NFL Player News

Rudolph looks cemented as the Titans' top backup to Will Levis following the team's trade of Malik Willis to the Packers on Monday, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.

Rudolph inked with Tennessee back in March and has looked consistent throughout training camp and the preseason, and the Titans' coaching staff has clearly seen enough to prefer him over Willis as the No. 2 option behind Levis. Across four starts with the Steelers last season, including one playoff game against Buffalo, Rudolph threw for 945 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Rudolph doesn't figure to see much action this season, barring an injury to Levis, but if he does have to take the field he should be able to steadily pilot Tennessee's offense.

Ridder cleared the league's concussion protocols Monday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Ridder suffered a concussion during Sunday's preseason loss to the Broncos, so his time in protocols was short-lived. The Cincinnati product is slated to be the Cardinals' backup quarterback this season, and his quick return to full health should ensure he'll be in that position Week 1 behind Kyler Murray.

The Titans traded Willis to the Packers for a 2025 seventh-round pick Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

A third-round pick of the Titans in 2022, Willis has made 11 appearances (three starts) through two seasons, completing 35 of 66 passes for 350 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing 32 times for 144 yards and one TD. With the move to Green Bay, he seemingly will serve as the No. 2 QB behind Jordan Love, though the Packers still have two other young signal-callers on the roster in Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt ahead of cut-down day.

Bennett missed practice Monday while tending to a family issue, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Bennett is expected to return to practice Wednesday, according to head coach Sean McVay. The Georgia product is slated to be the Rams' backup quarterback for the first two weeks of the season while Jimmy Garoppolo serves a suspension.

Coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged Monday that Maye outplayed Jacoby Brissett (shoulder) the past few weeks, but Mayo also said he's wary of "the horror stories of rookie QBs getting thrown to the wolves," Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.

It's a not-so-subtle acknowledgment that the Patriots wouldn't have Maye in the best position for immediate success, putting him behind a shaky offensive line while throwing to a mix of young, unproven players and mediocre veterans. The third overall pick completed 21 of 34 passes (61.8 percent) for 192 yards and a TD this preseason, adding seven carries for 32 yards and another TD, while Brissett was five of 14 for 36 yards and an interception (without any rush attempts). The gap between the two presumably hasn't been so pronounced in practice, and Graff suggests that Mayo is probably leaning toward Brissett for the Week 1 start against Cincinnati even though Maye was better in preseason games. Mayo downplayed the right shoulder injury that Brissett suffered during Sunday's preseason loss to Washington.

Coach Jerod Mayo downplayed Brissett's shoulder injury after a 20-10 preseason loss to Washington on Sunday, saying the QB "would have been able to continue" if it had been a regular-season game, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Brissett played two more snaps -- and threw a pair of accurate passes -- after hurting his right throwing shoulder when a defender landed on top of him during a sack on the sixth play of the game. Drake Maye came in for the next drive, which Mayo said was the plan beforehand anyway. The rookie then completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards and a TD, adding three carries for 17 yards while leading New England to seven points and a missed field goal across five drives. Mayo acknowledged Monday that Maye outplayed Brissett the past few weeks, but the coach also hinted at some hesitancy to start the rookie Week 1, saying, "We've all seen the horror stories of rookie QBs getting thrown to the wolves," per Chad Graff of The Athletic. The Patriots likely will name a starter at some point this week.

Maye completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 20-10 preseason loss to the Commanders. He added three rushes for 17 yards.

Maye followed Jacoby Brissett (shoulder) into the game but took over on the second offensive drive. He got off to a shaky start with two aborted snaps in his first six plays, but he settled in and made a number of impressive throws. Maye's longest completion of the day came on a 29-yard completion across the middle of the field to Ja'Lynn Polk. More importantly, Maye showed command of the pocket, escaping pressure when needed while also making some throws on the run -- two of which were negated by penalties. This performance ends an impressive initial preseason during which Maye has made his case to start Week 1 against the Bengals, though Brissett is still likely the favorite if he proves to be healthy.

Brissett suffered a right shoulder injury in Sunday's preseason finale against the Commanders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Brissett's officially questionable to return, but the Patriots have little reason to put the veteran quarterback back into this exhibition game. He started and completed two of four passes for 19 yards. This injury could tilt New England's quarterback competition toward rookie third overall pick Drake Maye, who has outplayed Brissett in the preseason. The Patriots open the regular season Sunday, Sept. 8 against the Bengals.

Tune completed 12 of 18 passes for 119 yards and an interception in Sunday's 38-12 preseason loss to the Broncos.

The 2023 fifth-round pick got the start under center, and while he was fairly efficient, Tune led the Cardinals to just one Matt Prater 50-yard field goal in his five first-half drives. Desmond Ridder took over to begin the third quarter but left the game late in the fourth after taking a hit, and he was placed in the concussion protocol. With Ridder's availability for Week 1 now in question, Tune could begin the season as Kyler Murray's top backup.

Wilson completed 16 of 25 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 38-12 preseason win over the Cardinals. He added 22 rushing yards and a TD on two carries.

Jarrett Stidham led the offense for Denver's first possession and got the team into the end zone, but Wilson played the rest of the way and had plenty of success, finding Nate Adkins for a one-yard score in the second quarter and Brandon Johnson for a 46-yard TD strike in the fourth. Wilson also added a one-yard touchdown plunge of his own just before halftime. Despite the strong performance, the former Jet will still likely head into the season as the Broncos' No. 3 quarterback, with 2024 12th overall pick Bo Nix having already been named the Week 1 starter.