NFL Player News

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told NFL Network that first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater will get first-team reps immediately and compete for the starting job.

"Teddy's been great," Zimmer said. "He's had a good command of the offense. I like his leadership. I like his determination. He's throwing the ball well. He's got good, quick feet. I think he's a good athlete. So he's progressing at a good pace."

Matt Cassel will have to fend off the rookie to start the season opener.

Speaking on WFAN-AM in New York, Jets coach Rex Ryan said that quarterback Geno Smith would be "hard to beat out" for the starting job in camp this summer. "He knows the offense forward and backwards," Ryan said according to the New York Daily News. "I'm definitely convinced that we can win with Geno Smith."

But Ryan wouldn't end the quarterback battle early, also saying that new quarterback Michael Vick, who the Jets signed this offseason, "definitely has a chance to win the job."

The 49ers signed quarterback Josh Johnson to his second go-round with the team, the official website reported Wednesday. Johnson was Jim Harbaugh's quarterback back when the coach worked at the University of San Diego. Johnson will battle for a spot on the quarterback depth chart in training camp. 

The Ravens announced deals with three of their draft picks: third-round tight end end Crockett Gillmore, fifth-round offensive lineman John Urschel and sixth-round quarterback Keith Wenning.

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel doesn't need an outstanding preseason to win the starting job over Brian Hoyer, reports CBS Sports Insider Jason La Canfora.

"The most exciting player in college football, who you moved all over the draft board to land, isn't there to hold a clipboard," La Canfora wrote. "I don't see this developing as a true quarterback controversy, because as long as Manziel looks quasi-competent in the preseason I am handing him this job."

Appearing on CBS This Morning, NFL on CBS play-by-play man Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms both believe Johnny Manziel will begin the year as the Browns' starting quarterback. 

"The last nine quarterbacks who were taken in the first round in NFL drafts have been the opening day starter," Nantz said. "Brian Hoyer is the starter going into camp, but we shall see. ... I'd be shocked if Johnny Manziel's not the Cleveland Browns' starter."

"How do you think the fans and the media are going to take it if he's not the starter?" Simms added. "So Brian Hoyer's on the field, he throws one incompletion, they're going to go crazy. If you're a quarterback and [the team] drafts a first-round quarterback on your football team, you better play well and win, and usually that's not enough to keep your job." 

When asked how they think Manziel will do in the pros, Simms noted that Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan did a great job bringing Robert Griffin III along as a rookie and expects something similar for Manziel.

"I expect [Shanahan] to create a new kind of offense," Simms said. "I think [Manziel] got very fortunate going to the Cleveland Browns. He's probably in the best situation he could have found for himself in Cleveland."

The Bengals cut backup quarterback Josh Johnson. They'll go with Jason Campbell and rookie AJ McCarron behind Andy Dalton.

With pick No. 194 in the NFL Draft, the Ravens selected quarterback Keith Wenning from Kent State.

Wenning will enter the season at No. 3 on the depth chart at best behind Joe Flacco and Tyrod Taylor. He has long-term potential, but he's not expected to play any time soon.

In 2013, Wenning became the first Ball State quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season after going 319 of 498 for 4,148 yards with 35 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 starts. He set school career records for completions (1,035), attempts (1,642), passing yards (11,402) and touchdowns (92). 

With pick No. 178 in the NFL Draft, the Titans selected quarterback Zach Mettenberger from LSU.

Mettenberger has the chance to challenge Charlie Whitehurst as the No. 2 quarterback for the Titans behind starter Jake Locker. He could be limited in training camp coming off last year's torn ACL.

Chances are Mettenberger would have gone a little bit higher had he not suffered a torn ACL last season. That injury compounded a problem he's had over his career where he has been slow to move around and out of the pocket. But he's close to healed and still has a heck of an arm -- some believe he had the strongest arm in the draft. The numbers back it up as he threw for 5,691 yards and 35 touchdowns in 25 games. 

With pick No. 164 in the NFL Draft, the Bengals selected quarterback A.J. McCarron from Alabama. McCarron will compete with Jason Campbell to be the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Andy Dalton.

Even though Dalton is entering the final year of his contract, McCarron is not in line to start any time soon unless Dalton leaves as a free agent, which isn't likely. McCarron had a standout senior campaign in 2013, winning the Maxwell Award (college football player of the year), the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting.

He set the Alabama record for passing yards after throwing for 3,063 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 starts. He had a 36-4 record in 40 career starts with all four losses coming to opponents ranked in the Top 15.