NFL Player News

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy and the 49ers starters may play 1-to-2 series during Saturday's preseason game against the Broncos, Josh Dubow of The Associated Press reports.

No matter if Purdy takes the field in the team's second exhibition, Shanahan said Sam Darnold will handle most of the quarterback reps in the first half, while Trey Lance will take them after halftime. Purdy passed a milestone in his recovery from March surgery on his right throwing elbow this week, having practice restrictions lifted before logging action in three consecutive sessions. That may be the reason Shanahan is considering giving Purdy some run this weekend, but if it doesn't come to pass the second-year pro likely will be under center for San Francisco's preseason finale Friday, Aug. 25 versus the Chargers.

Coach Matt Eberflus said Thursday that Fields won't play in Saturday's preseason game at Indianapolis, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.

Despite throwing all three of his passes behind the line of scrimmage in the Bears' preseason opener against the Titans, Fields ended up with 129 yards and two touchdowns, a screen pass to DJ Moore that he housed for 62 yards and a checkdown to Khalil Herbert that went for a 56-yard score. After getting some work in two joint practices with the Colts this week, Eberflus is satisfied with where Chicago's No. 1 quarterback stands at the moment. Fields will have one more chance for exhibition action Saturday, Aug. 26 versus the Bills.

Hurts isn't in uniform ahead of Thursday's preseason game against the Browns, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

If the expected outcome occurs and Hurts sits out a second consecutive exhibition, he'll have just one more chance to suit up (next Thursday, Aug. 24 versus the Colts) ahead the season opener. In Hurts' stead, Marcus Mariota likely will get the first chance to lead the Eagles offense, with Ian Book and rookie sixth-round pick Tanner McKee mixing in behind him.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is slated to start at QB for the Browns in Thursday's preseason game against the Eagles with most of the team's starters expected to rest, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Watson logged 12 snaps in last Friday's contest against the Commanders.

Along with Thompson-Robinson, Cabot previously indicated that Kellen Mond will also play Thursday, while Joshua Dobbs will not. The Browns close out their preseason slate Saturday, Aug. 26 against the Chiefs.

Levis exited Thursday's practice early, per Nick Suss of the Tennessean, due to what Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com indicated was a lower-body injury.

As far as Levis' status for Saturday's preseason game against the Vikings, coach Mike Vrabel said that the Titans will have to "see where he's at." If Levis is unavailable for the contest, the team's options would include a full preseason game for Malik Willis versus Minnesota or possibly starter Ryan Tannehill seeing reps as well. Per Suss, Levis has primarily worked as Tennessee's third-string QB during training camp behind Tannehill and Willis.

Coach Sean Payton noted after Thursday's practice that Denver's starters are expected to play "somewhere between ''20 and 24 plays'' in Saturday's preseason game against the 49ers, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports. In last Friday's preseason opener against the Cardinals, Wilson logged 20 snaps.

It remains to be seen how the Broncos plan to use key players in their preseason finale, but the team's key healthy starters are once again in line to see work this weekend, with the report also noting that RB Javonte Williams -- who is bouncing back from ACL surgery -- is in line to see action on 10-to-12 plays. Against Arizona last week, Wilson completed seven of 13 pass attempts for 93 yards and a touchdown before being relieved by Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci.

Wilson is slated to start Saturday's preseason game against the Buccaneers, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

As was the case in last weekend's contest against the Panthers, Wilson will be followed by Tim Boyle, while top QB Aaron Rodgers won't play. As for the Jets' Aug. 26 exhibition finale against the Giants, coach Robert Saleh noted that he has yet to decide if Rodgers will see action.

Coach DeMeco Ryans said Thursday that Stroud will start Saturday's preseason game against the Dolphins, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Stroud, who also started the Texans' preseason opener against the Patriots, has been taking full first-team reps for almost two weeks, according to Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle. Though Houston's Week 1 starting signal-caller hasn't been confirmed, Pelissero suggests that this weekend's assignment represents one more step for the second overall pick in this year's draft being Houston's No. 1 QB.

Coach Andy Reid said Thursday that Mahomes and the Chiefs' starters will play the first half of Saturday's preseason contest in Arizona, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Mahomes played only the opening drive of Kansas City's preseason opener despite Reid noting that he was in line to play the first quarter, so it's possible the reigning Super Bowl MVP could once again handle less reps than expected. The plan, according to Reid, is for the second and third teams to play during the third and fourth quarters, at which point Blaine Gabbert, Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun would get chances to line up under center.

Goff and the Lions' starters won't play Saturday versus the Jaguars, possibly along with select rookies, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Goff will sit out a second consecutive preseason game, while Coach Dan Campbell's comment about select rookies also watching from the sideline could include Jahmyr Gibbs. Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater could thus get a chance to make his Lions debut Saturday, while Nate Sudfeld and Adrian Martinez are also available to handle work under center.