NFL Player News

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will get the starting nod on Saturday against the Jaguars in preseason play. It is believed both he and Geno Smith will see time with the first-team offense. The two continue to battle for the starting job in training camp. 

After Jets quarterback Geno Smith struggled on his sprained ankle Wednesday, coach Rex Ryan said the rookie might not play Saturday against the Jaguars. “Well, I guess, we’ll see how it goes,” Ryan said. “He’s been out there practicing, working through things... but that could be a possibility.” 

Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith, who appeared to be making progress in his return from a sprained ankle, regressed Wednesday. The ankle looked to bother Smith as he threw three interceptions in team drills and another in 7-on-7.

"Brutal," coach Rex Ryan said, via NFL.com. "Geno's worst day, way too many picks. He did not look comfortable."

For the first time in his four-year career, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is running the same offense for a second straight season. “It’s amazing how much difference it makes when you’re not having to learn an offense," Bradford said, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I don’t think the average fan realizes what it’s like trying to learn something as opposed to fine-tuning it."

New York JetsJets quarterback Geno Smith<player idref= "appeared to be moving better" in practice on the ankle he sprained in Friday's game, reports the New York Post. Smith "had less tape on the ankle Tuesday and scrambled on one play and looked close to his old self."

Smitt hit 4 of 8 passes overall but missed three straight throws during a goal line drill, according to the report.

Coach Rex Ryan has not said whether Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith will start Saturday against Jacksonville.

" data-canon="Jacksonville Jaguars" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> tight end Marcedes Lewis<player idref= scolded the offense after another lackluster practice Tuesday, reports the Florida Times-Union. <player idref= hit 4 of 10 throws, and Chad Henne went 5 of 8 on a day the offense "lacked any kind of rhythm," the paper said.

“We’ve been building and getting better since April and we came out today and didn’t get better, plain and simple,” Lewis said. “That wasn’t good enough. That’s not acceptable. In years past, it may have been acceptable and we may have come into the locker room without even mentioning what happened. But mediocrity can’t be accepted.

“Sometimes you can be sluggish and get your second wind during a practice and then complete passes and stay on your blocks. But for one reason or another, that didn’t happen.”

Jets coach Rex Ryan, while not naming a starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Jacksonville, said both Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith will get a chance to play with offensive starters, according to the New York Post.

" data-canon="Jacksonville Jaguars" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> coach Gus Bradley said he'll most likely decide Friday whether Blaine Gabbert<player idref= or <player idref= Chad Henne will start Saturday at the Jets, according to the Florida Times-Union.

Gabbert played the first four series of Jacksonville's 27-3 loss to Miami and hit 5 of 10 throws for 19 yards with an interception. Henne went 8 of 11 for 87 yards, leading a field-goal drive against backup defenders.

Quarterback Jeff Tuel, an undrafted rookie out of Washington State, started the second half of Buffalo's preseason win against the Colts and hit his first nine throws. He finished 19 of 23 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions and a lost fumble.

Jets coach Rex Ryan said he has not decided whether Mark Sanchez or <player idref= will start against Jacksonville on Saturday. "We'll see as we get closer," Ryan said, via the New York Daily News.

Sanchez started Friday's opener against the Lions, bouncing back from a pick-six to complete 10 of 13 throws for 125 yards and a touchdown. The rookie Smith hit 6 of 7 throws for 47 yards before suffering a mild ankle sprain.