NFL Player News

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that Mayfield is expected to play in Saturday's preseason game versus the Chiefs, Evan Closky of 10 Tampa Bay reports.

Mayfield sat out the Buccaneers' preseason opener versus the Jets last week, but he was able to get in plenty of competitive reps during a pair of joint practices between the two teams leading up to the exhibition. He looks set to make his preseason debut this weekend, though Bowles didn't disclose how long he expects Mayfield to remain in the contest. Mayfield could be working with a depleted receiver group Saturday, as Bowles labeled Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) as day-to-day after both wideouts remained sidelined for Monday's practice.

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Penix (knee) will remain limited to taking part in 7-on-7 drills during practices this week, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Atlanta hasn't yet cleared Penix for 11-on-11 drills as he works his way back from ACL surgery, and until he checks off that box in the recovery process, the quarterback won't be available for preseason action. The Falcons are seemingly preparing for both Penix and Tua Tagovailoa (rest) to sit out their second preseason game Saturday versus the Colts, as Stefanski told Raimondi that Cooper Rush and Jack Strand are under consideration to start that game.

Smith (ankle) was on the field for Monday's practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Per Cimini, Smith -- who didn't play in this past Friday's preseason game against the Buccaneers -- sported a sleeve on his lower left leg as he participated in Monday's walkthrough. It remains to be seen if the QB will be limited at practice in the coming days, but either way, Smith's next chance to see game action arrives this Friday against the Steelers.

Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said Sunday that Beck is day-to-day with his rib injury, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Beck sustained a rib injury during his standout preseason debut in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6. The rookie returned to practice in a limited fashion during Saturday's session after he was sidelined during Arizona's preseason game versus the Raiders on Thursday. LaFleur added Sunday that he still wants the quarterback to "heal a little bit more," per Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com. Beck will have two more opportunities to return this preseason, starting with the Cardinals' next exhibition versus the Cowboys on Saturday, Aug. 22.

The Dolphins signed Gronowski to a contract Sunday.

Gronowski's signing will bolster the Dolphins' quarterback room in the absence of Quinn Ewers (groin). Ewers went down during the team's 20-7 preseason loss to the Commanders on Friday, making Gronowski the current No. 3 quarterback behind Malik Willis and Cam Miller. The undrafted free agent was waived by the Dolphins in early August, so this second stint with the team will likely only last until Ewers regains his health.

Ewers suffered a groin injury during Miami's 20-7 preseason loss to the Commanders on Friday, and he is considered week-to-week, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Ewers completed one of eight passes for 27 yards and an interception during the Dolphins' preseason opener Friday. The 2025 seventh-rounder served as the No. 2 QB behind new starter Malik Willis, while fellow second-year signal-caller Cam Miller was the third stringer. Ewers is expected to sit out at least one week, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, which would likely sideline him for Miami's next preseason game versus the Giants on Saturday, Aug. 22. In the meantime, the Dolphins brought back undrafted rookie Mark Gronowski, who the team previously let go Aug. 7.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Sunday that Marcus Mariota has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL in his right knee, which puts Hartman in position to be the Commanders' backup quarterback for the rest of the preseason.

Mariota picked up the injury during the Commanders' 20-7 preseason win over the Dolphins on Friday, and follow-up tests confirmed a sprained MCL. Hartman didn't have the best performance in the Commanders' preseason opener, completing eight of 15 passes for 80 yards and an interception while turning three carries into 13 yards. Given that he's been Washington's emergency QB3 since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in April 2024, Hartman figures to be ahead of Athan Kaliakmanis to be the team's backup quarterback behind Jayden Daniels while Mariota is sidelined, though the Commanders may bring in a veteran quarterback to compete for the QB2 job.

Mariota is expected to miss the rest of the preseason due to a sprained MCL in his knee, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mariota sustained the injury in the first quarter of the Commanders' 20-7 preseason win over the Dolphins on Friday. Sam Hartman and undrafted rookie Athan Kaliakmanis are the other two reserve quarterbacks on the training camp roster, so the Commanders could look to acquire another QB via free agency or trade to provide depth behind Jayden Daniels. Mariota will focus on rehab and recovery over the next few weeks, and head coach Dan Quinn expressed optimism Sunday that Mariota will be available for the Commanders' regular-season opener against the Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 13, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

Payton completed four of nine passes for 37 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and added three rushes for 45 yards in the Eagles' 24-7 preseason loss to the Ravens on Saturday.

The rookie fifth-round pick is strictly a developmental project, but Payton flashed some playmaking ability while saving the Eagles from a shutout with a late six-yard touchdown pass to Erik Ezukanma. Payton also accrued a team-high rushing yardage total with the help of a game-long 17-yard run, making it an eventful pro debut overall. Payton should continue to have ample second-half opportunities over Philadelphia's final two preseason games.

Huntley completed six of seven passes for 76 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Ravens' 24-7 preseason win over the Eagles on Saturday.

With Lamar Jackson inactive Saturday, Huntley started the game and was highly efficient during his time in the game. The veteran did take sacks on back-to-back plays during the opening possession, but he also recorded 29- and 18-yard completions in the contest. Huntley is seemingly locked in to serve as Jackson's primary backup again in 2026, so it's uncertain how much more action he'll see in the Ravens' final pair of exhibitions.