NFL Player News

The Falcons have decided to keep Cousins on their roster ahead of Saturday's 4 pm ET deadline for his $10 million guarantee to kick in, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Cousins lost his starting job to Michael Penix late last season and has been the subject of trade speculation in recent months. However, the Falcons appear determined to keep him around as a backup and mentor to Penix for at least one more season. It's still possible that a trade partner will emerge to persuade Atlanta to part ways with the veteran quarterback, but Cousins has a no-trade clause in his contract and may waive it only if put in the position to be a starter elsewhere.

The Chiefs signed Zappe to a one-year contract Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Zappe spent time as a reserve option at quarterback for Cleveland in 2024, completing 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his lone spot start. With Gardner Minshew (collarbone) the clear favorite to back up Patrick Mahomes after signing with Kanas City on Thursday, Zappe finds himself once again competing for a third-string role. The Chiefs also have Chris Oladokun on the roster.

Allen agreed to terms with the Lions on Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Allen spent the 2024 season with Pittsburgh and operated as their emergency quarterback for most of the campaign. He'll now join the Lions' quarterback room as an experienced backup, and he will likely compete with Hendon Hooker for the No. 2 job to Jared Goff.

Heinicke signed a one-year contract worth up to $6.2 million with the Chargers on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Heinicke spent the 2024 season with the Chargers as the backup to Justin Herbert but played only 22 offensive snaps while attempting five passes. He's spent parts of a few seasons as a starter and will once again be one of the more competent backups in the league.

Minshew (collarbone) has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Raiders released Minshew (collarbone) on Wednesday with a failed physical designation, but just one day later the 28-year-old landed his next assignment, that of backing up star QB Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. In that context, Minshew will remain off the fantasy radar as long as Mahomes is available, but in the event that Mahomes misses any time in 2025, Minshew provides the Chiefs with an experienced and reliable backup option to turn to.

Wilson is leaving Cleveland without a contract and now is expected to visit the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

It would seem his third option is to re-sign in Pittsburgh, although both that and the New York situation depend on what Aaron Rodgers decides to do, with reports suggesting both teams prefer Rodgers to Wilson. If Wilson signs with the Browns or Giants it'll come with risk of facing competition from an early draft pick, whereas the Steelers don't pick until No. 21 and already used their second-rounder to acquire WR DK Metcalf.

The Raiders recently traded for Geno Smith, leaving O'Connell as the likely No. 2 quarterback for 2025.

O'Connell got a chance to compete for the starting job last summer, losing out to Gardner Minshew (collarbone) but then taking over mid-season. Minshew ended up taking the job back after O'Connell suffered a thumb fracture, with things later swinging back to the latter after the former broke his collarbone. The team released Minshew on Wednesday, leaving O'Connell in the clear for the second spot on the depth chart, albeit presumably without any chance to push Smith for the starting role.

The Titans agreed to terms Thursday with Allen on a one-year contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Allen appeared in three games last season as Brock Purdy's top backup in San Francisco. Now, the veteran journeyman joins a Tennessee quarterback room that currently only houses himself and Will Levis, but which should see further additions via either free agency or April's draft, in which the team holds the No. 1 overall pick.

Richardson (back) looks slated to spend the offseason in an open competition for the No. 1 quarterback spot with Daniel Jones, whom the Colts signed to a one-year contract Wednesday, Stephen Holder of ESPN reports.

General manager Chris Ballard has stated that Indianapolis will hold an open competition to determine a Week 1 starter for the 2025 campaign. That QB battle will take the form of Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, versus Jones, a 2019 first-rounder who started for New York until 2024, when he was benched and ultimately released. Richardson has struggled with both consistency and availability across two seasons in the NFL, having appeared in just four games as a rookie and 11 games in 2024, though he has displayed a higher potential ceiling than the more experienced Jones. Training camp and the preseason will prove pivotal for the careers of both Richardson and Jones, as the pair of signal-callers compete for one starting job.

The Raiders released Minshew (collarbone) on Wednesday with a failed physical designation, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

Minshew is still recovering from the season-ending broken collarbone he sustained Nov. 24. He may well need to wait until he's demonstrably healthy to find a new landing spot. The 28-year-old signal caller started nine of his 10 appearances with Las Vegas in 2024, completing 203 of 306 pass attempts (66.3 percent) for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Minshew may well have to settle for a backup gig as his next opportunity, though there are still teams around the league looking for stopgaps at the No. 1 quarterback spot.