NFL Player News

Rattler will be the Saints' starting quarterback for Sunday's preseason opener against the Chargers.

Rattler saw more reps with the first-team offense during this past week's training camp practices, and the 2024 fifth-rounder will get the first crack at winning the QB1 job against Tyler Shough. Rattler started in six of seven games during his rookie campaign, including the final four contests of the regular season. Over those last four games, he completed 71 of 129 pass attempts for 746 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions while turning nine carries into 85 yards.

Based on warmups, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site notes that Maye worked with the team's top offense.

Also out there with the second-year QB in that context were RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WRs DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, along with TE Hunter Henry. Meanwhile WR Stefon Diggs wasn't spotted in warmups, which is not surprising given that he's bouncing back from an ACL tear he suffered Week 8 of last season. Coach Mike Vrabel previously indicated that "most everybody that's healthy should expect to play in the game," and Maye indeed appears to be on track to log snaps versus Washington.

Hartman will be the Commanders' starting quarterback for Friday's preseason game against the Patriots, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

With Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota (lower leg) not suiting up, Hartman will command the offense to begin Friday's game while Josh Johnson serves as the backup. Hartman spent most of the 2024 season on the Commanders' practice squad and will get the first crack over Johnson to audition for the QB3 job.

Daniels won't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Patriots, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.

The same applies to veteran signal-caller Marcus Mariota (lower leg), which leaves Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman to handle the team's QB reps Friday. Daniels' next chance to see game action will arrive Aug. 18 against the Bengals.

The expectation is that Maye will see some action in Friday's preseason opener against the Commanders, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Though Maye's playing status for Friday's contest hasn't been confirmed by the team, earlier this week coach Mike Vrabel did note that "most everybody that's healthy should expect to play in the game. How long they'll play, I don't know, but we have to prepare to play in football games and prepare to win football games." Also in the mix to see QB snaps for the Patriots versus Washington are Joshua Dobbs and Ben Wooldridge.

The 49ers signed Mordecai to a contract Friday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Mordecai will take the spot on the 49ers' training camp roster vacated by Equanimeous St. Brown (foot), who was placed on injured reserve. Mordecai is a longshot to make the 49ers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. However, with Kurtis Rourke (knee) sidelined, Mordecai would have the opportunity to audition for a spot on the practice squad if he sees playing time as the third-string quarterback behind Mac Jones and Carter Bradley on Saturday against the Broncos if Brock Purdy doesn't play.

Purdy is a candidate to sit out Saturday's preseason opener against the Broncos, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Per Inman, look for most of the 49ers' usual starters to sit out the contest, with coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledging that the team "won't play a ton of them. Doesn't mean we will rest all 22. But don't expect to see a lot out there" Saturday. With that in mind, it's worth noting that Purdy didn't play in San Francisco's preseason opener the past two years, but he did make cameos in the team's following exhibition tilts.

Coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Smith and the starters are "gonna play quite a bit" in Seattle's second preseason game against the 49ers on Aug. 16, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Smith played only one drive in Vegas' first preseason game Thursday, which finished in a 23-23 tie against the Seahawks. It sounds like he'll have a more extended opportunity to work alongside Vegas' top pass catchers, including Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, in the team's second preseason game.

Heinicke will start Sunday's preseason game against the Saints, NFL.com reports.

Trey Lance started the Hall of Fame Game and played deep into the second half, with both Heinicke and Justin Herbert being held out. Heinicke will now lead the second-string offense Sunday, followed by Lance and DJ Uiagalelei working with the third/fourth units. Heinicke seems like a favorite to enter Week 1 in the backup QB role, but there's always some chance Lance could be tabbed instead. Heinicke and Lance signed similar one-year contracts this offseason.

Herbert won't play in Sunday's preseason game against the Saints, NFL.com reports.

Taylor Heinicke will get the start, after Trey Lance started the Hall of Fame Game a week earlier. It remains to be seen if Herbert will take some snaps in the Chargers' third or fourth preseason games.