NFL Player News

Stafford (back) is present at team facilities Monday but will not participate in practice, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said the plan was for Stafford to take part in at least individual drills Monday if his workout on Saturday went well, which by all accounts it did, so it's something of a surprise to see the veteran quarterback now in street clothes. That said, throughout training camp, McVay consistently has demonstrated not only a tendency to approach Stafford's recovery with caution, but also to deviate from public commitments made about the team's approach to his rehab. There's no reason yet to believe that Stafford's lack of participation Monday represents a setback in his recovery from the aggravated disc in his back, in other words. As has been the case since early training camp, Jimmy Garoppolo will continue handling first-team reps at practice.

Willis completed four of nine passes for 39 yards and had one carry for five yards in Saturday's 30-10 preseason loss to the Jets. He also lost a fumble in the contest.

Willis entered the game after starting quarterback Jordan Love departed and led all Packers quarterbacks with 24 snaps. It was hardly the best night in the box score for Willis, but fellow quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Taylor Elgersma are not threatening him on the depth chart, and barring injury, he will remain Green Bay's No. 2 option at the quarterback spot.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Pickett (hamstring) will practice but remains limited to 7-on-7 drills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Pickett and Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) were both kept from suiting up for Cleveland's preseason opener against the Panthers on Friday due to injuries, leaving Joe Flacco to rest with the starters while Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Huntley dominated reps. Gabriel returned to 11-on-11 drills Monday, however, a development that places increased pressure on Pickett to return to action soon or risk falling further behind. If Cleveland opts to keep the rookie tandem of Sanders and Gabriel on the 53-man roster, Pickett and Flacco may not be competing for just the Week 1 starting role, but also a single roster spot. Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that Stefanski hopes to make a decision on the starting QB around the time of Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday he expects Green Bay's starters to rest during Saturday's preseason game against the Colts, but that the plan is subject to change based on the week of practice, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

LaFleur made clear that he wasn't satisfied with the sloppy cameo Love and the starting offense made during Green Bay's 30-10 preseason loss to the Jets on Saturday, in which the starting QB completed just one of five passes for seven yards, in part due to multiple drops by his pass-catching corps. "I just want to see improvement out there on the practice field," LaFleur said, noting that "if we don't feel great about it, and we feel like we need the work," then the starters could end up suiting up for exhibition action this weekend. Dontayvion Wicks (calf) could have a chance to be back in action versus the Colts, but No. 1 wideout Jayden Reed (foot) is wearing a walking boot, and LaFleur hasn't provided a tangible update on the severity or recovery timetable for his injury.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Gabriel (hamstring) will participate in 11-on-11 drills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Gabriel had been limited in practice for roughly a week due to a hamstring injury, which also forced him to sit out Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers, but he now appears back to full health. With Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) all sidelined versus Carolina, fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders got a chance to log substantial exhibition action and impressed with two touchdown passes. Gabriel may have to make up lost ground in Saturday's road preseason game against the Eagles.

Haener completed five of his eight pass attempts for 41 yards and an interception during Sunday's 27-13 preseason loss to the Chargers.

Haener took the field after second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough. The 2023 fourth-round pick was intercepted on his fifth passing attempt, ending the first of two offensive series that he played in the fourth quarter. Haener, Rattler and Shough came into training camp all competing for the Saints' starting job, but the latter two have been getting the bulk of first-team reps in practice. As of today, Haener appears set to serve as the emergency quarterback for New Orleans this year. His next opportunity to climb the depth chart this preseason will come against the Jaguars on Sunday, Aug. 17.

Heinicke completed just one of five pass attempts for eight yards and had no rushing attempts in Sunday's 27-13 preseason win over the Saints.

Starter Justin Herbert sat out for the second exhibition in a row, affording Heinicke the opportunity to make his preseason debut this year. The journeyman backup probably wishes he hadn't on this particular Sunday after completing just one pass across two offensive drives. Heinicke was the early favorite to serve as Herbert's backup come Week 1, but Trey Lance has produced touchdowns in consecutive games and could threaten for the gig. It will be interesting to see what order the two backups are rolled out against the Rams on Saturday.

Shough completed 15 of 22 pass attempts for 165 yards, one touchdown and one interception with one rushing attempt for three yards in Sunday's 27-13 preseason loss to the Chargers.

Shough entered Sunday's exhibition behind Spencer Rattler (7-for-11, 53 yards) but wound up producing the preferred stat line while operating the second-string offense. Both inexperienced arms committed a turnover apiece while playing roughly a combined three quarters of action. This is truly shaping up to be a tight competition for the starting gig in New Orleans come Week 1. It wouldn't be surprising to see Shough get the nod under center against the Jaguars next Sunday in order to give both players a fair shake at being evaluated this preseason.

Rattler completed seven of 11 pass attempts for 53 yards and rushed three times for 22 yards while losing a fumble in Sunday's 27-13 preseason loss to the Chargers.

Rattler was unimpressive in his preseason debut with the first-team offense, failing to generate points on any of the five drives he led Sunday. The 2024 fifth-round pick did pace the team in rushing yards (22), but he also was sacked three times and coughed up a fumble on the first play of the second quarter. Fellow starting candidate Tyler Shough also committed a turnover in relief of Rattler, but the rookie's interception was offset by scoring the team's only passing touchdown of the game. Rattler appeared to have the early edge in the starting QB competition coming into camp, but Shough had more success moving the ball on offense after one exhibition. The two young signal-callers will continue jockeying for position when the Saints host the Jaguars in next Sunday's preseason tilt.

Head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that Richardson's scheduled to be the second quarterback into Saturday's preseason game against the Packers after Daniel Jones, Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star reports.

The team plans for Jones to start and play a couple of series before Richardson gets the rest of the first half. It's encouraging that Richardson will get right back in there after exiting on the second drive of Indianapolis' preseason opener against the Ravens due to a dislocated right pinkie finger. There doesn't seem to be much daylight between Richardson and Jones in the battle for the Colts' starting quarterback job.