NFL Player News

Shough will take first-team reps Thursday, after Spencer Rattler worked with the starters Wednesday for the first practice of minicamp, Jeff Nowak of WWLAM reports.

Rattler made six starts last season as a rookie fifth-round pick, although that might not help his case much under a new coaching staff considering he completed just 57 percent of his passes and lost all six games. Shough now comes in as a rookie second-round pick -- albeit one who will turn 26 in September -- to compete for the starting job that opened up when Derek Carr announced his retirement in May. Shough recently signed a fully guaranteed rookie contract, paving the way for normal participation in training camp after he was unsigned for the offseason program.

Rattler got most of the first-team reps Wednesday on the first day of training camp, but rookie Tyler Shough is scheduled to work with the starters Thursday, WWLAM's Jeff Nowak reports.

In other words, the Saints will treat their QB job battle as a 50-50 competition, although Shough likely has the tiebreaker given his earlier draft status (second round) and Rattler's poor numbers last season. Taken in the fifth round last spring, Rattler ended up making six starts (all losses) and completing 57.0 percent of passes for 5.8 yards per attempt, with four touchdowns and five interceptions. He played better Week 18 at Tampa Bay, but Shough nonetheless seems like at least a slight favorite for the Week 1 start under a new coaching staff.

Darnold will take the first-team quarterback reps when training camp starts Wednesday, and there isn't a quarterback competition with rookie third-round pick Jalen Milroe, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

This sentiment has been echoed by multiple Seahawks beat writers as well as head coach Mike McDonald. Milroe is an intriguing prospect with massive upside, specifically with his running ability and arm strength, but his accuracy remains a significant question mark and will need time to develop. Regardless, Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with $55 million guaranteed this offseason after revitalizing his career with the Vikings in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards (7.9 YPA), 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while playing in all 17 regular-season games. Darnold enjoyed throwing behind one of the league's best offensive lines last season, but there are serious question marks about Seattle's young offensive line. Furthermore, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and an aging Cooper Kupp don't provide the same explosiveness as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, making this a true prove-it year. Still, Darnold's production was so strong last season that he could live up to his contract expectations even if he regresses a bit.

Giants coach Brian Daboll confirmed Wednesday that Wilson is the team's starting quarterback, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports.

Wilson, 36, took first-team reps throughout the offseason program and will continue to do so in training camp. Daboll's comments Wednesday suggest Jameis Winston and first-round pick Jaxson Dart are competing for the No. 2 QB spot rather than making any push for Wilson's place atop the depth chart. There's nonetheless a decent chance that Dart and/or Winston makes starts at some point this year, in part because the Giants aren't expected to field a strong team. They'll play six of their first eight games against 2024 playoff participants, including Week 1 at Washington and Weeks 6 and 8 against the Eagles.

Watson (Achilles) was placed on the active/PUP list by the Browns on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

As expected, Watson will officially open training camp on the sidelines as he recovers from a second right Achilles procedure that he underwent in January. The quarterback is projected to miss the beginning of the 2025 campaign, and once healthy, it seems unlikely that the 29-year-old will regain the starting role in Cleveland. The Browns will enter camp with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett,Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders as healthy options at QB.

Tampa Bay placed Pratt (undisclosed) on the active/PUP list Tuesday.

Pratt spent most of last season on the Bucs' practice squad and was elevated to the active roster numerous times throughout the year. He's yet to appear in a regular-season game and is trying to push for a spot on the roster behind Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask.

The Dolphins waived Gabbert on Tuesday.

Gabbert spent his entire six-year collegiate career at Miami (OH) and signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. He'll try to find work as a camp arm elsewhere.

Stafford is dealing with back soreness and will begin training camp working with Rams trainers on the side, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Per Greg Beacham of the Associated Press, coach Sean McVay indicated that Stafford's sore back "kind of crept up" on the quarterback this summer, but he's expected to miss only a handful of practices. Once he's back to full health, Stafford will be operating with a revamped receiving corps featuring newcomer Davante Adams in place of the departed Cooper Kupp, working opposite standout Puka Nacua.

Colts GM Chris Ballard noted Tuesday that Richardson (shoulder) will have "no restrictions other than volume" during the initial days of training camp, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.

Per Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis, Richardson has been throwing for three weeks after missing the final two weeks of the Colts' practices in June due to soreness in his right shoulder. While the team figures to ease the 2023 first-rounder back into the mix in camp, the stage is now set for Richardson and former Giants starter Daniel Jones to share first-team reps as they compete for the Colts' top QB job.

Penix heads into training camp as Atlanta's undisputed starting quarterback, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Kirk Cousins presumably still wants to be traded, but that didn't stop him from attending spring practices and likely won't keep him out of training camp. The veteran is taking second-team reps now, after the Falcons averaged 32 points per game in Penix's three starts at the end of last season. Bijan Robinson scored two TDs in each of the three games, and Drake London had 352 yards and two TDs on 39 targets. Apart from the QB change and Ryan Neuzil replacing Drew Dalman at center, Atlanta's starting offense looks much the same as it did last summer. All of the team's projected 2025 starters were in Atlanta last offseason when offensive coordinator Zac Robinson installed his scheme.