NFL Player News
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Case Keenum QB | CHI
Bears' Case Keenum: Dealing with leg injury
Keenum did not practice Friday due to a leg injury, Adam Jahns of AllCHGO.com reports.
Keenum is considered day-to-day, per Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune, so while his injury isn't a long-term concern, it may prevent him from suiting up for Sunday's preseason game against the Bills. The veteran signal-caller is competing with Tyson Bagent for the No. 2 quarterback role behind Caleb Williams, and if he can't suit up versus Buffalo it will provide fourth-stringer Austin Reed a chance to handle increased reps.
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Joe Flacco QB | CIN
Browns' Joe Flacco: Will rest Saturday
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Flacco will not suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles, Noah Monroe of the team's official site reports.
Flacco is fully healthy and remains, by all indications, on track to start Week 1 for the Browns, so the team simply has little incentive to risk exposing the 40-year-old veteran to exhibition reps. Rookie third-rounder Dillon Gabriel (hamstring), who returned to team drills this week, could get a chance to start Saturday if the team feels he's sufficiently healthy, while Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) seem less likely to be available. The plethora of injuries to Cleveland's quarterback room will likely result on Tyler Huntley playing a substantial amount Saturday, and potentially even starting versus Philadelphia.
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Tua Tagovailoa QB | MIA
Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Starters won't play Saturday
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that he doesn't plan to play Tagovailoa and most starters during Saturday's preseason game against the Lions, David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
Tagovailoa played one drive during Miami's preseason opener against the Bears, completing five of six passes for 27 yards, but he'll rest during the team's second exhibition matchup. Instead, backup Zach Wilson will get the start Saturday while rookie Quinn Ewers enters in relief. Jaylen Waddle returned to team drills this week, but top wideout Tyreek Hill (oblique) remained sidelined Thursday.
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Malik Willis QB | GB
Packers' Malik Willis: Starting vs. Colts
Willis is positioned to start Saturday's preseason game against the Colts with Jordan Love (thumb) recovering from surgery undergone to address a ligament injury, Jacob Slinkman of SI reports.
Willis' growth as he enters Year 2 in coach Matt LaFleur's scheme will be interesting to monitor, especially after he managed to impress with two early-season wins when called upon to step up under center in 2024 (one of which came Week 2 versus Indianapolis). He'll be tasked with overcoming injuries to the wide receiver corps during Saturday's exhibition tilt, however, with Jayden Reed (foot), Romeo Doubs (back) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) all having missed practice Thursday. The Packers expect Love to resume practicing next week, and the team hasn't expressed any concerns about his status for Week 1.
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Joe Milton III QB | DAL
Cowboys' Joe Milton: Heavy workload expected Saturday
Milton will likely play the majority of Saturday's preseason game against the Ravens, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
The Cowboys are still trying to get Milton ready to be Dak Prescott's top backup, whereas No. 3 QB Will Grier is more of a known quantity. Prior to leaving the preseason opener against the Rams with a minor elbow issue, Milton completed 17 of 29 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while adding 22 rushing yards on five carries.
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Tyler Huntley QB | BAL
Browns' Tyler Huntley: Ready to start if needed
Huntley could be the starting quarterback in Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles, Noah Monroe of the Browns' official site reports.
The Browns are dealing with several injuries in the quarterback room, with only Huntley and Joe Flacco deemed 100 percent. "We'll work through all (the injuries). Obviously, (Huntley) knows exactly what to do, how to do it, so is ready to roll," Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said Thursday. Flacco, the presumptive Week 1 starter, was ruled out from playing by the coach. Shedeur Sanders (oblique) didn't practice this week and is not expected to play. That leaves Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) and Kenny Pickett (hamstring), both of whom practiced this week, albeit in limited fashion.
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Baker Mayfield QB | TB
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Won't play after all Saturday
Coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Mayfield won't suit up for Saturday's preseason game at Pittsburgh, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Bowles changed his tune from comments he made following Thursday's joint practice with the Steelers, when he noted that every Buccaneers starter on offense except for WR Mike Evans would play. The new reality was keyed by Bowles watching tape of the session and now will leave Kyle Trask to direct the first-teamers to begin Saturday's contest. Beyond Trask, veteran Teddy Bridgewater and undrafted rookie Connor Bazelak will handle any QB reps that don't go to Trask. Mayfield has just more chance for exhibition action ahead of a Week 1 road matchup with the Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 7.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Set for preseason reps
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that he expects Purdy and "some" starters will suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Raiders, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
Purdy thus appears poised to make his preseason debut Saturday, though he may be tasked with operating without wide receivers Jauan Jennings (calf), Jacob Cowing (hamstring) and Jordan Watkins (ankle), in addition to Brandon Aiyuk (ACL), who remains on the active/PUP list and may be sidelined until Week 6. Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson look set to operate as Purdy's top two wide receivers Saturday, while it remains to be seen whether Shanahan will opt to rest veteran playmakers Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle.
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Baker Mayfield QB | TB
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Starting Saturday vs. Steelers
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.
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Sam Howell QB | PHI
Vikings' Sam Howell: Will start Saturday's game
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.