NFL Player News
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Cooper Rush QB | BAL
Cowboys' Cooper Rush: Efficient in preseason opener
Rush completed 10 of 12 passes for 83 yards in Saturday's 28-23 preseason loss to the Jaguars.
The 29-year-old got the start at quarterback with Dak Prescott being held out of the Cowboys' preseason opener and was efficient on three drives, although none of them resulted in points for Dallas. Rush remains the favorite to serve as the No. 2 QB behind Prescott this season, but a big showing from Will Grier on Saturday has kept the competition alive for now.
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Matt Barkley QB | JAC
Bills' Matt Barkley: Big performance in preseason opener
Barkley completed 14 of 15 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in Saturday's preseason win over the Colts, which was good for a 154.0 rating.
Granted, it was against the backup players on what might be a weak team to begin with, but Barkley looked like starter Josh Allen in regular-season form. The Bills brought in Kyle Allen to serve as Josh Allen's backup this season, but we're not sure there isn't a competition here for the No. 2 role, especially because Barkley has been with the Bills on and off since 2018. Barkley outperformed Kyle Allen by a good margin Saturday, as the latter was 8-for-15 with no touchdowns, one interception (a pick-six) and a 52.6 rating. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the last two preseason games, when Josh Allen will see no more than a few series.
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E.J. Perry QB | JAC
Texans' E.J. Perry: Returns to Houston
Perry signed a contract with the Texans on Sunday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Perry spent 2022 on the Jaguars' practice squad, but he ended up with Houston after being waived. The 24-year-old recently played for the Panthers of the USFL and will now work to earn a spot on the Texans' roster. He appears to have been brought in at a time when Case Keenum is unavailable. Keenum did not finish practice Saturday and was uninvolved Sunday due to an apparent leg injury, per Wilson.
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Tyler Huntley QB | BAL
Ravens' Tyler Huntley: Dealing with minor hamstring tweak
Huntley left Saturday's preseason contest late with a hamstring tweak, but the issue is expected to be minor, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Huntley was sharp in his limited action, completing eight of 11 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown while rushing twice for 13 yards in the 20-19 win. The Ravens were presumably being precautionary when they sent the undrafted fourth-year quarterback to the locker room, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Huntley miss a couple practices this week to make sure he's back to 100 percent before next Monday's preseason matchup in Washington.
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Sam Ehlinger QB | DEN
Colts' Sam Ehlinger: Sharp in preseason debut
Ehlinger was 8-for-9 passing for 72 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Saturday's preseason loss at Buffalo. He also add two carries for 10 yards.
Ehlinger entered the game in the second half as the third quarterback to play. He was efficient in facing the second- and third-team defense. While he's nominally said to be in the competition for the starting job, he more likely is fighting to keep a spot on the roster, with Gardner Minshew and Anthony Richardson ahead of him.
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Stetson Bennett QB | LAR
Rams' Stetson Bennett: Impressive in pro debut
Bennett completed 17 of 29 passes for 191 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and rushed twice for two yards in the Rams' 34-17 preseason loss to the Chargers on Saturday night.
Bennett came in on the Rams' fourth possession and remained in the game the rest of the way, overcoming a slow start that saw him open with three straight incompletions. The rookie fourth-round selection and two-time college national champion connected with Puka Nacua for a 10-yard touchdown pass late in the first half for his first NFL scoring toss, and he also hit the fifth-round pick for a 17-yard gain on his first completion. Bennett could conceivably beat out Brett Rypien for the No. 2 job behind Matthew Stafford with a strong enough preseason, although given the veteran's recent injury history, head coach Sean McVay may be more comfortable entrusting that role to a player who at least has a modicum of regular-season experience.
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Gardner Minshew QB | ARI
Colts' Gardner Minshew: Efficient outing in Colts debut
Minshew was 6-for-6 passing for 72 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Saturday's preseason loss at Buffalo.
Minshew came into the game in the second quarter after Anthony Richardson got the start. Minshew was efficient despite being under pressure, as the second-team offensive line struggled at times. Richardson held his own in his first start, and unless he takes a big step backward later in the preseason he's likely to start the regular season opener over Minshew. However, no decisions have been made and Minshew has shown he gives the team a reliable, if unspectacular, option.
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Clayton Tune QB | GB
Cardinals' Clayton Tune: Tosses TD in pro debut
Tune completed 13 of 23 passes for 135 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Friday's 18-17 preseason win versus the Broncos.
After Colt McCoy got the first chance to lead the Cardinals offense in place of the recovering Kyler Murray (knee), Tune entered on the team's second possession and took the next eight drives, including a kneel-down right before halftime. Tune finally got Arizona on the board with back-to-back scores (a field goal and a TD connection with WR Kaden Davis) on his last two possessions. Tune likely will continue to get extended run during exhibition season, with his next opportunity coming Saturday, Aug. 19 against the Chiefs.
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Tyler Huntley QB | BAL
Ravens' Tyler Huntley: Sharp in preseason debut
Huntley completed eight of 11 passes for 88 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and rushed twice for 13 yards in the Ravens' 20-19 preseason win over the Eagles on Saturday night.
Huntley checked into the game to open the second half and immediately helmed a 13-play, 75-yard drive that he capped off with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tylan Wallace. The veteran remained in the game for one more drive before giving way to Anthony Brown, and as his numbers imply, he certainly did nothing to hurt his presumed standing as the No. 2 quarterback. Huntley will continue to tune up for the regular season when the Ravens face the Commanders on the road Monday night, Aug. 21 in their second preseason contest.
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Trevor Lawrence QB | JAC
Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence: Plays three series Saturday
Lawrence completed five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown, with his only missed throw being an interception in Saturday's preseason opener against Dallas.
Head coach Doug Pederson said that the starters would be limited to one or two series, but Lawrence wound up playing in three after throwing an interception on his second attempt, resulting in a 32-second first drive. The top pick from the 2021 Draft bounced back from the turnover like he did so many times last year, finishing the day on a high note with a TD pass to Christian Kirk. Lawrence also got his new weapon, Calvin Ridley, involved for what is shaping up to be a dynamic passing offense in Jacksonville this season.