NFL Player News
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Adrian Martinez QB | NYJ
Jets' Adrian Martinez: Second QB in after Fields
Martinez completed 12 of 21 passes for 114 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Saturday's 31-12 preseason loss to the Giants.
It was a forgettable night for much of the Jets roster, but Martinez was notably the second quarterback into the game for the team after starter Justin Fields. Rookie Brady Cook came in after Martinez's third-quarter interception and proceeded to complete six of 11 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. The competition between Martinez and Cook has taken on greater importance following news that Tyrod Taylor (knee) will miss the remainder of the preseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. If Taylor isn't ready by Week 1, Martinez or Cook would begin the season as Fields' backup.
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Kyle Trask QB | TB
Buccaneers' Kyle Trask: Poor showing in second exhibition
Trask completed three of 10 passes for 19 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Buccaneers' 17-14 preseason win over the Steelers on Saturday night. He also rushed once for four yards.
Trask entered the game after starter Teddy Bridgewater, who he's trying to hold off for the No. 2 quarterback job. While Bridgewater looked impressive -- especially for a player who signed about halfway through training camp -- and led the Buccaneers to two touchdowns, Trask's performance over his four possessions was essentially the opposite. Tampa Bay's offense netted all of 44 yards across the quartet of drives, with each culminating in punts. Trask did put together a much better performance in the preseason opener against the Titans, when he completed 12 of 16 passes for 129 yards; however, the fact Bridgewater has proven a quick study in coordinator Josh Grizzard's offense presumably narrows the gap between both players considerably, and Saturday night's preseason finale against the Bills could serve as the platform for each to cement their fate come roster cutdowns.
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Josh Allen QB | BUF
Bills' Josh Allen: Unlikely to play Sunday
Allen is not warming up with Buffalo's quarterbacks and is unlikely to play during Sunday's preseason exhibition in Chicago, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Allen was throwing on the field during early pregame warmups, per Getzenberg, but he's not participating in his usual pregame throwing exercises with Buffalo's other quarterbacks. With their QB1 likely sidelined, No. 2 quarterback Mitchell Trubisky should be in line to start for the Bills against Chicago. The 29-year-old Allen signed a six-year, $330 million extension with the Bills this offseason, so it's unclear how much -- if at all -- he'll play during Buffalo's upcoming preseason finale against Tampa Bay on Saturday, Aug. 23.
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Spencer Rattler QB | NO
Saints' Spencer Rattler: Outplays starter Shough on Sunday
Rattler completed 18 of 24 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 17-17 preseason tie against the Jaguars. He also rushed three times for 19 yards and ran in a two-point conversion.
After starting the Saints' preseason opener against the Chargers, Rattler waited until the second half to check in Sunday. Tyler Shough got the start but threw for only 66 yards in the first half and failed to lead a touchdown drive as the Saints trailed 17-3 at halftime. Rattler set the team up for a pair of third-quarter field goals, then bounced back from a fourth-quarter interception by throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dante Pettis and running in the subsequent two-point conversion himself to tie the game with 21 seconds left. The pair of young quarterbacks will continue their competition Saturday in the preseason finale against the Broncos.
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Tyler Shough QB | NO
Saints' Tyler Shough: Modest numbers in preseason start
Shough completed nine of 12 passes for 66 yards in Sunday's 17-17 preseason tie against the Jaguars.
Shough got the start but led the Saints to only three points on four first-half drives. Spencer Rattler, who started the team's first preseason game against the Chargers, had 199 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception in the second half Sunday. The quarterback competition between the 2025 second-round pick Shough and the 2024 fifth-rounder Rattler likely won't be decided until after the Saints' preseason finale against the Broncos on Saturday.
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Bryce Perkins QB | CAR
Panthers' Bryce Perkins: Returns to NFL with Carolina
Perkins, who is the reigning UFL MVP, is signing a contract with the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Perkins joins Carolina after the team's No. 2 quarterback Andy Dalton suffered an elbow sprain during Saturday's 20-3 preseason loss to Houston. The UFL star last spent time in the NFL as a backup with the Rams in 2022, when he completed 19 of 34 passes for 161 yards in five appearances. He won the UFL Championship with the Michigan Panthers this spring, completing 69 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns and running for five more TDs. He also was named league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. The 28-year-old Perkins will provide extra depth behind starter Bryce Young. Second-year quarterback Jack Plummer is on the roster as well.
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Trevor Lawrence QB | JAC
Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence: Fumble, TD on Sunday's two drives
Lawrence completed eight of 10 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 17-17 preseason tie against the Saints. He also rushed once for no gain and lost a fumble.
Lawrence and the starters played two drives and moved the ball well. The first possession got down to the 11-yard line prior to Lawrence's fumble on a botched handoff attempt, but Lawrence bounced back by capping the second drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Parker Washington. Jacksonville's final preseason tune-up before the regular season will come Saturday in Miami.
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Jordan Love QB | GB
Packers' Jordan Love: Could return to practice Monday
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Sunday they'll "hopefully get [Love] back in some capacity to practice" this week and will "see how he's doing" Monday, Wes Hodkiewicz of the team's official site reports.
Love underwent surgery to address a ligament injury in his left thumb Tuesday, and he wore a soft cast while not participating in joint practices with the Colts on Thursday. Love did not suit up during Saturday's 22-19 preseason victory over Indianapolis, either. LaFleur added Sunday that the team will "alter some things" to get the quarterback involved during 7-on-7 sessions this week, so it's unclear if/when the team hopes to have him return in full during training camp. His last chance to play during the preseason will come during the finale against Seattle on Saturday, Aug. 23. However, the team likely will prioritize avoiding any setbacks for Love before the regular-season opener versus Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 7 -- especially as the team continues to work through injuries for wideouts Jayden Reed (foot), Romeo Doubs (back) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) during training camp. Wideout Christian Watson (ACL) is still on the active/PUP list as well.
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Shedeur Sanders QB | CLE
Browns' Shedeur Sanders: Hopeful to return to practice
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday he's hopeful that quarterbacks Sanders (oblique) and Kenny Pickett (hamstring) can increase their practice participation this week, but both players still are day-to-day, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Sanders has been sidelined since sustaining an oblique injury during practice Wednesday; meanwhile, Pickett has been limited to 7-on-7 sessions while working his way back from a hamstring issue suffered in late July. Stefanski also said Sunday that he plans to name the team's QB1 this week, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Veteran Joe Flacco looks like he has the inside track to start Week 1, considering his lengthy experience and the distribution of first-team snaps in practice during training camp. Third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel started Saturday's 22-13 preseason win over the Eagles while the 40-year-old Flacco sat out, seemingly for rest purposes. When all four quarterbacks are healthy, it seems that Flacco will be Cleveland's starter while Pickett is the primary backup, leaving Sanders and Gabriel to compete for the third-string role. The team also signed journeyman Tyler Huntley on Aug. 4, but he'll likely be let go from the active roster heading into the regular season.
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Kenny Pickett QB | LV
Browns' Kenny Pickett: Hopeful to increase participation
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday he's "hopeful" that quarterbacks Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) will increase their activity level in practice this week, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Pickett was limited to 7-on-7 work during practice last week as he works his way back from a hamstring injury sustained July 26. Sanders has been sidelined since he suffered an oblique injury during practice Wednesday. Stefanski also said Sunday that he plans to name who will be the team's regular-season starter this week, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Veteran Joe Flacco is likely to win the job given his experience and the distribution of first-team practice reps during training camp. Both Pickett and Sanders did not participate in Saturday's 22-13 preseason win over the Eagles, leaving third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel to start while the 40-year-old Flacco sat out for rest purposes. Quarterback Tyler Huntley currently is on Cleveland's roster as well, but he'll likely be let go if the team keeps Flacco, Pickett, Sanders and Gabriel heading into Week 1.