Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Mayfield and every starter on offense aside from Mike Evans will play in Saturday's preseason game against Pittsburgh, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mayfield will be without not only Evans, who will rest Saturday, but also Chris Godwin (ankle), who remains on the active/PUP list without a clear timetable to return as he works his way back from surgery undergone to address a dislocated left ankle. Tampa Bay's impressive pass-catching depth will still leave Mayfield with Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan at his disposal Saturday, however, with TE Cade Otton (hamstring) also potentially ready to return to action.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Howell will start Saturday's preseason game against the Patriots.

Howell completed 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards and rushed four times for two yards and a touchdown during Minnesota's preseason opener against Houston, which he entered after J.J. McCarthy started the first drive. Top wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) won't be available Saturday, but Jordan Addison (suspension) remains eligible to suit up for preseason action despite having to delay his regular-season debut until Week 4. It seems more likely than not, though, that O'Connell will sit the rest of Minnesota's starters alongside McCarthy.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Thursday that Stafford (back) will work out on Saturday, similarly to what he did before sitting out Los Angeles' preseason opener last weekend, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Stafford hasn't yet practiced this week, despite McVay having indicated after a positive workout last Saturday, Aug. 9, that the veteran quarterback was on track to handle individual drills. "Hopefully [Stafford's back] responds a little bit better" after this coming workout, McVay said. That Stafford is set to reprise a similar workout plan confirms expectations that he'll sit out Saturday's preseason matchup against the Chargers, with the Rams likely hoping he returns to the field in at least a limited fashion next week to begin ramping up for Week 1 against the Texans on Sunday, Sept. 7. Regardless of McVay's apparent confidence that Stafford will be ready for the regular season, however, the early-round ADPs of wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams could continue to slide until fantasy managers are able to see Stafford retake the practice field without setbacks.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that McCarthy will not suit up for Saturday's preseason contest against New England.

McCarthy played one drive during Minnesota's preseason opener against the Texans, completing four of seven passes for 30 yards while rushing once for eight yards, but Sam Howell will get the start versus the Patriots. During the Vikings' exhibition finale versus Tennessee on Friday, Aug. 22, McCarthy could get a chance to handle more reps. Justin Jefferson (hamstring) remains absent from practice but will be re-evaluated next week, while Jordan Addison (suspension) will be eligible to play the remainder of the preseason but will begin the regular season with a three-game suspension.

Love (thumb) is not practicing Thursday and is wearing a soft cast on his left hand, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Love won't practice as he continues to recover from surgery undergone to address a ligament injury in his left thumb, but the Packers still expect him to resume handling reps next weeks. The starting quarterback wasn't expected to suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Colts even if healthy, but it now remains to be seen whether he'll be able to log action in the team's preseason finale against Seattle on Saturday, Aug. 23. Elsewhere on the roster, Jayden Reed (foot) shed his walking boot Thursday but remains unable to practice, as do Romeo Doubs (back), Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and active/PUP list resident Christian Watson (ACL).

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday that he expects Lance (hand) to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Rams, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.

Lance hasn't taken team reps at practice this week while wearing a wrap on his right hand, per Kris Rhim of ESPN.com, but the injury isn't expected to sideline the 2021 first-round pick Saturday. Lance is competing with Taylor Heinicke for the backup spot behind Justin Herbert. Harbaugh indicated that all three quarterbacks will see the field Saturday.

Herbert will start Saturday's preseason game against the Rams, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.

With regard to to the Chargers' approach to the contest, coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Thursday, "We're going to play starters on Saturday." As for Herbert, who is in line to make his first-ever preseason appearance, Harbaugh said that the QB is expected to play "a series, could be two," along with the team's other offensive starters. Beyond that, Harbaugh expects both Trey Lance (hand) and Taylor Heinicke to log snaps this weekend.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said Thursday that Nix and the majority of starters won't play during Saturday's preseason game against the Cardinals, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Payton also said that Nix and the starters would play somewhere in the range of 8-10 snaps during Denver's preseason finale against New Orleans on Saturday, Aug. 23. The second-year signal-caller completed six of 11 passes for 31 yards during the Broncos' preseason opener against the 49ers, and it sounds like he'll get a chance to handle one more drive during the team's exhibition finale. Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger will split reps versus Arizona, with Nix watching from the sidelines.

Dekkers was waived by the Saints on Thursday.

The Saints have signed and waived Dekkers twice over the past three months. The rookie quarterback is trying to earn a spot in the NFL after going undrafted out of Iowa Western.

Rodgers is among the Steelers' key players not in line to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Buccaneers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

With regard to the team's plans for Saturday's contest, coach Mike Tomlin indicated that the same players (with the possible exception of LB Nick Herbig) who didn't play last weekend against the Jaguars won't face Tampa Bay, per Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site. Apart from Rodgers, that's a group that includes RB Jaylen Warren, WRs DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin (abdomen) and TEs Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith (knee). Beyond that, Rodgers is no lock to see any snaps in Pittsburgh's Aug. 21 preseason finale against the Panthers. Meanwhile, Mason Rudolph is slated to start at QB this Saturday for the second straight contest, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes.