NFL Player News

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will play one or two series, but no more than a quarter, against Denver on Thursday, reports the San Jose Mercury News. Coach Jim Harbaugh said Scott Tolzien, Colt McCoy and B.J. Daniels will get the rest of the snaps as they vie for the backup job.

"It's very even," Harbaugh said. "I'm really looking forward to the games and future practices determining that."

It's been a rough week for the Packers, who lost starting left tackle Bryan Bulaga for the season and top deep threat Jordy Nelson for at least the rest of training camp. But quarterback Aaron Rodgers told SiriusXM NFL Radio that Green Bay has plenty of receiver depth.

"I think this receiving corps is the deepest I’ve seen in nine years in a training camp," Rodgers said. "As a backup and third string, guys going in 2-3-4, it’s got to be exciting to know you’re going to be throwing to these kind of guys. Jarrett Boykin and Jeremy Ross have stepped up and been very solid in camp for us. And then we’ve got a number of guys who are fighting for one or two spots, probably. We’ve had a lot of guys who’ve stepped up."

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley still isn't saying whether Blaine Gabbert or Chad Henne will start Friday's preseason opener against Miami, according to the Florida Times-Union.

On the Jaguars' first unofficial depth chart of the season quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne were listed as co-starters. It suggests the two are neck and neck at the quarterback position through the first week and change of training camp. 

"That's what (Head) Coach Gus (Bradley) said from the beginning, that it's going to be a competition to the end," Henne told the official team website. "Whenever he feels it's time to make that decision, he's going to make that decision."

Bradley has only said both quarterbacks will play with the first-team offense Friday vs. the Dolphins but did not say who would start. 

Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman said Ryan Tannehill shouldn't be blamed for all the interceptions he threw in Tuesday's practice. Tannehill was picked off three or four times, depending on which stats you believe.

“Even though (the interceptions) go under his name I wouldn’t put them all on him,” Sherman said, via the Palm Beach Post. “But obviously everybody will associate that with him. We had some young receivers out there as well, people breaking our routes. We had a lot of pressure today. But he’ll have better days and today wasn’t one of his best days and it wasn’t one of our best offensive days.”

Packers coach Mike McCarthy isn't conceding that starting left tackle <player idref=, the blindside protector for Aaron Rodgers, is out for the season. Bulaga tore his ACL in Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage.

“We’re still waiting on a medical opinion," McCarthy said, via the team's website. "Bryan is still hopeful of giving it a go. Nothing has been finalized. He doesn’t even look like he’s injured."

McCarthy added the Packers "always do what’s in the best interest of the player" and Bulaga "is fully aware of what it would take to play this season."

Embattled Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will start Friday's preseason game against the Lions, with rookie Geno Smith also getting time with the first-string offense, coach Rex Ryan told the Associated Press. "It seemed like the natural thing to do," Ryan said, referring to Sanchez as the incumbent.

Bengals first-round pick Tyler Eifert and second-round pick Giovani Bernard "will help change the dynamic of the offense," according to CBS Sports Senior NFL Columnist Pete Prisco. The additions should help quarterback Andy Dalton build on last year's numbers.

"Eifert gives the Bengals another pass-catching tight end to go with Jermaine Gresham, while Bernard is the speed back the Bengals have lacked," Prisco writes. "In Monday's work with the Falcons, Eifert beat Falcons linebacker Stephen Nicholas for a nice gain, and Bernard made a big play on a route in the middle of the field."

Dalton told Prisco that Eifert "will allow us to go two tight-end stuff rather than three receivers in some situations. Gio is a guy you can move all over. I think adding both those guys were really big for us."

The New York JetsJets released a depth chart showing <player idref= and <player idref= as starters at quarterback. <player idref= was listed ahead of the injured Chris Ivory at tailback, and Jeff Cumberland was listed as the starting tight end ahead of Kellen Winslow.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill displayed "poor footwork in his few snaps" Sunday night against the Cowboys, and "poor footwork equals bad ball placement," according to the Sun-Sentinel. Tannehill hit 2 of 5 throws for 11 yards, but played without starting wideouts Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline.