NFL Player News

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has "looked precise" and comfortable over the first two days of minicamp, says the Detroit News. The coaching staff has done a lot to help with his footwork, a problem for him over the past couple of seasons. As he's learning the details of a new playbook, Stafford will be allowed to change plays at the line of scrimmage. The idea behind it is if he sees a coverage that could make a route change to one of his receivers more favorable, he can take advantage. 

"He's done it before, he has a good understanding of it, and he even does some now," coach Jim Caldwell said. "That's kind of part of the package because he's got to have a little bit of autonomy from time to time to get you in the right play. You may be able to call a play, but he's out there on the field. He can see it happening. He can see the defense, so there's some times we have some overriding checks and things of that nature that we'll utilize."

Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr could push Matt Schaub for the starting job, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Coach Dennis Allen said "everything is written in pencil."

Offensive coordinator Greg Olson said Carr has been "better than we thought he would be." Carr came in behind Schaub and second-year player Matt McGloin during practice but has already started taking away second-team snaps from McGloin.

"I really, really like him," Olson said of Carr. "Everybody knew he was accurate, but he is more accurate than we thought. ... We'll have to wait and see how he does against a live rush, but so far his intelligence, accuracy and quickness in getting the ball out has been excellent."

Browns coach Mike Pettine said that Brian Hoyer is "securely ahead" of rookie Johnny Manziel to be the Browns' starting quarterback, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

However, Pettine said Hoyer's lead was in no way "insurmountable." Which means that nobody will be surprised if Manziel, the 22nd-overall pick in May's draft, ends up under center at some point early in the year.

"It's been hard to evaluate because Brian hasn't been able to take the 11-on-11 reps, but when we put the depth chart together, Brian will be No. 1," Pettine said of Hoyer, who is coming back from last year's torn ACL.

The Texans may enter training camp with only three quarterbacks on the roster, coach Bill O’Brien said Monday per the Houston Chronicle.

Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick is the Texans' expected Week 1 starter and signed a two-year, $7 million deal this offseason. Rookie Tom Savage was a fourth-round pick and is being groomed by O’Brien to eventually take over the position.

If the Texans trim their roster either T.J. Yates or Case Keenum is expected to be the odd man out.

Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will try to beat out Matt Cassel, but he won't get frustrated if he's not starting Week 1, reports the Minneapolis StarTribune. 

"It’s not tough at all because I have nothing but my best interest for the team," Bridgewater said. "And I’m very excited about this team that we have here. … If I’m not the guy then I know the coaches have the best interest for the team also. My teammates also have the best interest for the team. So in order for me to be a better player, I have to have the best interest for the team and want nothing but the best interest for the team."

Coach Mike Zimmer says Bridgewater will get a chance to play at some point, but was unsure if that opportunity will come this season, the report said.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford didn't practice on Thursday, though it was scheduled that way according to head coach Jeff Fisher. Bradford is still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last season. 

"[Y]ou'll be able to see him (Friday)," Fisher said. "We're going to have him participate in about half of the OTAs. He'll probably get five of them in. (Friday) he's going to throw two 7-on-7 periods. He threw a 7-on-7 period with the 1s on Tuesday."

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford took part in the team's OTA practices this week while wearing a knee brace, The Sports Xchange reported. Bradford is working his way back from a torn ACL that cut short what was a solid beginning to the 2013 season. 

Geno Smith is still saying there's competition for the starting quarterback job with the Jets, but he is still ahead of Michael Vick. According to ESPN, Smith worked with the first-team offense at OTAs on Wednesday while Vick stuck with the second team. And while Smith is preaching competition, Vick said as recently last week that it's not a competition and that he's the backup. 

Speaking at a Town Hall event on Wednesday, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell helped make it clear that the Seahawks are going to keep being a running team. Per the Seattle Times, the Seahawks will have to adapt to the flow of the game but, as Bevell said, "to sit here and tell you we are going to throw it 500 times, that's probably not going to happen. That's not our philosophy. That's not how we are built."

The Seahawks attempted 420 passes last year, 407 by Russell Wilson, who averaged 192.8 yards per game. Twenty-eight teams passed over 500 times last year, including nine that threw over 600 times. 

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is expected to be ready for the upcoming minicamp this week, reports ESPN.

Bradford is coming off last year's torn ACL in his left knee.