NFL Player News

Mahomes (knee) continues to aim to be ready for the Chiefs' regular-season opener against the Broncos on Monday, Sept. 14, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

"That's my goal," Mahomes noted Wednesday during an interview with Yahoo Sports. "I've said that since the beginning is being ready to go Week 1. I can't predict the future, and I know that it's a long process. It's not just my decision, but at the same time I'm going to give the doctors and the coaches every single opportunity I can to let me be out there Week 1." With that in mind, Nate Taylor of ESPN.com relayed last month that coach Andy Reid said Mahomes (knee) should "be able to do some things in camp," with added context on that front set to arrive after the Chiefs' veterans report on July 28. Mahomes -- who is bouncing back from a torn ACL and LCL suffered Week 15 of last season -- participated in offseason workouts but was held out of full-team drills.

Smith's case relating to an accusation of battery in June is now considered inactive by the Town of Davie Police Department, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.

While Smith is no longer being actively investigated by Florida police relating to the June incident, it remains to be seen whether he'll face any form of discipline from the NFL. The 35-year-old quarterback is set to kick off training camp as the Jets' undisputed starting quarterback. Cade Klubnik (back), Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe will compete for the backup role.

Coach John Harbaugh said Sunday that Dart's dual-threat capabilities will allow the Giants to deploy a more versatile offensive scheme, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

Harbaugh highlighted Dart's ability to "live in a lot of different worlds," taking looks from under center, shotgun and pistol, which "opens up" play action, RPOs and designed quarterback runs that can take advantage of the second-year quarterback's talents as a runner. Dart impressed as a rookie and now enters Year 2 with a coaching staff willing to lean into his athleticism with built-in designed movement and RPO concepts. His true upside will likely depend on what New York's pass-to-run ratio looks like, and how successfully he's able to stay on the field after taking too many hits as a rookie. Harbaugh said he "trust[s]" Dart's ability to better protect himself in Year 2.

Mayfield says he played through knee, biceps and shoulder injuries during the 2025 season, River Wells of SI.com reports.

Mayfield recently revealed that he suffered a sprained PCL, sprained MCL and bone bruise in Week 2, a Week 3 tendon injury in his biceps and an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder in Week 12. The spate of injuries correlated with a statistical decline, as Mayfield threw for just 217.2 passing yards per game in 2025, down from 264.7 passing yards per game in the 2024 regular season. Having recovered from all of those injuries, Mayfield is looking to regain form and stay healthier in 2026.

Sanders' quarterback competition with Deshaun Watson is expected to last throughout training camp and the preseason, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Head coach Todd Monken has maintained that a starter will be named prior to Week 1, but Sanders and Watson both have ample time to pull ahead in Cleveland's QB competition during training camp and the preseason. The 24-year-old Sanders posted a 3-4 record as a rookie after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, while the 30-year-old Watson went 1-6 as the Browns' starter in 2024 prior suffering a pair of Achilles' injuries, from which Watson has since recovered.

Watson's quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders is expected to last throughout training camp and the preseason, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Head coach Todd Monken hasn't shed much light on the state of Cleveland's QB battle, besides confirming that a starter will be named prior to Week 1. Watson and Sanders split first-team reps in spring practices, and that will likely remain the case throughout training camp, with both QBs expected to feature prominently in preseason play. The 30-year-old Watson has just one regular-season win since the start of the 2024 campaign.

Stidham could be pushed for the second spot on Denver's quarterback depth chart by Sam Ehlinger in training camp, Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post reports.

Stidham remains the favorite to back up Bo Nix (ankle), but Ehlinger looked good in spring practices and could turn Denver's QB2 battle into a full-fledged competition if Ehlinger continues to impress during training camp and the preseason. Stidham hasn't thrown a regular-season pass since 2023, but he started Denver's AFC Championship Game loss to the Patriots this past season after Nix sustained a fractured ankle. Stidham's struggles in that game (133 passing yards, one touchdown pass and two crucial turnovers) may have helped open the door for Ehlinger to win the backup job in 2026.

Tagovailoa's former Dolphins teammate Patrick Paul believes Tagovailoa will win Atlanta's quarterback competition against Michael Penix (knee), Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.

Both Atlanta QBs are learning the system of new coach Kevin Stefanski, and Tagovailoa has gotten a head start in that regard, as he worked with the first-team offense in spring practices while Penix was on the sidelines recovering from November surgery on a torn ACL. Penix believes he will be cleared to practice in training camp and be fully healthy by Week 1, per ESPN.com, but Tagovailoa's early edge makes the former Dolphins QB the favorite to start for the Falcons when they begin regular-season play Sunday, Sept. 13 at Pittsburgh.

On the subject of his Achilles rehab, Jones said Friday, "I'm doing everything. Cleared to do everything. I think it's just about, at this point, sharpening that," James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

That said, Jones acknowledges the injury he sustained Dec. 7 last year is still on his mind, noting on that front, "you're still thinking about it. I think (you) probably will until you get playing." An important milestone in the QB's ongoing recovery will be a return to 11-on-11 drills, with Coach Shane Steichen having previously noted that the plan is for Jones to resume work in those drills when training camp begins later this month.

Minshew's teammate Jacoby Brissett, who is in the midst of a contract dispute with the Cardinals, posted a recent photo Thursday on Instagram that showed him getting in some work with several teammates, Tyler Drake of Arizonasports.com reports.

That Brissett -- who didn't take a single practice rep during Arizona's offseason program -- connected with WRs Marvin Harrison and Simi Fehoko, TEs Trey McBride and Elijah Higgins along with fellow QB Kedon Slovis is a positive sign, but at this stage it's unclear if or for how long the signal-caller's contract issue lingers once the Cardinals re-take the field. In the absence of Brissett, the team's expected Week 1 starter, Minshew took the majority of first-team QB reps throughout the offseason, so this will be a situation worth monitoring closely once Arizona's training camp commences July 22.