NFL Player News

Wentz completed nine of 11 passes for 92 yards during the Vikings' 13-3 preseason loss to the Ravens on Saturday.

J.J. McCarthy (undisclosed) served as the Vikings' starter for Saturday's game, with Wentz taking over under center in the second quarter. Wentz led two offensive series in the frame, with the latter being an eight-play, 57-yard drive that ended with a 52-yard field goal from Will Reichard as time expired, which were the only points the Vikings put up in Saturday's loss. Kyler Murray was named as Minnesota's QB1 earlier in August, but given McCarthy's shaky play in the team's first two preseason games, Wentz has a real chance of being named the team's backup quarterback for the regular season. The Vikings wrap up their preseason Friday against the Broncos.

Mayfield completed two of four passes for 10 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Buccaneers' 16-15 preseason win over the Chiefs on Saturday.

As expected, Mayfield made his preseason debut and worked the first two series with a short-handed pass-catching crew that was down Emeka Egbuka (toe), Jalen McMillan (knee), Tez Johnson (groin) and Cade Otton (undisclosed). Mayfield's completions went to Kameron Johnson (11 yards) and David Sills (minus-1 yard), and Saturday's brief appearance likely represents the extent of preseason action Mayfield will see ahead of a Week 1 road showdown with Joe Burrow and the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Williams completed two of five passes for 28 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Bears' 27-9 preseason loss to the Bengals on Saturday.

The third-year signal-caller made his preseason debut and got his night started with back-to-back completions to Rome Odunze and Roschon Johnson, although the Bears accepted an illegal contact penalty that wiped out the latter play. Williams subsequently hit Colston Loveland for 10 yards during a possession that culminated in a Cairo Santos field goal following three straight incompletions. The uneven cameo appearance may well represent the extent of Williams' preseason action ahead of a Week 1 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Mahomes (knee) said during Saturday's preseason game at Tampa Bay that he's "extremely confident" he'll be available Week 1 against the Broncos on Monday, Sept. 14, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Mahomes has been cleared for all activity during training camp, and while he wanted to suit up Saturday, coach Andy Reid opted to hold out his franchise quarterback. Mahomes added that he would like to play this coming Friday's exhibition versus the Seahawks, but Reid also will make that decision. In any case, Mahomes appears poised to be active for the season opener following the torn ACL that he suffered Week 15 of the 2025 campaign.

Rattler completed 14 of 23 passes for 141 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception while adding five carries for 21 yards during the Saints' 34-0 preseason loss to the Rams on Saturday.

Rattler was the Saints' starter in the team's preseason opener against the Jaguars, but Zach Wilson had that honor for Saturday's game in Los Angeles, with Tyler Shough observing the game in street cloths. Rattler opened the second half with a steady series to lead the Saints into the red zone, only for his pass intended for Treyton Welch to be intercepted off by Al'zillion Hamilton, who returned it for a 100-yard pick-six. Rattler was able to get the Saints back into the red zone twice more in the second half, but neither drive ended in points for New Orleans. Given the inconsistency of Wilson and Rattler between the Saints' first two exhibition games, the backup job behind Tyler Shough appears to be up in the air heading into Friday's preseason finale against the Cowboys.

Wilson completed six of 12 passes for 55 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception while adding four carries for 19 yards during the Saints' 34-0 loss to the Rams on Saturday.

Wilson was named the starter for Saturday's exhibition contest while Tyler Shough observed the game from the sidelines. Wilson failed to lead the offense into the Rams' territory in three of four series, and his short pass intended for Bub Means early in the second quarter was picked off by Al'zillion Hamilton, leading to a one-yard rushing touchdown by Stetson Bennett nine plays later. Spencer Rattler was statistically better than Wilson after taking over in the second half, with the former leading a drive deep into the red zone before throwing a pick-six, and it appears as though the backup job behind Shough is far from a done deal. Wilson will have the opportunity to secure the QB2 job in the Saints' preseason finale against the Cowboys on Friday.

Bennett completed 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards and rushed for two touchdowns during the Rams' 34-0 preseason win over the Saints on Saturday.

Bennett was once again named the starter for Saturday's exhibition contest while Matthew Stafford and most of the Rams' first-team offense observed the game from the sidelines. Bennett proceeded to lead the Rams on scoring drives on four of five series, with the fourth-year QB rushing for one- and eight-yard touchdowns in the second quarter. Rookie first-rounder Ty Simpson took over under center in the second half but couldn't match Bennett's production, which puts the latter in the driver's seat to be the Rams' backup quarterback behind Stafford for the regular season. The Rams will wrap up the preseason Thursday against the Chargers.

Simpson completed eight of 12 passes for 73 yards and added three carries for 10 yards during the Rams' 34-0 preseason win over the Saints on Saturday.

Matthew Stafford and most of the Rams' starters were sidelined for Saturday's exhibition contest. As was the case in the preseason opener against the Kansas City, Stetson Bennett served as the starter against New Orleans, and he played well under center before turning the keys over to Simpson midway through the third quarter. Simpson couldn't replicate the production he had against the Chiefs, but he managed to lead an 11-play, 66-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter that ended with an 12-yard rushing touchdown by Jarquez Hunter. It appears as though Simpson is securely slated as the Rams' QB3 behind Stafford and Bennett heading into the regular season. The Rams wrap up their preseason slate Thursday against the Chargers.

Dart didn't suit up for Saturday's 26-3 preseason win over the Dolphins.

Backup Jameis Winston got the start as Dart and some other key starters rested for the second preseason game. Dart played two series in the preseason opener, capping that appearance with a touchdown pass. It remains to be seen whether coach John Harbaugh gives the 2025 first-round pick any action in Friday's preseason finale against the Jets before the Giants kick off regular-season play with a Week 1 home game against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

Gabriel didn't complete his only pass attempt in Saturday's 31-7 preseason loss to the Bills.

Gabriel didn't get into the game until the Browns' final possession. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson divided up QB duties before then. Neither contender for the starting role impressed Saturday, as they combined for 110 passing yards and a 1:2 TD:INT, with Sanders tossing the lone touchdown pass. Gabriel appears to be a distant third on the depth chart heading into Thursday's preseason finale against the Patriots, but nobody is running away with the starting job.