NFL Player News

Daniels won't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Patriots, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.

The same applies to veteran signal-caller Marcus Mariota (lower leg), which leaves Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman to handle the team's QB reps Friday. Daniels' next chance to see game action will arrive Aug. 18 against the Bengals.

The expectation is that Maye will see some action in Friday's preseason opener against the Commanders, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Though Maye's playing status for Friday's contest hasn't been confirmed by the team, earlier this week coach Mike Vrabel did note that "most everybody that's healthy should expect to play in the game. How long they'll play, I don't know, but we have to prepare to play in football games and prepare to win football games." Also in the mix to see QB snaps for the Patriots versus Washington are Joshua Dobbs and Ben Wooldridge.

The 49ers signed Mordecai to a contract Friday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Mordecai will take the spot on the 49ers' training camp roster vacated by Equanimeous St. Brown (foot), who was placed on injured reserve. Mordecai is a longshot to make the 49ers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. However, with Kurtis Rourke (knee) sidelined, Mordecai would have the opportunity to audition for a spot on the practice squad if he sees playing time as the third-string quarterback behind Mac Jones and Carter Bradley on Saturday against the Broncos if Brock Purdy doesn't play.

Purdy is a candidate to sit out Saturday's preseason opener against the Broncos, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Per Inman, look for most of the 49ers' usual starters to sit out the contest, with coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledging that the team "won't play a ton of them. Doesn't mean we will rest all 22. But don't expect to see a lot out there" Saturday. With that in mind, it's worth noting that Purdy didn't play in San Francisco's preseason opener the past two years, but he did make cameos in the team's following exhibition tilts.

Coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Smith and the starters are "gonna play quite a bit" in Seattle's second preseason game against the 49ers on Aug. 16, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Smith played only one drive in Vegas' first preseason game Thursday, which finished in a 23-23 tie against the Seahawks. It sounds like he'll have a more extended opportunity to work alongside Vegas' top pass catchers, including Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, in the team's second preseason game.

Heinicke will start Sunday's preseason game against the Saints, NFL.com reports.

Trey Lance started the Hall of Fame Game and played deep into the second half, with both Heinicke and Justin Herbert being held out. Heinicke will now lead the second-string offense Sunday, followed by Lance and DJ Uiagalelei working with the third/fourth units. Heinicke seems like a favorite to enter Week 1 in the backup QB role, but there's always some chance Lance could be tabbed instead. Heinicke and Lance signed similar one-year contracts this offseason.

Herbert won't play in Sunday's preseason game against the Saints, NFL.com reports.

Taylor Heinicke will get the start, after Trey Lance started the Hall of Fame Game a week earlier. It remains to be seen if Herbert will take some snaps in the Chargers' third or fourth preseason games.

Daniels and other starters aren't expected to play in Friday's preseason game against the Patriots, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports.

Daniels won't see action in the preseason opener but could get some reps Aug. 18 against the Bengals or Aug. 23 against the Ravens. Marcus Mariota (lower leg) didn't travel with the team to New England, leaving Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman to split quarterbacks reps Friday.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Sanders will play about 50 snaps in Friday's preseason opener against Carolina, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

With Joe Flacco being rested while Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel nurse hamstring injuries, the Browns are left with only Sanders and recent signing Tyler Huntley to play QB on Friday. Stefanski said the rookie will play most of the game, with Huntley apparently scheduled to only come in toward the end. It's a nice opportunity for Sanders, although he'll presumably be surrounded by fellow backups, and possibly facing Carolina's defensive starters on the first drive or two.

Hooker will start Friday's preseason game against the Falcons, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Hooker is competing with Kyle Allen for the top backup spot behind Jared Goff, who will get the night off. Allen started and played the first half of the Hall of Fame Game against the Chargers, while Hooker mustered just 18 passing yards and an interception in the second half of that 34-7 preseason loss. Hooker will likely get the first half of Friday's game.