NFL Player News

Coach Ron Rivera cautioned reporters Tuesday that they shouldn't "sleep on" Brissett, who has done a "nice job" at training camp, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Rivera said back in June that Brissett was in the running for the starting job, even though Sam Howell had been getting all the first-team reps in spring practices. Howell is still dominating those reps during training camp, but at the very least Rivera is making it clear he's confident in his backup, which makes sense given that Brissett's track record places him among the better No. 2 QBs in the league. That reality combined with Howell's lack of experience gives Brissett a decent chance to make starts at some point this season even if Howell seems to have the Week 1 starting assignment all but locked up.

Mariota has gotten off to a slow start during training camp, Martin Frank of The Delaware News Journal reports.

Mariota has thrown four interceptions in the first week of training camp. However, for the time being, that's being chalked up to him being on his third team in three seasons. According to teammate Boston Scott, "he's still learning the playbook, but he's a really smart guy. It's gonna take time, but you can see the tools for sure." Mariota will have plenty of time to adjust to the new offense and his role as Jalen Hurts' backup throughout the remainder of training camp and preseason.

Richardson is taking "practically all the first-team reps" at Thursday's practice, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.

After alternating days with Gardner Minshew at the start of training camp, Richardson has dominated first-team reps in consecutive practices (Tuesday/Thursday) since missing Monday's session to recover from a procedure on his nasal septum. While this doesn't mean he's the Week 1 starter, it can only help to get more work with the guys who will be blocking for him and catching his passes if the Colts decide to enter the season with the rookie under center.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Tuesday that he feels "pretty strongly" that Ridder is "going to be our quarterback of the future," Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

Head coach Arthur Smith named Ridder as the team's starting quarterback in late March, two weeks after the team signed Taylor Heinicke to a two-year, $14 million contract. The second-year pro seems to be making a good impression in training camp, but there's still a lot that can go wrong with a relatively unproven young quarterback who has one of the better backups in the league behind him. Even if his standing atop the depth chart is truly secure this summer, Ridder won't be long for the starting job come September if he doesn't play well. Ridden has several things working in his favor, including ample collegiate experience as a starter, an Atlanta offensive line that improved greatly last season and a supporting cast of skill-position players that includes top-10 picks from each of the last three NFL Drafts (tight end Kyle Pitts, wideout Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson). It doesn't hurt to have the support of the team owner either, though Blank is 80 years old and seemingly not quite as involved with the team's day-to-day operations as he once was.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas said Tuesday that his relationship with Carr is progressing tremendously, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

The 30-year-old wideout is healthy and practicing after ankle and foot injuries limited him to 10 games over the past three seasons. Between Thomas and second-year standouts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, Carr will have a talented and diverse group of wide receivers for his first season in New Orleans. The tight-end group is somewhat less impressive, though certainly deep, and the offensive line should get back on track after an injury-riddled and uncharacteristically mediocre 2022 season, with the projected starting five for this season consisting of four first-round picks and a second-rounder. It's a nice setup for Carr's first season outside the Raiders organization, creating potential for a rebound after his own performance left much to be desired in 2022.

Jones turned in his best practice of training camp so far Tuesday, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald.

The report notes that Jones finished the session going 7-of-10 in team drills, while throwing two TDs in a final red-zone portion versus the first-team defense. Per Callahan, the 2021 first-rounder "weaponized tempo, audibles and his best trait -- accuracy within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage -- over the best showing by any quarterback this summer." As the Patriots' preseason opener approaches, Dakota Randall of NESN.com suggests that talk of QB controversy seems to have died down, even if coach Bill Belichick has yet to specifically confirm Jones as the Week 1 starter.

The Raiders signed Garbers on Tuesday.

Garbers, an undrafted free agent out of California, spent most of last season on the Raiders practice squad and was elevated to the active roster late in his rookie season when Jarrett Stidham replaced Derek Carr as the starting quarterback. Garbers was surprisingly let go ahead of training camp, but he's back on the squad a week later and will compete with veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie Aidan O'Connell for a backup spot behind Jimmy Garoppolo.

As Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Browns approaches, Rodgers noted that he "wouldn't mind playing in the preseason," while suggesting that seeing action in the Jets' exhibition finale is a possibility, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

It's safe to assume that Rodgers won't be taking any snaps Thursday, and it doesn't sound like he'll play Aug. 12 against the Panthers either. In any case, Ethan Greenberg of the Jets' official site relays that Zach Wilson is in line to draw the start in the team's preseason opener against Cleveland.

Dobbs (rest) will not play Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.

Dobbs, who is currently the Browns' No. 2 quarterback, will get the night off as the Browns opt to take a closer look at Kellen Mond and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Thompson-Robinson will play in the second half against the Jets on Thursday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Thomas-Robinson, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 Draft, should get a long look in the Hall of Fame Game. Although Deshaun Watson is the clear No. 1 quarterback on the team's positional depth chart, there is some uncertainty in the pecking order behind him between Kellen Mond, Joshua Dobbs and Thomas-Robinson. Mond is slated to draw the start Thursday.