NFL Player News

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said veteran Matt Cassel is the No. 1 quarterback entering training camp, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Rookie Teddy Bridgewater has drawn lots of praise from coaches and will push Cassel for the job.

As expected, the Jets gave quarterback Geno Smith the bulk of the first-team reps Thursday. Smith got 13 and Michael Vick got four, reports the New York Post.

The starting Jets quarterback job is second-year quarterback Geno Smith's to lose, the New York Daily News reports. It is believed that the only way Michael Vick will end up starting for Gang Green is if Smith stumbles in training camp.

Vick claims he still feels like a "premiere" quarterback but the team is committed to Smith so long as he earns it in camp. 

Quarterback Thad Lewis is not guaranteed to be EJ Manuel's backup. Lewis and Jeff Tuel split time with the second team Tuesday.

"We have a battle for the second-team quarterback," coach Doug Marrone said. "We're trying to find out who it is. Jeff did a nice job in OTAs and he's earned himself some more reps."

Browns coach Mike Pettine said he'll name a starting quarterback -- either Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel -- before the third preseason game Aug. 23 against the Rams, reports the Akron Beacon Journal. 

"It could be sooner, and that’s something we’re going to discuss," Pettine said. "It’ll be before the third preseason game. I just don’t have a date. I don’t know if I’ll set a date and kind of paint ourselves into a date, but it will be sooner than the third preseason game."

Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner sounded impressed with rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater after Monday's workout, saying Bridgewater "should have gone in the first 10 picks." Minnesota selected Bridgewater with the 32nd and final pick of the first round.

He'll try to beat out Matt Cassel for the starting job.

Mark Sanchez will battle Matt Barkley for the backup quarterback job behind Nick Foles in camp this summer. But ESPN says to "put your money on Sanchez" winning the No. 2 spot, suggesting that the Eagles wouldn't have even signed him if he was going to be their emergency quarterback. 

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (knee) has been cleared for 11-on-11s when training camp begins July 26, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"It's exciting for me," Hoyer said. "It's something I've worked really hard to get back to and I'm just looking forward to getting going once everybody gets there next Friday and then obviously the first practice is next Saturday, so it's an exciting time for us."

Hoyer, who will start out No. 1 on the depth chart ahead of Johnny Manziel, hopes he'll be full-go for all 13 practices of camp.

"It hasn't been discussed yet," he said. "All I know is that when I left and I was begging them to let me practice, they said once training camp comes there won't be any limitations, so we'll see how it goes and take it day-by-day. Obviously we're going to see how the knee's feeling, but I'm geared up and ready to go and excited. I can't wait for next Saturday."

Hoyer, who suffered the torn ACL against the Bills Oct. 3, acknowledged it's rewarding to finally get the green light. The medical staff limited him in 11-on-11s during minicamp and organized team activities.

"It feels good to know that I put the work in and now it's time to go," he said. "You don't think about it. You just go out and play football."

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford appears to be on schedule for a return to health from his season-ending knee injury, and the Rams expect him to be close to or at full speed for the start of camp, reports ESPN.

Bradford will get a third season in coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's offense, but it's safe to assume the Rams won't ask Bradford to carry the load for what will likely be a run-heavy offense.

The Rams have clearly abandoned the spread approach they were installing this time last year, but they will almost certainly be more balanced than they were after Bradford's injury in 2013. 

One of the biggest question marks for the Jets this season is who will be the starting quarterback between Michael Vick and Geno Smith, reports ESPN.

So far, it seems like Smith is in the lead. The Jets plan to give him 70 to 75 percent of the first-team practice reps in training camp. 

Vick was mediocre in the spring practices, but the report says it's not a stretch to think he could light it up in the preseason. After all, he has a background in Marty Mornhinweg's offense, so it should be a seamless transition.

Publicly, Vick says he's OK with his role as the mentor/backup, but perhaps that will change if it becomes obvious he's the best man for the job. From the team's perspective, the best that could happen is Smith steps up and makes it an absolute no-brainer.