NFL Player News

Redskins coach Jay Gruden said Thursday nothing has changed with the status of the quarterback situation. He said Robert Griffin III (ankle) is progressing and was limited in practice again Thursday, but Colt McCoy remains as of now the starter for Week 8 against the Cowboys.

"Robert hasn't changed. Not a whole lot to say. Not going to announce if he's active or not until Monday night," Gruden said, per The Washington Post.

Gruden reiterated Griffin will slide back into the starter's role once he is healthy. Griffin has missed the last five games.

"When Robert's healthy, he'll be the starter. We just don't know when that will be," Gruden said.

What was suspected is now official: Zach Mettenberger is set to start at quarterback for the Titans against Houston on Sunday. Jake Locker will serve as his backup.

That news was announced Thursday by Ken Whisenhunt. Locker had been dealing with a thumb injury and Whisenhunt had previously claimed he would regain the starting position when healthy. But his apparent availability to play against the Texans could mean that Mettenberger has overtaken him.

Also in the mix had been veteran Charlie Whitehurst, who started in Locker's absence and completed 60.2 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Mettenberger played briefly in Week 4 at Indianapolis and connected on two of five attempts for 17 yards while throwing an interception.

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer has expressed both anger over his effort Sunday at Jacksonville and hopefulness that the dud of the team performance will prove to be a positive in the long run.

Hoyer had his worst game with Cleveland, completing just 16 of 41 passes for 215 yards. He also threw an interception, lost a fumble, had four tosses batted down and finished with a career-worst passer rating of 46.3.

"Of all the games I've every played, that's the worst I've ever felt after one, and it's something you have to deal with learning on the job," he told the Akron Beacon Journal. "...For the first time in my career in the NFL, I played a bad game, and it sucks. I take a lot [of blame] on myself, and that's why I probably wasn't too pleasant to be around the past two days."

Hoyer, however, claims that the team could benefit from the 24-6 defeat to a Jaguars team that had been winless entering play. After all, the Browns are preparing to play the 0-6 Raiders in Cleveland on Sunday.

"Maybe it's good we lost last week," he said. "I don't think we underestimated anyone. But I think now we see that no matter who we're playing, we have to be at our best, and there's no excuses and we have to go out and execute."

The Titans are planning to start rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger against the Texans Sunday, The Tennessean reports.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday that the plan was to have Jake Locker (thumb) regain the starting job when healthy, and the former first-round pick was limited in practice Wednesday. If Mettenberger has already been notified that he'll start, as the report suggests, it could mean Whisenhunt has changed his mind on Locker, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Locker has completed 58 percent of his passes while averaging 6.8 yards per attempt and throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions in four starts. Backup Charlie Whitehurst has also played four games while starting three times, completing 60.2 percent of his passes while averaging 7.8 yards per attempt and throwing five touchdowns and two interceptions.

There is "no chance" Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III will return from his ankle injury to play Monday night's game at Dallas, reports NBC4 in Washington, citing multiple sources. The station said Colt McCoy will start, with Kirk Cousins backing him up.

Robert Griffin III was the first Redskins quarterback to take a snap in individual drills Wednesday, ahead of Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins, reports NFL.com. However, McCoy still is expected to start Sunday at Dallas.

Griffin is coming back from a dislocated ankle. Coach Jay Gruden has said Griffin won't play until he's fully healthy.

With an eye on Week 8 and beyond, Jamey Eisenberg tabbed his top quarterbacks on the waiver wire Tuesday, headlined by the Dolphins' Ryan Tannehill, who is owned in just 43 percent of CBSSports.com leagues at this point.

Additionally, Jamey eyes a few key stashes who might be worth your time if you are having trouble at the position or just have a roster spot to fill. Specifically, recovering Redskins QB Robert Griffin III (36 percent) and Johnny Manziel (13 percent), the Browns' backup, could be worth a flier.

Among quarterbacks with a lower ceiling who nonetheless have jobs locked down, Kyle Orton of the Bills (12 percent) and Alex Smith of the Chiefs (59 percent) have some value, with matchups against the Jets and Rams, respectively, for Week 8. 

The 49ers re-signed quarterback Josh Johnson and released safety Raymond Ventrone.

The Texans declared linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (knee), quarterback Tom Savage, defensive backs Josh Aubrey, Darryl Morris (ankle) and Jumal Rolle, offensive tackle Jeff Adams and wideout DeVier Posey inactive for Monday's game at Pittsburgh.

If you were hoping it was finally time for the Browns to turn to Johnny Football following Sunday's loss to the Jaguars, then you will be disappointed to hear there is no quarterback change on the horizon.

Browns coach Mike Pettine said Monday he is not making a change at quarterback heading into Week 8 vs. Oakland. Brian Hoyer will remain the starter and Johnny Manziel will stay in a backup role.

"Brian is still firmly our starter," Pettine said.