NFL Player News

As expected, the Texans have signed Thad Lewis to take the roster spot vacated when fellow quarterback Ryan Mallett was placed on IR.

The team has also added safety Terrance Parks to the practice squad.

Redskins coach Jay Gruden confirmed in a conference call with Colts reporters Wednesday quarterback Robert Griffin III has been benched in favor of Colt McCoy for Sunday's game at Indianapolis. Gruden added Griffin will be the backup quarterback Week 13. 

"Colt (McCoy) is going to start this week at quarterback. I felt like he deserved a bit of a promotion," Gruden said.

McCoy will be facing a Colts defense yielding 249.4 passing yards per game. Indianapolis has also allowed 18 passing touchdowns, while recording nine interceptions and 28 sacks in 11 games.

Despite speculation Michael Vick would start Week 13 against the Dolphins, Jets coach Rex Ryan informed his quarterbacks Wednesday morning Geno Smith would be returning to the starting role Monday. 

Vick, who entered the starting lineup Week 9 against the Chiefs, was replaced by Smith in the third quarter of Monday's game against the Bills. Smith will be facing a Dolphins defense yielding 220.6 passing yards per game, which is the eighth-lowest total in the NFL. The Dolphins have allowed 20 passing touchdowns through 11 games.

Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy, who reportedly will start Week 13 at Indianapolis over Robert Griffin III, has been incredibly accurate in the two games he's played this season. McCoy replaced Kirk Cousins in Week 7 against Tennessee and completed 11 of 12 throws for 128 yards and a touchdown.

After leading that winning fourth-quarter drive, McCoy started Week 8 at Dallas and was just as good, hitting 25 of 30 throws for 299 yards with an interception and rushing for 16 yards. Washington won 20-17 in overtime. McCoy has completed 85.7 percent of his throws so far.

Now he faces a Colts defense holding quarterbacks to an 88.5 passer rating, 13th-lowest in the NFL.

The Redskins are planning to start Colt McCoy over Robert Griffin III at quarterback Sunday at Indianapolis, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter. The move is expected to become official Wednesday when coach Jay Gruden meets with reporters, Schefter said.

Gruden informed the team Wednesday morning about the change at quarterback, according to Schefter.

McCoy went 2-0 while Griffin recovered from his dislocated ankle. Griffin threw for 106 yards, took five sacks and lost a fumble on his team's last offensive play Week 12 at San Francisco.

Over the last three games, all losses, Griffin has thrown for 564 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions. He's holding the ball too long and not throwing with authority when he does let it fly.

Although Griffin is not part of Sunday's game plan, he remains "a significant part of the Redskins' long-term plan," Schefter said.

According to Diana Russini of NBC 4 in Washington, Redskins coach Jay Gruden and the rest of the offensive coaching staff will meet with all of their quarterbacks Tuesday night to determine who will start Sunday against the Colts. Gruden told reporters the previous day that he has "every intent" to start Robert Griffin III at quarterback in Week 13.

During Washington's three-game losing skid, Griffin has compiled 564 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions while registering a 79.3 passer rating and completing 65.8 percent of his passes.

If Griffin gets benched, the team will turn to Kirk Cousins or Colt McCoy for Sunday.

While Jets coach Rex Ryan refrained from naming a starting quarterback following Monday's loss against the Bills, Michael Vick is expected to start Week 13 against the Dolphins, if his calf is fine and Ryan is allowed to make the decision, a source told the New York Daily News.

Vick was replaced late in the third quarter by Geno Smith during a 38-3 loss Week 12. Vick said he was kicked in the calf Monday, but he could have returned. Ryan said he "wanted to give Geno a chance."

Vick completed 7 of 19 passes for 76 yards, no touchdowns and one interception before being replaced by Smith, who completed 10 of 12 passes for 89 yards.

"I want to see how they look," Ryan said after the game. "Sometimes you have a feel and a sense of it on the field. When you watch the tape, maybe you see a differently. So we’ll take a look at it and do what we think is best."

Jets quarterback Geno Smith relieved Michael Vick in the second half of Monday's 38-3 loss to the Bills. Smith completed 10 of 12 throws for 89 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

The Jets haven't announced which quarterback will start Week 13 against Miami.

Jets coach Rex Ryan said he hasn't decided whether Michael Vick or Geno Smith will start at quarterback on Monday Night Football in Week 13 against Miami. "We'll address that later," he said. "I don't know yet."

Ryan benched Vick for Smith in the third quarter of the 38-3 loss to the Bills.

With 4:57 left in the third quarter Monday, Jets coach Rex Ryan had seen enough. He benched quarterback Michael Vick for Geno Smith after Vick was intercepted by Bills safety Duke Williams.

It was Vick's only interception, but the Bills could have had at least three other picks. Vick completed 7 of 19 throws for 76 yards (4.0 ypa), ran twice for 4 yards and absorbed five sacks. He had a chance for a 69-yard touchdown right before halftime, but his throw to Eric Decker was a bit long and Decker couldn't bring it in.

Smith saw his first action since he was benched Week 8, also against the Bills.