NFL Player News

Jackson won't play in Saturday's preseason finale in Tampa Bay, Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Jackson and other veteran starters have been held out all preseason and will now have two full weeks to prepare for a Sept. 10 home game against the Texans. With RB J.K. Dobbins (undisclosed) and WR Rashod Bateman (foot) both practicing of late, Jackson may have all his key targets available at the start of the regular season. The Ravens are expected to throw more under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, but Jackson's running will still figure in prominently even if he has to do more on scrambles and less on designed runs.

Coach Ron Rivera noted Friday that Brissett will start and play about a quarter and a half in Saturday's preseason finale against the Bengals, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Once Brissett gets his reps in versus Cincinnati, his focus will shift to readying for the regular season as Sam Howell's top backup. As for who else is in line to see action for the Commanders on Saturday, Jhabvala suggests that only a select number of offensive starters are in line to play, but none on defense.

Winston is slated to start Sunday's preseason finale against the Texans, John DeShazier of the Saints' official site reports.

With top QB Derek Carr not in line to see action in the contest, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football, Jake Haener is on track to enter the game after Winston. As the coming season approaches, Winston is set to serve as the Saints' No. 2 QB behind Carr, providing the team with an experienced backup option to turn to should Carr miss time at any point.

Levis (thigh) isn't expected to play in Friday's preseason finale against New England, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Levis returned to practice Wednesday and told reporters he expected to play Friday, but the Titans apparently will hold him out. Ryan Tannehill likely will start and play a bit before handing things over to Malik Willis for the rest of the night. Willis and Levis have been competing for the No. 2 QB job all summer.

Carr and several other starters are unlikely to play in Sunday's preseason game against Houston, Ross Jackson of SI.com reports.

Carr will be held out for a second straight week, after completing six of eight passes for 70 yard and a touchdown in the Saints' preseason opener. He won't have RB Alvin Kamara available for the first three weeks of the regular season, but WRs Chris Olave and Michael Thomas and TE Juwan Johnson are all healthy heading into a Week 1 home game against Tennessee, and even No. 3 WR Rashid Shaheed (groin) recently returned to practice and now has two weeks to ramp up.

Richardson completed six of 17 passes for 78 yards and took five carries for 38 yards in Thursday's 27-13 preseason win over Philadelphia.

Facing the Eagles' second- and third-string defenses, Richardson led Indy's first-team offense for the entire first half and came away with 17 points on six drives. The three series that didn't feature scores were all 3-and-outs, and the touchdowns went to RBs Deon Jackson and Evan Hull on goal-line carries. Richardson finishes the preseason 13-of-29 passing for 145 yards and one interception, adding seven carries for 45 yards in two appearances. He'll get his first regular-season start when the Colts host the Jaguars on Sept. 10.

Heinicke played two drives and threw two incomplete passes in Thursday's preseason game against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh's starters dominated Atlanta's backups, quickly making it 14-0. Heinicke will look on from the sideline Week 1 against the Panthers while Desmond Ridder gets the start under center.

Pickett completed all four of his passes for 86 yards in Thursday's preseason game in Atlanta.

Pickett played two drives in each of Pittsburgh's three preseason games and completed 13 of 15 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. He did a lot of that damage against backups, especially Thursday in Atlanta, but it's nonetheless promising that he was so accurate throughout August and displayed good chemistry with George Pickens and Diontae Johnson (both of whom had catches of 30-plus yards). Those two and TE Pat Freiermuth are the favorites to pile up targets from Pickett in a Week 1 home game against the 49ers on Sept. 10.

Heinicke likely will get the start for Thursday's preseason game against the Steelers with Desmond Ridder not in uniform ahead of kickoff, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

After starting 24 games with the Commanders over the last two seasons, Heinicke joined up with the Falcons this offseason to serve as Ridder's backup. Heinicke didn't play in Atlanta's exhibition opener at Miami but took the field last Friday versus the Bengals, completing 13 of 21 passes for 162 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing twice for 14 yards. Once Heinicke hits the sideline for good Thursday, fellow reserve Logan Woodside will take over the offense.

With Joshua Dobbs headed to the Cardinals in a trade Thursday, Thompson-Robinson is in line to serve as Deshaun Watson's top backup ahead of Week 1, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Earlier Thursday, coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Dobbs would be the team's No. 2 QB, but following the subsequent deal sending the signal-caller to Arizona, Thompson-Robinson now is in line to handle the role. Additionally, the Browns retained Kellen Mond as a depth option after initially planning to waive him.