NFL Player News

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Atlanta's starters will likely see action in the team's first and third preseason games, but it remains to be seen whether Penix (knee) will be ready to take the field by then, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Penix has progressed to taking part in 7-on-7 drills, though he has yet to be cleared for full-team drills. While the 2024 first-round pick recovers from November surgery to repair a torn ACL, Tua Tagovailoa (back) has had a chance to get a leg up in Atlanta's quarterback competition by working with the starters earlier in the offseason. Atlanta's QB room also includes Jack Strand and Cooper Rush.

Maye was sharp at Friday's practice, which he started off with a long touchdown pass to A.J. Brown on the first play of the 11-on-11 period, Paul Perillo of the Patriots' official site reports.

Maye enjoyed a breakout sophomore season while facing a historically easy regular-season schedule, but the 2024 first-round pick came crashing back down to earth in the playoffs. The Patriots made the Super Bowl despite Maye posting the worst playoff performance of all time by expected points added, which finally caught up to New England in a 29-13 Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. Maye will get a chance to try to avenge that loss to Seattle in the first game of the 2026 regular season Sept. 9, and he'll have a new top target for that rematch in Brown, with whom Maye has started to build a rapport as training camp progresses.

Sanders continues to rotate first-team reps with Deshaun Watson, and the former is lined up to work with the starters in Cleveland's first padded practice Monday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Sanders and Watson have been alternating first-team reps in the early days of camp. Watson got the first-team spot for Friday's training camp practice, so Sanders is set to take his next turn Monday, when the team puts on pads for the first time. Cleveland's quarterback competition is unlikely to be decided until after Sanders and Watson play in the preseason.

Tagovailoa (back) did not take part in team drills Friday due to a "precautionary thing" related to back tightness and said he is unsure when he will be fully cleared for on-field activities, Marc Raimondi of ESPN reports.

Tagovailoa said that if the Falcons were preparing for an actual regular-season game he would likely be ready to play, but it remains to be seen whether he will be cleared to handle more than individual drills at training camp. With Michael Penix (ACL) also capped at 7-on-7 work for the moment, Jack Strand and Cooper Rush will continue piloting Atlanta's offense during the early stages of training camp. Tagovailoa and Penix are competing for the Falcons' starting quarterback job, even as both signal-callers currently deal with their respective health-related hurdles.

Watson will continue to rotate first-team reps with Shedeur Sanders as the Browns begin practicing in pads, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Watson is getting the first-team reps Friday, which lines Sanders up to work with the starters Monday in what Oyefusi reports will be Cleveland's first practice in pads. Cleveland's quarterback competition is unlikely to be decided until much closer to the regular season.

Murray continued to split first-team reps with J.J. McCarthy on Thursday, Rob Kleifield of the Vikings' official site reports.

Murray had an up-and-down practice as he continues to adjust to his new surroundings. The first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft is the perceived favorite in Minnesota's quarterback competition against McCarthy, who struggled in 2025 after sitting out his rookie campaign in 2024 due to a knee injury.

Leonard is in a competition for the No. 2 quarterback role in Indianapolis in 2026, JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site reports.

Leonard continues to split reps with Anthony Richardson with the Colts' second-team offense as training camp gets underway. The second-year pro was impressive in his only start last season, completing 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing an interception in the Colts' 38-30 loss to the Texans in Week 18. Leonard and Richardson are both expected to be members of the Colts' initial 53-man roster in 2026.

Richardson is in a competition for the backup quarterback role in Indianapolis ahead of the 2026 campaign, JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site reports.

Richardson is competing with second-year pro Riley Leonard for the No. 2 role behind starter Daniel Jones. Richardson and Leonard are reportedly "neck and neck right now," according to offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. Both quarterbacks are expected to continue to rotate reps between the second- and third-team offenses, and GM Chris Ballard said Tuesday that it is his intent to carry Jones, Richardson and Leonard on the Colts' roster when it is cut to 53 players on Aug. 30.

Fields had an impressive practice Thursday, making difficult throws into tight coverage, according to Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site.

The bigger story, of course, is that QB Patrick Mahomes (knee) is already participating in 11-on-11 drills. With Mahomes on track for the Week 1 start, Fields figures to spend most of his time with the second-string offense this summer.

Jones (undisclosed) has passed his conditioning test and is cleared for participation in training camp, Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows of The Athletic report.

Jones was able to throw at George Kittle's (Achilles) Tight End University last week. The backup quarterback started eight regular-season games for the 49ers last year and will remain a key depth piece for the organization going into the 2026 season.