NFL Player News

Browns coach Mike Pettine said Thursday quarterback Brian Hoyer will start Monday's preseason game against the Redskins. However, he and Johnny Manziel will get equal reps, according to the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

The Browns plan to start quarterback Brian Hoyer over Johnny Manziel during the team's second preseason game Monday at Washington, a source told NFL.com. Hoyer also started the first preseason game against the Lions.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday there is a chance quarterback Matt Cassel will play the entire first half during Saturday's preseason game against the Cardinals. Cassel is battling with rookie Teddy Bridgewater for the starting quarterback job.

The Houston Chronicle quelled speculation that became rampant Wednesday, stating emphatically that the Texans "won't be trading" for Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer. Earlier, Browns coach Mike Pettine also denied the rumors.

Browns coach Mike Pettine dismissed rumors that the team is trying to trade quarterback Brian Hoyer, possibly to the Texans, as mere "stories."

"We’re not going to comment on every story that’s out there," Pettine said. "We made a move to strengthen our quarterback room, and you just get these stories coming out. I don’t want to be in the habit of commenting on all of them. I really addressed that situation yesterday."

The Browns signed quarterback Rex Grossman on Tuesday and waived quarterback Tyler Thigpen.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who sat out the preseason opener, likely will play Saturday against the Rams and again in the third preseason game. "That's usually how it goes," McCarthy said.

McCarthy didn't say how much Rodgers would play.

Browns coach Mike Pettine has not announced which quarterback will start Monday's game against the Redskins. But he said rookie Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer will get equal or almost equal snaps with the starters, reports the Akron Beacon Journal.

After Brian Hoyer got the first reps with the starters Monday, Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel opened with the first team Tuesday, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Manziel's first pass was intercepted when top cornerback Joe Haden snatched the ball out of receiver Anthony Armstrong's hands.

Coach Mike Pettine has not announced which quarterback will start Monday against the Redskins.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill said offensive coordinator Bill Lazor has adjusted his footwork and it's made a big difference.

"It’s helped me get the ball out faster, have more velocity on some of my throws, and just be more consistent,” Tannehill told the Miami Herald. "Some of the incompletions I’ve had in the past are due to inconsistent footwork. That was his big key coming in to say: 'Hey, we’re going to get your feet right and then everything else will take care of itself.'"

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill earned praise from offensive coordinator Bill Lazor after his 6-for-6 passing performance against the Falcons. Tannehill drove the team 73 yards in 10 plays, capping the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson.

"I thought he had 10 good plays," Lazor told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "I thought he showed command, I thought he was very decisive on the field, the ball came out of his hand on time with all of them. He has a really good grasp of what we're doing.

"My job right now is to push him," Lazor added. "I've got to make it very hard for him out here on the practice field. I heard a rumor that some people have reported we've made it hard for him on the field. That's on purpose. That's how you build a quarterback. He's coming."