NFL Player News

Head coach Kellen Moore said Tuesday that he has not made a decision on who the starting quarterback for the Saints will be in Week 1 against the Cardinals, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Rattler served as the QB2 for the Saints' 17-17 preseason tie against the Jaguars on Sunday, completing 18 of 24 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception while rushing for 19 yards on two carries and adding a two-point conversion. He played better than rookie Tyler Shough on Sunday, but Moore relayed that the competition between the two young quarterbacks is "really, really close." Saturday's preseason finale against the Broncos will be Rattler's last opportunity to state his case for the starting job.

Pickett (hamstring) remains limited but took part in team drills at practice Tuesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Pickett saw 11-on-11 reps for the first time since July 26, as his lingering hamstring injury had kept him sidelined. Coach Kevin Stefanski has named Joe Flacco the Week 1 starter for the Browns, but he said Tuesday that a decision on the No. 2 QB role hasn't yet been made, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. If Pickett can gain full clearance in time to suit up for Saturday's preseason finale against the Rams, it will provide him with a chance to compete with rookies Shedeur Sanders (oblique) and Dillon Gabriel for the top backup spot. Tyler Huntley may also take the field Saturday, but he's expected to be cut when Cleveland finalizes its 53-man roster.

Coach Shane Steichen said Leonard and Jason Bean will handle quarterback duties for the Colts in Saturday's preseason finale against the Bengals, Jake Arthur of SI.com reports.

Both Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson will rest for the exhibition finale, allowing Leonard and Bean to soak up valuable game reps. Leonard was a sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2025 Draft and has completed 19 of 36 passes for 156 scoreless yards and one interception through two preseason contests. He's also rushed six times for 44 yards.

Jones will miss Saturday's preseason finale against the Chargers due to a knee sprain, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jones is expected to be ready for Week 1, but for the 49ers' exhibition finale, Carter Bradley and Nate Sudfeld will either split reps or enter after Brock Purdy, depending on whether coach Kyle Shanahan opts to play his starters. With nearly three weeks to get healthy before a trip to Seattle in Week 1, Jones should have plenty of time to recover and open the regular season as the No. 2 QB behind Purdy.

McKee (finger) did not practice Tuesday, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

McKee sat out the second preseason game, and this could help explain the reason. The 2023 sixth-rounder impressed in the exhibition opener, going 20 of 25 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a third score. McKee appears settled in as Philly's QB2 behind Jalen Hurts.

Jones is not practicing Tuesday due to an apparent knee injury suffered during Saturday's 22-19 preseason win over the Raiders, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Jones' injury isn't believed to be serious, but it could impact his availability for Saturday's preseason finale against the Chargers. San Francisco already has Carter Bradley on the roster and signed Nate Sudfeld on Tuesday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, giving the team additional depth behind Jones and starter Brock Purdy.

Rodgers is among the key players who will be held out of Thursday's preseason finale against the Panthers, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Rodgers will sit out a third consecutive preseason game, as will No. 1 receiver DK Metcalf and star pass rushers T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. The veteran quarterback will have to wait until the Steelers' Week 1 opener to take on his former team, the Jets, on the road and make his debut in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's scheme. Mason Rudolph will start under center once again Thursday.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Tuesday that "a good amount" of the team's starters will sit out Friday's preseason finale against the Eagles, Fields presumably included, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Fields started New York's first two preseason games but handled a total of just three offensive possessions. Per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Fields has rarely thrown the ball downfield throughout training camp, with New York's offense instead focusing on the run game and short-area passes. That observation is reinforced by the fact that he's averaging just 3.9 air yards per attempt across his limited exhibition action, and that all four of Fields' targets to No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson this preseason have fallen incomplete. Glenn admitted after Saturday's preseason loss to the Giants that "our passing game has to be better," saying that "our guys know we're going to put our heads down and go back to work." Fields' rushing abilities have been sufficient to provide fantasy upside in the past, but for him to enter the mix as a consistent QB1 this season, the Jets' passing game will have to establish a better rhythm before a Week 1 contest against Pittsburgh.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday that Rush will likely start Saturday's preseason game against the Commanders, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Harbaugh said he plans to sit his starters again versus Washington, just as Baltimore did during last Saturday's 31-13 preseason win over the Cowboys. During that contest, Rush completed 20 of 30 passes for 198 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and across his two exhibition appearances thus far Rush has thrown three INTs. While he still appears the favorite for the No. 2 quarterback role behind Lamar Jackson over second-year pro Devin Leary, it will serve Rush well to avoid any further turnovers versus the Commanders.

Sanders (oblique) isn't practicing but could return for Wednesday's session, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Sanders remains day-to-day after missing Cleveland's second preseason game due to an oblique injury, and his status remains uncertain for Saturday's exhibition finale against the Rams. In the wake of Joe Flacco being named the Browns' starter for Week 1, Stefanski said he's still not ready to name a No. 2 quarterback and that "these roles are not given out, they're earned," per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. As such, Saturday's preseason game looks like a crucial opportunity for both Sanders and Kenny Pickett (hamstring) to get back on the practice field and compete with rookie third-rounder Dillon Gabriel for the backup gig. Veteran journeyman Tyler Huntley could also get some reps Saturday, though he has no clear path to the 53-man roster.