NFL Player News
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Josh Johnson QB | CIN
Broncos' Josh Johnson: Will start Saturday
Johnson will start for the Broncos on Saturday in their preseason contest with the Bills, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.
Johnson drew the start last Saturday as well, completing 16 of 23 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. With Russell Wilson locked in as the starter and sitting for all preseason games, Johnson is competing with Brett Rypien for backup duties. Between the second straight starting nod Saturday and his performance last week, the 36-year-old veteran appears to have an edge on Rypien for the No. 2 quarterback job.
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Russell Wilson QB | NYG
Broncos' Russell Wilson: Won't play in preseason games
Broncos offensive coordinator Justin Outten said Wilson won't play in any preseason games ahead of his Week 1 matchup with the Seahawks, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Wilson starts his tenure in Denver with a visit to his old home, facing the Seahawks on Monday Night Football. It remains to be seen if Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy can approximate what Wilson had in Seattle with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but the Broncos are stronger than the Seahawks at most positions, with no gap wider than the one at quarterback. The 33-year-old Wilson competed at least 64.8 percent of his passes for 7.5 YPA or better in each of his final four seasons with Seattle, averaging 32.8 TD passes, 7.8 interceptions, 353.5 rushing yards and 1.8 rushing TDs per season in that stretch.
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Deshaun Watson QB | CLE
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Won't play in last two preseason games
Coach Kevin Stefanski noted Thursday that Watson won't play in the Browns' final two preseason games, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Watson has been suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. Per NFL.com, the quarterback's suspension will take effect on Aug. 30, after which he will be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 28 and eligible to play Week 13 against the Texans. Jacoby Brissett is in line to fill in as the Browns' starter to begin the upcoming season while Watson is unavailable, with Joshua Dobbs and Josh Rosen currently rounding out the team's QB depth chart.
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Jacoby Brissett QB | ARI
Browns' Jacoby Brissett: Set to fill in for Watson
Brissett is in line to work as the Browns' starting QB to begin the coming season, with teammate Deshaun Watson slated to serve an 11-game suspension, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
With Watson unavailable until Week 13, Brissett is expected to serve in the former's place, while Joshua Dobbs and Josh Rosen are in the backup mix. It's possible the Browns could explore other options in the coming weeks, but Brissett, an experienced pro capable of helming an NFL offense, has drawn the praise of coach Kevin Stefanski, who has "been very impressed" with the veteran signal-caller. "Very comfortable with him," Stefanski said of Brissett. "I think he has a very good understanding of what we're trying to do offensively."
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Deshaun Watson QB | CLE
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Suspended 11 games
The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a settlement Thursday that will result in Watson serving an 11-game suspension to start the upcoming season, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
Additionally per the report, Watson will pay a $5 million fine for violating the league's personal conduct policy, as well as undergo mandatory evaluation by behavioral experts and follow their suggested treatment program. The quarterback's suspension takes effect on Aug. 30, and he'll be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 28 and game action Week 13 versus Houston. Jacoby Brissett is in line to fill in as the team's starter while Watson is unavailable.
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Patrick Mahomes QB | KC
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes: In line to play Saturday
Mahomes is in line to play in Saturday's preseason game against Washington, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
While backup QB Chad Henne isn't in line to play in the contest, coach Andy Reid indicated that the Chiefs' starters could play as much as the first half Saturday. Mahomes thus is in line to be followed in the contest by Shane Buechele and Dustin Crum.
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Mitch Trubisky QB | TEN
Steelers' Mitch Trubisky: Starting Saturday's preseason game
Trubisky will start Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars.
Trubisky saw the least volume as a passer during last weekend's preseason opener against the Seahawks, but he was efficient and completed four of seven pass attempts for 63 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. He'll work with Pittsburgh's first-team offense once again during the second preseason matchup, further cementing his status as the frontrunner for the starting quarterback job.
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Josh Allen QB | BUF
Bills' Josh Allen: Playing this weekend
Allen and other starters will play a "healthy amount" in Saturday's preseason game against Denver, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
There's a good chance this is the only action Allen sees all preseason, giving him a chance to work with new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey in a game setting. There should already be some level of comfort, considering Dorsey was the Bills' QBs coach the past two years and now leads an offense in which 10 of the 11 projected starters are returning players from last year.
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Trevor Lawrence QB | JAC
Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence: Set for more snaps Saturday
Coach Doug Pederson said Thursday that he'd like Lawrence and other starters to play into the second quarter in Saturday's preseason game against Pittsburgh.
Lawrence was held out of the Hall of Fame Game before completing six of 12 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in last week's preseason loss to the Browns. He'll face a star-studded Pittsburgh defense for his second preseason appearance, though it isn't clear all of the Steelers' big names will take the field.
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Tyrod Taylor QB | GB
Giants' Tyrod Taylor: Could get reps with first team
Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Taylor could get some snaps with the first team during preseason games, Jordan Ranaan of ESPN.com reports.
There is no QB competition in New York -- Daboll emphasized that Daniel Jones is the clear-cut starter heading into his fourth NFL season. However, the coach also indicated a desire to expose Taylor to scenarios in which he may need to enter a game in a pinch, which is especially pertinent given the fact that Jones has dealt with injuries throughout his professional career. There's also the reality that the Giants declined Jones' fifth-year option earlier this year. Should he fail to do well in Daboll's offense, it's possible that Taylor -- who is on a two-year deal -- could take the reigns in 2023 while the organization pursues its next potential franchise quarterback.