NFL Player News

Jets quarterback Geno Smith appeared in full control of the offense Friday night against the Giants in exhibition play.

Smith hooked up with one of his new weapons, Eric Decker, for a 27-yard connection in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Smith found an open Jace Amaro on a playaction play for a 1-yard touchdown. He compiled 137 yards through the air while completing 9 of 14 passes. He added a touchdown and no interceptions, registering a 120.2 passer rating.

Smith was named the Week 1 starter for the Jets after the game.

Mike Pettine has confirmed that he and Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan have considered a two-quarterback system down the road with a package featuring rookie Johnny Manziel "on the table."

Pettine announced this week that Brian Hoyer will start the season opener in Pittsburgh. He has indicated that any package involving Manziel will not yet be incorporated for that game.

"No, this is Brian's job," Pettine said. "I don't foresee us now, especially early, being in a two-quarterback system. This is Brian's job and I never think of it as a leash or we want a guy to be a game manager. ... I don't want our guys on offense to feel like there's any type of governor there and they can't just cut it loose and be aggressive."

Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr has recovered from a concussion, but he will be inactive for the Friday game in Green Bay due to bruised ribs. Dennis Allen has stated that he does not want to expose Carr to further injury.

Carr left the second preseason game with the rib injury, though Allen told the media following the game that he had sustained a concussion.

Browns coach Mike Pettine told reporters he doesn't want starting quarterback Brian Hoyer "looking over his shoulder if he makes one bad throw." Pettine said theres' no leash on Hoyer and no package for rookie Johnny Manziel.

"No, this is Brian's job," Pettine said. "This is Brian's job."

Pettine announced his choice to the team Wednesday. Hoyer will start Week 1 at Pittsburgh.

As expected, the Jets will go with Geno Smith as their starting quarterback in the regular-season opener, reports ESPN.com. An injury is the only thing that would change the team's plans and enable Michael Vick to start, the website.

Smith will start his third preseason game Friday against the Giants. In the first two games, Smith went 14 of 19 for 131 yards with an interception while adding a rushing touchdown.

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel struggled with calling plays and protection in Monday's game against the Redskins, reports NFL.com. Coming from a spread offense in college, Manziel has encountered a steep learning curve, the report said.

That was a factor in Cleveland picking Brian Hoyer as its Week 1 starter.

The Browns have named Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback to begin the season. Rookie Johnny Manziel will back him up. The Browns play at Pittsburgh in Week 1.

"He was the clear leader from the beginning," Browns coach Mike Pettine told the official team website. "We've maintained all along that if it was close, I would prefer to go with the more experienced player. Brian has done a great job in the meeting rooms and with his teammates on the practice field and in the locker room."

Through two preseason games Hoywe has completed 8 of 20 passes for 108 yards with no scores or turnovers. Manziel has completed 14 of 27 passes, mostly in backup duty, for 128 yards and a touchdown. Manziel also has 26 yards rushing on seven carries. 

Browns coach Mike Pettine, who originally planned to name a starting quarterback Tuesday, now seems inclined to wait until after the third preseason game. "If we do have to wait until after the next game, so be it," Pettine said, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Pettine said "there's not a lot of divide" among coaches on whether Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel should get the nod. The Browns host the Rams on Saturday in the third preseason game.

Browns coach Mike Pettine had planned to announce his Week 1 starting quarterback Tuesday, following Monday night's preseason game. But with Brian Hoyer and rookie Johnny Manziel both struggling, Pettine said he has not made a decision.

"Neither guy really distinguished himself, and we’ll have to go back and study the tape and figure out who to go with," Pettine told Sports Illustrated. "I will lean on [offensive coordinator] Kyle Shanahan and [quarterback coach] Dowell Loggains quite a bit, because they’ve watched them every day."

Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub has shown a lack of arm stregnth through two preseason games. He's 11 of 20 for 115 yards and no touchdowns with an interception.

But according to NFL.com, rookie Derek Carr is not a threat to start the regular-season opener. Oakland coaches believe Schaub can be a solid starter despite his limitations, the report said.