a normal allotment of snaps, the reigning Super Bowl MVP is likely due for much better passing numbers in a Week 2 rematch with the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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Hunter Dekkers QB | NO
Hunter Dekkers: Cut from Saints' practice squad
New Orleans cut Dekkers from the practice squad Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dekkers' removal makes room on the Saints' practice squad for linebacker Garrett Nelson. Dekkers will look to catch on with another team that is in need of a scout team quarterback.
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Case Keenum QB | CHI
Bears' Case Keenum: Past leg injury
Keenum (leg) was absent from the Bears' estimated injury report Thursday.
Keenum missed the Bears' last two preseason games due to a leg injury. His absence from Thursday's injury report indicates that he is past the issue and is on track to serve as the Bears' QB3 behind Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent for Monday's regular-season opener against the Vikings at Soldier Field.
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Tyrod Taylor QB | NYJ
Jets' Tyrod Taylor: No limitations Thursday
Taylor (knee) was a full participant in practice Thursday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Taylor returned to full practice participation for the first time since late July, paving the way for him to suit up Week 1 against the Steelers as Justin Fields' backup. The veteran backup has been working his way back from a knee scope.
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Mac Jones QB | SF
49ers' Mac Jones: Past knee injury
Jones (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Jones missed the 49ers' preseason finale due to a knee sprain, but his full participation in Wednesday's practice indicates it is no longer an issue. The 2021 first-rounder is slated to begin the season as the 49ers' backup quarterback behind Brock Purdy. Jones had the same role in Jacksonville last year behind Trevor Lawrence, but the former appeared in 10 regular-season games (seven starts) and completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,672 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions while rushing for 92 yards and one score on 28 carries.