NFL Player News

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill got off to an impressive start Friday against the Falcons in Atlanta.

Working under Bill Lazor's new offense, Tannehill opened the preseason with a 10-play, 73-yard drive which ended on a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson on the opening drive. He was pulled for Seth Lobato after the first series of offense. Tannehill completed all six of his pass attempts for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr is expected to work with the second team in Friday's preseason opener against the Vikings, NFL.com reports.

Carr has been working with the second-team offense during training camp, and that seems likely to continue as he is expected to open the season as Matt Schaub's backup. 

Patriots rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo looked cool in the pocket playing with the backups against the Redskins backups Thursday in preseason action. Garoppolo completed 9 of 13 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown and no turnovers. 

The main benefactor was receiver Brian Tyms, a tall wideout with good speed from Florida A&M. Tyms caught five passes, all from Garoppolo, for 119 yards. One was a 59-yard bomb down the right sideline when Tyms got behind the defense, the other was a 26-yard touchdown strike down the left sideline. Both passes were perfect. Tyms also was in contention for another deep pass in the game but drew a defensive pass interference call on the play. 

Garoppolo and the Patriots host the Eagles on Aug. 15. 

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looked sharp in his first preseason game Thursday night against the Broncos in Denver.

Wilson played with the first-team offense for two series, highlighted by a 14-play, 90-yard drive which resulted in a Christine Michael touchdown in the second quarter. Wilson completed 4 of 6 passes for 37 yards. He was sacked twice and also had one run for a gain of 7 yards. 

Wilson and the Seahawks will host the Chargers on Aug. 15.

Fresh off signing a new contract, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton went 3 of 5 for 71 yards in Thursday's preseason opener against the Chiefs. Dalton found wideout A.J. Green behind the defense for a 53-yard gain after earlier hitting Green for a 9-yard completion.

However, Dalton threw consecutive incompletions at the Chiefs' 12-yard line, forcing Cincy to settle for a 30-yard field goal. Dalton was removed after the opening nine-play drive.

Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins played most of the first half against the Patriots, completing 9 of 13 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Cousins hit wideout Aldrick Robinson for a 10-yard score late in the first quarter.

Jets quarterback Geno Smith played two series in the preseason opener against the Colts, and he acquitted himself well. Smith completed 4 of 6 passes for 33 yards and added a 10-yard run while leading the Jets to a field goal.

He was replaced by Michael Vick, who will need Smith to stumble to have a chance at the starting job. Smith will play his second preseason game Saturday, Aug. 16 at Cincinnati.

Browns head coach Mike Pettine said Thursday he doesn't think rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel will gets reps with the first-team offense Saturday at Detroit. Pettine said the plan is for Brian Hoyer to take all the reps with the first-team offense in the preseason opener.

Although Matt Cassel will start Friday's preseason opener for the Vikings, rookie Teddy Bridgewater will get snaps with the starters against the Raiders, coach Mike Zimmer told 1500ESPN.com.

"When the lights come on, it's a different deal," Zimmer said. "It will be good for [Bridgewater] and how he reacts to seeing defenses that he hasn't seen very much of. How he has to readjust the blitz, how he has to get the ball out and make the right calls; how he plays under pressure. I anticipate he's going to play very well."

The Rams likely will hold out quarterback Sam Bradford from Friday's preseason opener against the Saints, reports ESPN.com. Bradford has shown "no signs of trouble" with his surgically repaired knee, but the team is playing it safe.

"He's done everything we needed to see right now at practice," coach Jeff Fisher said. "So he's going to play in the preseason; unlikely that he's going to play this week. ... It's not because he can't; it's because it's our choice."