NFL Player News

Allen completed 17 of 23 pass attempts for 193 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing once for 11 yards during Friday's 20-12 preseason loss to the Texans.

Justin Fields drew the start during Friday's preseason opener, but Allen saw most of the playing time under center. He led the team to two scores in the second half and completed four passes of at least 24 yards. Despite Friday's solid showing, Allen will have to continue competing for a roster spot as a backup as the preseason progresses since the Steelers also have Fields and Russell Wilson as options at quarterback.

Heinicke completed four of 11 passes for 11 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and netted no gain on two carries in the Falcons' 20-13 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Friday night. He also fumbled once but recovered.

Heinicke was the second quarterback in after rookie eighth overall pick Michael Penix, entering the game with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter. The veteran signal-caller was partly victimized by playing with second- and third-string offensive linemen and skill players, helping explain his forgettable passing line. Nevertheless, Heinicke appears to still have a clear lead in his battle with recent arrival Nathan Rourke for the No. 3 quarterback job, and both players should once again see time in the Falcons' second exhibition game Aug. 17 against the Ravens.

Johnson completed four of 12 passes for 62 yards and gained 11 rushing yards on two carries in Friday's 16-13 preseason loss to the Eagles.

The defenses were ahead of the offenses for both teams, but Johnson in particular struggled to move the ball as he got the start while Lamar Jackson and the rest of the Ravens' first-team offense got the night off. The 38-year-old journeyman is set as Jackson's backup in his second stint with Baltimore, but Johnson would offer little fantasy upside if he were forced into action in the regular season.

Tagovailoa did not play in the Dolphins' 20-13 preseason win over the Falcons on Friday night.

As expected, Miami's $212.4 million quarterback was on the sideline for the exhibition opener. However, considering the 2020 first-round pick did play in the final two preseason games last summer after also sitting out the first contest, Tagovailoa could at least see a series or two against the Commanders in a home preseason battle a week from Saturday night.

Penix started the Falcons' 20-13 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Friday night, completing nine of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

The rookie eighth overall pick played on the Falcons' first five possessions, leading Atlanta to 10 points overall on the third and fourth drives of the contest. Penix displayed solid command of the offense during his time in the game and connected with Chris Blair on a 41-yard pass for the Falcons' biggest pass play of the night. The performance was certainly an encouraging one for a pro debut, and with Kirk Cousins not slated to play this preseason, Penix should be afforded ample playing time again in Atlanta's second exhibition on the road against the Ravens on Aug. 17.

Pickett completed 14 of 22 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 16-13 preseason win over the Ravens.

Reporting earlier in the day suggested that Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' first-team offense would get a series at the beginning of the game, but instead Pickett got the start under center and played into the second half. While he did connect with Will Shipley on a seven-yard TD pass on Philadelphia's second possession, Pickett had no success stretching the field and averaged just 4.0 yards per attempt, with his longest completion going for only 10 yards. The former Steeler appears set as Hurts' top backup this season, but he'll only be an emergency or garbage-time option.

Hurts didn't end up seeing any action in Friday's preseason win over the Ravens.

Reporting earlier in the day suggested that the Eagles would give their offensive starters, including Hurts, one series in the team's preseason opener, but that proved not to be the case as Kenny Pickett got the start under center and played into the second half. Hurts' next opportunity to see exhibition action will come Thursday against the Patriots.

Coach Mike Tomlin said after Friday's preseason loss to the Texans that Wilson will suit up Saturday, Aug. 17 against the Bills, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

The Steelers posted an unofficial depth chart Tuesday, which listed Wilson as the No. 1 quarterback ahead of Justin Fields, and Tomlin reiterated Wednesday that the order of the two players was "real," according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. It was so real that Wilson didn't see the field in the team's exhibition opener Friday, while Fields started and completed five of six passes for 67 yards, turned three carries into two yards and fumbled twice (none lost) across three series. Look for Wilson to get the nod under center for Pittsburgh next weekend.

Stroud completed two of four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over the Steelers.

Stroud played two drives, capping his outing in style with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell. With Dell back from last year's season-ending leg injury and Nico Collins returning after a breakout 2023 season alongside offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs, Stroud will have one of the league's most talented wide receiver rooms at his disposal for his sophomore season. Stroud already looks like he's in midseason form, but he may get more opportunities to work on his timing with Houston's receivers in the Texans' next preseason game against the Giants a week from Saturday.

Fields completed five of six passes for 67 yards, rushed three times for two yards and had two fumbles, both recovered by his own team, in Friday's 20-12 preseason loss to the Texans.

Fields got the start and played the first quarter with Pittsburgh's first-team offense while Russell Wilson was held out after recently battling a calf injury. Wilson remains the frontrunner in Pittsburgh's quarterback competition, and Fields didn't make a convincing case to change that narrative, as he failed to lead the offense to any points and put the ball on the ground twice. Fields will try to rebound and make up some ground on Wilson in next Saturday's preseason game against the Bills.