NFL Player News

In the battle to back up Ryan Fitzpatrick, quarterback Case Keenum is getting more reps than rookie Tom Savage, reports the Houston Chronicle. Coach Bill O'Brien said Savage will get a legitimate shot.

"Tommy gets a lot of reps on his own because we do a two-spot drill (with two quarterbacks throwing at the same time to different receivers) early in practice," O'Brien said. “It balances itself out. We’ll take however many practices we need to determine who’s the backup quarterback. We’ll take our time with that."

Johnny Manziel may be getting all the headline mentions this offseason, but a report Friday suggested that the Browns will give the ball to Brian Hoyer to start the season. According to ESPN, a Browns player said that they are "all expecting Hoyer to start" Week 1.

Recent reports indicated that the Browns would announce around the third preseason game, but this latest update claims the lockerroom feels coach Mike Pettine will announce Hoyer as the starter before then.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said quarterback Sam Bradford (knee) will be "full-go" for the start of training camp, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"Sam is in great shape," Fisher said. "He's ready to go. We don't have (reservations) — right now as we speak, as camp starts — he's full-go. If we need to back him down here and there, we'll back him down."

Fisher indicated Bradford may not play in the preseason opener against New Orleans. But if Bradford doesn't play vs. the Saints, Fisher said it won't be injury-related.

As Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson cautioned, it's only Day 1, but Andy Dalton looks much improved following an offseason of tweaking his mechanics with quarterback guru Tom House. ESPN reports Dalton was on the money not just on small and mid-range throws but he also hit the deep ball perfectly a couple of times to none other than A.J. Green. 

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.