NFL Player News

Head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that Jones will start Saturday's preseason game against the Packers, Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star reports.

The team plans for Jones to play a couple of series before Anthony Richardson checks in for the rest of the first half. Richardson started the preseason opener against the Ravens but exited on the second drive due to an injured finger, clearing the path for Jones to check in for the remainder of the first half. Jones and Richardson are locked in a tight competition for the starting quarterback role, though the spot may be Richardson's to lose given the team's greater investment in him as the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Jones completed four of seven pass attempts for 74 yards and an interception while rushing once for two yards in Saturday's 30-9 preseason loss to the Broncos.

Jones got the nod under center with starter Brock Purdy and the rest of San Francisco's key starters sitting out Saturday's exhibition opener. The veteran backup led a scoring drive that resulted in a Patrick Taylor rushing touchdown to open the contest, but he also committed a turnover on his third and final possession. Jones isn't facing any competition for the 49ers' No. 2 job as he continues to get acclimated with a new offense.

Tagovailoa completed five of six passes for 27 yards in Sunday's 24-24 preseason tie against the Bears.

Despite playing without top two wide receivers Tyreek Hill (oblique) and Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed), Tagovailoa guided the offense down to the 1-yard line before the Dolphins turned it over on downs on his lone drive of the game. Staying healthy will be the top priority for the oft-injured quarterback this preseason, which continues for the Dolphins with a trip to Detroit on Saturday.

Winston completed seven of 11 pass attempts for 62 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Saturday's preseason 34-25 win against the Bills.

Winston was the third quarterback to enter the game for the Giants, behind starter Russell Wilson and rookie Jaxson Dart. The strong-armed Winston couldn't get anything going with New York's offense on his first two drives, but he led the team on an 11-play, 67-yard drive in his third and final series, which he culminated with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Gunner Olszewski and a subsequent two-point conversion pass to Thomas Fidone. Winston brings a second veteran presence to New York's QB corps, but with Wilson locked in as the starter and Dart representing the team's future at the position, there isn't a path for Winston to make a significant fantasy impact unless injuries or ineffectiveness cause a shakeup in the pecking order.

Mertz completed seven of 14 attempts for 27 yards and threw three interceptions in Saturday's 20-10 preseason loss to Minnesota.

Mertz, a sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Florida in the 2025 NFL Draft, was the third quarterback used in the game following Davis Mills and Kedon Slovis. He entered in the middle of the third quarter and threw all three picks in the fourth quarter.

Tagovailoa was suited up during pregame warmups and will be available for Sunday's preseason opener against the Bears, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers also are dressed. Tagovailoa likely will be limited to one or two series in Sunday's contest, and he'll be without Tyreek Hill (oblique) and Jaylen Waddle, though De'Von Achane looks to be available. Tagovailoa is looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2024 campaign in which he completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions across 11 regular-season games.

Martinez completed 11 of 16 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown while rushing twice for 13 yards in Saturday's 30-10 preseason win over the Packers.

Martinez played the entire second half and put forth a strong performance, including a 24-yard touchdown pass to Stone Smartt in the third quarter. Rookie Brady Cook notably came into the game earlier than Martinez, but Martinez had the stronger statistical showing. The battle for the third spot on the Jets' quarterback depth chart between Martinez and Cook will continue in the second preseason game Aug. 16 against the Giants.

Cook completed six of eight passes for 62 yards and rushed once for minus-five yards in Saturday's 30-10 preseason win over the Packers.

With Tyrod Taylor (knee) sitting out, Cook was the second quarterback into the game for the Jets after starter Justin Fields played the opening drive. Cook played the remainder of the first half before being replaced by Adrian Martinez, who threw for 152 yards and a touchdown in the second half. The competition for the third spot on the quarterback depth chart between Cook -- who signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri in April -- and the 2024 UFL MVP Martinez will continue in the team's next preseason game, Aug. 16 against the Giants.

Nix completed six of 11 passes for 31 yards in the Broncos' 30-9 preseason win over the 49ers on Saturday night.

Nix averaged a meager 2.8 yards per attempt but certainly got his reps in during Denver's exhibition opener. The second-year signal-caller spread the ball around during his time in the contest, connecting with Troy Franklin, J.K. Dobbins, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims and RJ Harvey, albeit with none of those completions going for longer than nine yards. Nix ended up playing early into the second quarter, but given the middling results for the first-team offense, he's likely in for another solid allotment of playing time in the Broncos' second preseason contest next Saturday night at home against the Cardinals.

Bennett completed 16 of 24 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Saturday's 31-21 preseason win over the Cowboys. He also rushed three times for 11 yards.

Bennett player the entire game, with neither Matthew Stafford (back) nor Jimmy Garoppolo suiting up. The third-string quarterback led touchdown drives on each of the Rams' first two possessions, though both were capped by Blake Corum touchdown runs. Bennett was picked off in the third quarter, then finished strong with fourth-quarter touchdown passes of nine yards to Cody Schrader and five yards to Brennan Presley. Bennett seems locked into the third spot on the depth chart ahead of the team's second preseason game Aug. 16 against the Chargers.