NFL Player News

Browns coach Mike Pettine told reporters that quarterback Brian Hoyer will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Lions, but Johnny Manziel could get reps with the starters. Hoyer is starting because "he's done nothing to have that taken away from him," Pettine said.

The coach added Manziel might start the second preseason game against Washington.

The Vikings released their first unofficial depth chart Tuesday and Matt Cassel was listed as the No. 1 quarterback. Rookie Teddy Bridgewater was listed second on the quarterback depth chart, per ESPN.

While Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is enduring some rookie struggles during training camp, offensive coordinator Norv Turner continues to remain bullish about the first-round pick.

"I think he’s playing at an awfully high level," Turner said when asked about Bridgewater’s interceptions in camp, per The Star Tribune. "There’s no full speed rush like a game, but I’m excited about what Teddy’s doing."

Quarterback Andy Dalton's six-year extension with the Bengals includes a $12 million signing bonus and a $5 million roster bonus, reports Pro Football Talk. The contract has a base value of $96 million, and he can earn $19 million more through incentives.

Dalton is now signed through 2020.

Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel opened Monday's practice with the starters as he continues to push Brian Hoyer in an intense camp battle, reports ESPNCleveland.com. Manziel picked up momentum with a strong performance in Saturday's scrimmage.

The Bengals and quarterback Andy Dalton reached agreement on a six-year, $115 million contract, reports ESPN. Dalton was entering the last year of his rookie contract.

Bills quarterback Jeff Tuel jumped over Thad Lewis in the depth chart for the second-team quarterback. He relieved starter EJ Manuel during Sunday's preseason opener against the Giants.

Tuel hooked up with Robert Woods for a two-yard strike in the second quarter. He was also intercepted by Cooper Taylor in the final minute of the first half. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 74 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Lewis took over for Tuel after halftime and completed 9 of 14 passes for 81 yards, with no touchdowns and one interceptions.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is noticeably bigger in his upper body thanks to a rehab in which he couldn't work out much else, reports ESPN.com. Bradford, coming off knee surgery, suggested his arm might be stronger, and his passes seem "to be coming out with as much or more velocity than in years past," the report said.

On Saturday, "Bradford had plenty of zip on all of his passes, none more than the perfectly thrown 60-plus yard touchdown pass he threw to receiver Kenny Britt." 

"Coming into this camp is probably the strongest I’ve been from the waist up and I think it probably has paid off a little bit," Bradford said. "I feel like I do have a little more zip on the ball and feel like I can make some of those throws that maybe were a little slower last year."

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel went 3 for 11 with an interception in Friday's practice, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Manziel also drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag after he ran for a touchdown and tossed the ball between the goalposts.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer completed 7 of 13 passes, with several completions coming on checkdowns, the paper said. Hoyer remains the favorite to start the season opener.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher told the media Thursday that the most impressive part of Sam Bradford's training camp thus far isn't just that he's back on the field after tearing an ACL, but that the passing game has become much more explosive. 

"We are getting a lot more explosive plays," Fisher explained. "Sam's throwing the ball real well. The balls going down the field on time to Kenny (Britt) and to (Brian) Quick and to Tavon (Austin) and Cookie (Jared Cook) and all the guys. ... Now, before you put the shoulder pads on there's a lot of congestion in the pocket, but now the pocket's starting to clean itself up because offense has pads on things are starting to even out a little bit, so we're getting time to make those throws."

Before getting hurt in 2013 Bradford averaged 241.0 passing yards and two touchdowns per game.