NFL Player News

Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith is working with the first-team offense for the third consecutive day in practice, reports the New York Daily News. The rookie is looking to wrest the starting job away from Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez has performed inconsistently in the preseason with two touchdowns, two interceptions and a QB rating of 84.7. Smith is set as the starter Saturday night against the Giants, but no starter has been named for the regular season opener.

Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins expressed relief that his right foot sprain has been deemed not serious, but he told the Free Lance-Star that playing on Saturday against Buffalo could be "pushing it." An MRI taken Tuesday revealed no serious damage.

Updating a previous item, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed Tuesday's practice with "a slight illness that has been going around the team," reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The MRI on Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins' foot came back negative and he's expected to be ready for the regular-season opener, reports Fox Sports 1. Cousins left Monday night's game against Pittsburgh with what is being called a mild sprain.

Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith will start against the Giants on Saturday if he does not suffer any setbacks with his ankle, reports the New York Daily News. Smith was held out of last week's game against the Jaguars due to a sprained ankle. 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not practicing Tuesday, but the Green Bay Press-Gazette said it "doesn't appear to be anything serious." ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky was told "everything's fine" with Rodgers.

Coach Mike McCarthy will have an update after practice.

Eagles coach Chip Kelly has named Michael Vick the team's starting quarterback for the regular season according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The move isn't much of a surprise given how effective he's been through a pair of preseason games. Vick seems to have a good grasp of the new offense in Philly, completing 13 of 15 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown with 20 rush yards on a pair of carries. He's been intercepted once. 

Nick Foles will likely back him up with Matt Barkley ranked behind Foles on the depth chart. 

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a sprained right foot in Monday night's game when he was tackled on a scramble by Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons, reports ESPN. Coach Mike Shanahan called it a mid-foot sprain. 

Cousins, who started in place of Robert Griffin III, hit 2 of 3 passes for 19 yards and ran twice for 14 yards. Cousins was replaced by Rex Grossman.

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said Monday that quarterback Blaine Gabbert will start the regular season opener Sept. 8 against Kansas City, reports the Florida Times-Union.

But Gabbert sustained a hairline fracture in his right (throwing) thumb and will be out for the rest of the preseason. Bradley said he expects Gabbert to be out two weeks.

Gabbert was injured when he hit the arm of Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson on the follow through of his final throw, an incompletion. Chad Henne will start the final two preseason games and open the season as the backup.

49ers rookie quarterback B.J. Daniels will get more practice reps this week after his "encouraging performance" Friday against Kansas City, coach Jim Harbaugh said. Daniels' reps will be in line with those of Colt McCoy and Scott Tolzien, according to the Sacramento Bee.

All are vying to back up Colin Kaepernick.

"It was an encouraging performance, and he's done some encouraging things in practice as well," Harbaugh said of Daniels, who hit 6 of 9 throws for 72 yards and a touchdown. "So he continues on his process and he competed well and made plays. As far as it stands for him, it was encouraging. And when somebody does a good job you give them a little more."

McCoy tossed an interception, and Tolzien threw two passes that should have been picked off.