NFL Player News

Higgins (concussion) caught two passes on three targets for 15 yards during Friday's 42-38 preseason loss to Green Bay.

Friday's exhibition contest was Higgins' first preseason game of the year, and he was given the green light to play after clearing the league's concussion protocol. He saw most of his playing time in the first half, hauling in passes of nine and six yards on drives that both ended in scores for the Cardinals. Higgins is set to enter the regular season as the team's backup tight end to Trey McBride, given that Tip Reiman (ankle) is expected to miss the Cardinals' regular-season opener against the Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Nussmeier completed 22 of 34 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and rushed once for one yard in the Chiefs' 9-9 preseason tie with the Seahawks on Friday.

The rookie seventh-round pick got an extended opportunity Friday and made relatively good use of it, although his 5.8 yards per attempt underscore that Nussmeier largely played things close to the vest when dropping back. The LSU product finished preseason having completed 44 of 70 passes for 370 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, and it remains to be seen if he's locked in the No. 3 quarterback role over Chris Oladokun.

Rattler completed eight of 10 passes for 79 yards while rushing twice for nine yards and a touchdown in Friday's 27-24 preseason win over the Cowboys.

Rattler started the preseason finale and played the first half. He had a similar passing stat line Friday to Zach Wilson, with whom Rattler is competing for the second spot on the QB depth chart, but Rattler scored an eight-yard touchdown with his legs while neither player threw a touchdown pass. Rattler started two of the Saints' three preseason games, sandwiched around one Wilson start. It looks like the Saints' 2024 fifth-round pick has the slight edge over the Jets' 2021 second overall selection in the battle to back up Tyler Shough, though an official determination on that front has yet to be made.

Allen brought in one of two targets for 12 yards in the Chiefs' 9-9 preseason tie with the Seahawks on Friday.

The rookie fifth-round pick didn't make his catch until the opening possession of the second half. Allen was busy this preseason with six receptions on 12 targets, but those netted a modest 39 yards. Nevertheless, the Cincinnati product is likely locked into a reserve receiver role to open the 2026 season.

Minshew completed seven of nine passes for 126 yards and a touchdown while taking a 10-yard sack during the Cardinals' 42-38 preseason loss to the Packers on Friday.

Minshew was named the Cardinals' starter for Friday's preseason finale while Jacoby Brissett and Carson Beck (ribs) observed the game from the sidelines. Minshew was under center for Arizona's first two offensive series and led scoring drives on both, with the second ending with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Simi Fehoko. Brissett figures to be the Cardinals' starter for at least the beginning of the 2026 regular season, but it's not clear who will be the backup between Minshew and Beck.

Dalton completed 12 of 19 passes for 104 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in the Eagles' 30-13 preseason loss to the Bengals on Friday.

Dalton took over for Tanner McKee to open the second half and got plenty of work, with the highlight of his night being a five-yard touchdown pass to Carson Steele late in the third quarter. Dalton finished the preseason having completed 18 of 35 passes for 168 yards with Friday's touchdown, and his performance against the Bengals may have been sufficient to garner him the No. 2 job to open the season.

Mafah rushed 12 times for 46 yards in Friday's 27-24 preseason loss to the Saints.

Mafah was the Cowboys' busiest running back in the preseason finale, while none of Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue or Malik Davis were called into action. Mafah seemingly finds himself fourth on the depth chart behind those three aforementioned teammates, which could leave the 2025 seventh-round pick on the outside looking in if Dallas takes the traditional approach and keeps three running backs on the 53-man roster.

McKee completed 12 of 22 passes for 55 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in the Eagles' 30-13 preseason loss to the Bengals on Friday.

McKee drew the start and played the entire first half, but as his final line indicates, he had significant trouble moving the ball downfield. The 2023 sixth-round pick had put together a markedly better performance in preseason Week 2 against the Patriots, when he'd completed 72.7 percent of his 22 pass attempts for 173 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. McKee's sluggish showing Friday paired with Andy Dalton's solid second-half numbers (12-for-19, 104 yards, one TD) may be enough to give the latter the inside track to the No. 2 job to open the season.

Young brought in one of three targets for nine yards in the Bengals' 30-13 preseason win over the Eagles on Friday.

The rookie fourth-round pick was quieter than during his first two preseason games, when he posted a 5-76-1 line on 12 targets. However, Young's roster spot is essentially locked in, and he opened the game with the first-team offense. The Georgia product has plenty of potential in a Joe Burrow-helmed offense, although top two wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will naturally command plenty of the prolific quarterback's attention most weeks.

Brooks rushed six times for 22 yards, brought in his only target for minus-6 yards, returned one kickoff for 37 yards and lost a fumble in the Bengals' 30-13 preseason win over the Eagles on Friday.

The 2025 sixth-round pick got the start for the Bengals and touched the ball on Cincinnati's first two plays from scrimmage, netting seven yards on his first carry. Brooks subsequently fumbled the opening second-half kickoff to give the Eagles the ball at the Bengals' 43-yard line and set up a Philadelphia field goal. The relatively unremarkable night put a cap on a modest preseason for Brooks, who rushed 13 times for 49 yards, posted a 4-22-0 receiving line and ran back two kickoffs for 66 yards over three exhibitions. Brooks' biggest competitor for a depth running back/returner role, Gary Brightwell, also coughed up the ball once Friday, so it could be a proverbial coin flip between the two in terms of final cuts.