NFL Player News

Allen signed a contract with the Bengals on Saturday.

Allen, who started three games with the Broncos last season and compiled 515 passing yards while completing under 50 percent of his passes, is expected to compete with incumbent Ryan Finley for the backup QB job behind No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow.

Taylor is trending toward getting the Week 1 start at Cincinnati, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports. "He'll probably be our Day 1 starter," coach Anthony Lynn said Wednesday.

The Chargers' season opener is more than six weeks in the future (Sept. 13), but Lynn seems to be deferring to the more experienced Taylor versus rookie Justin Herbert to direct the offense off the bat. On the other side of the coin, the team made Herbert the sixth overall pick in this year's draft, so there likely will be pressure at some point to see what the signal-caller from Oregon can do. Taylor has only served in mop-up duty with the Chargers, tossing six passes in eight appearances. When he was given a chance as the Bills' regular starting quarterback from 2015 through 2017, he compiled a 22-20 record, completed 62.6 percent of his passes, and had per-16-game averages of 3,221 yards, a 19:6 TD:INT and 240 more yards on the ground.

Tagovailoa (hip) passed a physical exam Wednesday and will practice without limitations once the Dolphins begin training camp, Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports.

The No. 5 overall pick enjoyed a smooth rehab process after undergoing surgery to address the hip dislocation he suffered Nov. 16 during his junior season at Alabama. The spring rumor mill suggested Tagovailoa might essentially redshirt his rookie year with the Dolphins, but it now seems he'll see the field at some point in 2020. It's less clear exactly when that will happen, with the cancellation of offseason programs and preseason games making it difficult for the rookie to unseat Ryan Fitzpatrick before Week 1. The Dolphins likely will open the season with the 37-year-old handling snaps, but they should turn to Tagovailoa if or when Fitzpatrick struggles, or if the team falls out of playoff contention.

The Texans waived Tiano on Monday.

The undrafted rookie out of FCS Chattanooga was never likely to stick with the Texans beyond training camp. The team is left with AJ McCarron and Alex McGough as backup QB options behind Deshaun Watson.

Burrow has agreed to terms with the Bengals a four-year contract worth $36.1 million, ESPN's Ben Baby reports.

Per the report, even before he was officially under contract, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft spent the offseason prepping for the opportunity to serve as the team's Week 1 starting QB. An offseason minus on-field reps adds a degree of difficulty to Burrow's transition to the pro game, but the LSU product will at least have a solid collection of wideouts to throw to once training camp practices commence. The group is headed by A.J. Green, with Tyler Boyd, John Ross and rookie Tee Higgins also in the mix.

A limited offseason program combined with the cancellation of the preseason could work in Allen's favor if the Washington quarterback job is truly up for grabs, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.

New coach Ron Rivera has hinted at Haskins being the starter but hasn't outright committed to it. Allen and offensive coordinator Scott Turner worked together in Carolina last season, while Haskins is in the difficult position of learning a new offense on a shortened schedule. The 2019 first-round pick should still be viewed as the favorite to start Week 1, but the possibility of Allen making it a camp battle can't be ruled out. Haskins and Allen were arguably the two worst starting QBs in the NFL last year, though Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky gave them a run for their money.

The Patriots cut Smith on Sunday, Jim McBride of The Boston Globe reports.

Smith was one of two undrafted free agent quarterbacks signed by the Patriots, but neither will be on the 80-man roster to start camp. The Louisiana Tech product, who profiled as a dual-threat project, will have to find a new home. With Brian Lewerke also cut Sunday, the team will roll with Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer for the time being.

Herbert signed his rookie contract with the Chargers on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The No. 6 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft will receive $26.6 million fully guaranteed over four seasons, plus a fifth-year option. Tyrod Taylor is expected to start with the departure of longtime-Charger Philip Rivers, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an offseason of minimal team activities that will make it more difficult for rookies to acclimate. Still, Herbert could take the reins at some point in 2020 if Taylor struggles or gets injured.

Prescott will play under the Cowboys' franchise tag during the 2020 season after failing to reach a long-term extension with the team prior to Wednesday's deadline.

Prescott is now slated to earn $31.4 million in 2020 after signing the franchise tender back in late June, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com The two sides won't be able to open up extension talks until after the coming season, and it's possible that Prescott could play under the franchise tag again in 2021. In any case, the 26-year-old -- who logged a career high 4,902 passing yards in 2019 -- will continue to helm a Dallas offense that also features a strong wideout nucleus featuring Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and first-round draft pick CeeDee Lamb, as well as a top-tier running back in Ezekiel Elliott.

The Cowboys extended a final offer for a long-term contract to Prescott on Tuesday, Jane Slater of NFL Network reports.

Prescott and the Cowboys only have until the July 15 deadline this Wednesday to come to terms on a potential extension, otherwise the signal-caller will be locked into the $31.4 million franchise tag he signed last month. The deal on the table reportedly includes between $33-35 million annually with over $100 million in total guarantees, terms reminiscent of the offer Dallas was rumored to have made Prescott back in March. Slater notes that the Cowboys presented the current offer despite the fact that the team hasn't had any recent discussions with Prescott, a hint that the two sides still aren't close to agreeing to terms on a multi-year deal.