NFL Player News

The drama never stops in D.C. and according to CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora, the Redskins have informed players that they are planning to have Kirk Cousins start their Week 1 contest against the Dolphins and not Robert Griffin III, who is apparently battling a concussion problem. 

There are reports of a rift between the football operations and ownership regarding Griffin, who has struggled this preseason before getting injured in the team's second preseason contest against Detroit. Griffin was cleared to play in the team's third preseason game before an independent neurologist reversed course, saying Griffin was still dealing with concussion-related symptoms.

Cousins has played well during the preseason, going 40-for-53 for 435 yards. 

Bills coach Rex Ryan said EJ Manuel will get the start over Tyrod Taylor and Matt Cassel in the team's third preseason game Saturday against the Steelers. Taylor and Cassel have each started one preseason game.

"My plan was to give everybody opportunities," Ryan said Thursday. "Nobody can say nobody wasn't given a fair shot here."

Manuel has completed 13 of 22 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns through two preseason games.

Taylor has completed 12 of 18 passes for 114 yards. He also has rushed for a team-high 88 yards on 10 attempts through two games.

Cassel has appeared in just one game, completing 7 of 8 passes for 45 yards.

The Steelers signed quarterback Michael Vick and placed Bruce Gradkowski on the injured reserve list on Tuesday, the team announced.

Pittsburgh was in need of a backup quarterback after Gradkowski dislocated a finger in his left hand, requiring surgery.

Vick played in 10 games for the Jets last season. He passed for 604 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Former Falcons, Eagles and Jets quarterback Michael Vick is headed to Pittsburgh to meet with the Steelers, a league source told ESPN. 

The Steelers have developed a need for quarterback depth since Bruce Gradkowski dislocated a finger on his left hand and is having surgery Tuesday, a source told ESPN.

Top draft pick Jameis Winston rebounded nicely from a shaky first preseason game to perform well in his second one Monday night for the Buccaneers.

Winston completed 8 of 13 passes for 90 yards and added a short touchdown run in a lopsided defeat of Cincinnati.

According to a report from NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport, the Texans have decided to go with Brian Hoyer as their quarterback to start the 2015 campaign. 

Hoyer, who signed a two-year deal with the Texans in the offseason, threw for 3,326 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last year with the Browns. He was in a quarterback battle with Ryan Mallett for the starting job. 

Hoyer was 7 of 11 for 52 yards in Houston's second preseason game against the Broncos. 

Both Marcus Mariota and backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger performed well Sunday in leading the Titans to a preseason victory over St. Louis.

After committing two turnovers in the first exhibition game, Mariota was error-free against the Rams. He completed 5 of 8 passes for 59 yards.

Mettenberger was perhaps more effective. He hit on 7 of 9 attempts for 91 yards and a 3-yard touchdown to Chase Coffman in the second quarter.

Bill O'Brien launched a quarterback derby between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett well before training camp began for the Texans. And now he is insisting that the two are still running neck-and-neck for the starting job.

"They both have the quality of leadership; they both have the quality of intelligence," O'Brian told the team website. "So, it's an even battle. And like I said, we'll make a decision at some point. We'll go with one guy to start the season. That other guy needs to be ready to play."

Despite his insistence, O'Brien is leaning toward Hoyer, according to NFL.com, which is claiming that the coaching staff is more comfortable with him. But O'Brien will continue to give Mallett an opportunity to show what he can do.

"If I had the body of knowledge right now, I would probably make the decision," O'Brien said. "I need to see a little bit more and I want to give Ryan a chance to start a game, and put some more thought into it."

Mallett completed 10 of 11 passes for 90 yards and no scores in the first preseason game against San Francisco. Hoyer hit on 2 of 4 for 67 yards and a 58-yard touchdown to Cecil Shorts.

Dan Orlovsky inched ahead of Kellen Moore in the battle for the backup quarterback job with the Lions on Thursday with a strong effort in the second preseason game against Washington, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Orlovsky completed 13 of 17 passes for 118 yards. He engineered two touchdown marches in just two quarters of action.

"He's had very good performances," Jim Caldwell said. "Dan is, obviously, a guy that has real good understanding of systems, does a good job in terms of the leadership and he's effective. So he's doing a good job. (But) this is Game 2, so we've got a little ways to go."

Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor strengthened the competition for the starting job at that position with a fine effort Thursday in Cleveland.

Taylor completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards in helping his cause in what is shaping up as a battle with Matt Cassel, according to ESPN. Taylor only put three points on the board, but he added 41 yards rushing in just four attempts.