NFL Player News

As expected, the Jets will go with Geno Smith as their starting quarterback in the regular-season opener, reports ESPN.com. An injury is the only thing that would change the team's plans and enable Michael Vick to start, the website.

Smith will start his third preseason game Friday against the Giants. In the first two games, Smith went 14 of 19 for 131 yards with an interception while adding a rushing touchdown.

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel struggled with calling plays and protection in Monday's game against the Redskins, reports NFL.com. Coming from a spread offense in college, Manziel has encountered a steep learning curve, the report said.

That was a factor in Cleveland picking Brian Hoyer as its Week 1 starter.

The Browns have named Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback to begin the season. Rookie Johnny Manziel will back him up. The Browns play at Pittsburgh in Week 1.

"He was the clear leader from the beginning," Browns coach Mike Pettine told the official team website. "We've maintained all along that if it was close, I would prefer to go with the more experienced player. Brian has done a great job in the meeting rooms and with his teammates on the practice field and in the locker room."

Through two preseason games Hoywe has completed 8 of 20 passes for 108 yards with no scores or turnovers. Manziel has completed 14 of 27 passes, mostly in backup duty, for 128 yards and a touchdown. Manziel also has 26 yards rushing on seven carries. 

Browns coach Mike Pettine, who originally planned to name a starting quarterback Tuesday, now seems inclined to wait until after the third preseason game. "If we do have to wait until after the next game, so be it," Pettine said, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Pettine said "there's not a lot of divide" among coaches on whether Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel should get the nod. The Browns host the Rams on Saturday in the third preseason game.

Browns coach Mike Pettine had planned to announce his Week 1 starting quarterback Tuesday, following Monday night's preseason game. But with Brian Hoyer and rookie Johnny Manziel both struggling, Pettine said he has not made a decision.

"Neither guy really distinguished himself, and we’ll have to go back and study the tape and figure out who to go with," Pettine told Sports Illustrated. "I will lean on [offensive coordinator] Kyle Shanahan and [quarterback coach] Dowell Loggains quite a bit, because they’ve watched them every day."

Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub has shown a lack of arm stregnth through two preseason games. He's 11 of 20 for 115 yards and no touchdowns with an interception.

But according to NFL.com, rookie Derek Carr is not a threat to start the regular-season opener. Oakland coaches believe Schaub can be a solid starter despite his limitations, the report said.

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer drew the start Monday and struggled in first-half action, completing just two of his six passes for 16 yards.

Hoyer could get nothing going on two first-quarter drives before yielding to Johnny Manziel, who also did nothing to separate himself in the race for the starting job. Hoyer was handed the ball next in the Redskins' red zone and managed to wrap two incompletions around a four-yard run by Ben Tate. He completed a 12-yard pass on his next drive only to see the receiver fumble the ball away. Hoyer likely still maintains a small lead in the QB competition, and though the coaching staff was expected to name a starter this week, head coach Mike Pettine may leave the battle open heading into next week's game.

Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr, who sustained a concussion in Friday's game against the Lions, was back at practice Monday wearing extra rib padding, reports NFL Network.

Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel will make his third straight preseason start Saturday at Kansas City, coach Mike Zimmer told reporters. The paper said it would be "extremely surprising" if Cassel doesn't start the regular-season opener Sept. 7 at St. Louis.

Cassel, who's competing with rookie Teddy Bridgewater, hit 12 of 16 throws for 153 yards and a touchdown and added 30 rushing yards in last Saturday's win over Arizona.

Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater led his team to 17 fourth-quarter points and threw the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute left in his team's 30-28 preseason win over the Cardinals Saturday.

Bridgewater played the entire second half against reserve defensive players for the Cardinals, and he led two straight scoring drives to give his team a three-point lead after a touchdown and successful two-point conversion. The Cardinals were able to retake the lead but Bridgewater drove the Vikings 83 yards in 53 seconds to score the decisive touchdown. He finished the game with 16 completions on 20 attempts for 177 yards and two touchdowns, showing signs of life after an uneven preseason thus far.