NFL Player News

Howard completed 10 of 15 passes for 74 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in Friday's 17-0 preseason loss to the Jets.

Howard played the first half of Friday's shutout loss and didn't help his case to win the top backup job. Drew Allar didn't produce any points after halftime, either, so Friday's big winner in the competition to back up Aaron Rodgers was probably Mason Rudolph, who was idle alongside Rodgers. Howard's pair of interceptions were especially concerning considering they came against a Jets defense that didn't muster a single interception during the entire 2025 regular season. Both Howard and Allar will likely get a chance at redemption in Thursday's preseason finale against the Bills.

Metchie caught six of seven targets for a game-high 77 yards in Friday's 34-17 preseason win over the Jaguars.

While Metchie led the Panthers in catches, targets and receiving yards, he didn't make his first reception until the second half, as Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker worked with the starters in the first quarter and David Moore and Brycen Tremayne were Kenny Pickett's wideouts in the second quarter. Once Metchie got onto the field, however, he made an immediate impact and showed strong chemistry with Pickett. Now on his fourth NFL team after being a second-round pick of the Texans in 2023, Metchie is coming off the best stretch of his career in the second half last season with the Jets. The Panthers' WR depth chart remains unsettled behind McMillan and Coker, and Metchie's effort Friday should keep him in the running for a significant role once the regular season rolls around.

Taylor caught his only target for 10 yards in Friday's 17-0 preseason win over the Steelers.

Taylor has been operating as the team's top tight end in training camp, as rookie first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) has been sidelined since the first week of August. Backup TE Jelani Woods capped the opening drive with a touchdown catch Friday, four plays after Taylor moved the chains with a 10-yard grab on third-and-9. Even once Sadiq gets healthy, Taylor's reliability as both a pass catcher and blocker should allow the 2025 second-round pick to maintain a sizable role.

Coker caught his only target for four yards in Friday's 34-17 preseason win over the Jaguars.

The Panthers' starting offense played the entire first quarter, but Coker wasn't a focal point of the passing game while Bryce Young was under center. Coker is coming off an intriguing second half in 2025, posting a 29-349-3 line on 36 targets over the final eight regular-season games before erupting for nine catches, 134 yards and a TD on 12 targets in a wild-card loss to the Rams. The third-year wideout figures to be Young's second option behind Tetairoa McMillan.

Mitchell caught both of his targets for 29 yards in Friday's 17-0 preseason win over the Steelers.

Geno Smith completed seven passes to six different targets on the game's opening drive, and Mitchell is the only receiver whom Smith connected with twice. They linked up for an eight-yard gain on Smith's first pass and combined for a 21-yard pickup on the very next play. Mitchell and Smith have reportedly developed strong chemistry in training camp, and that was on display during their brief time in the game Friday. The Jets drafted WR Omar Cooper 30th overall, but all signs point to Mitchell opening the season as a starter on the outside opposite Garrett Wilson.

McMillan caught both his targets for 25 yards in Friday's 34-17 preseason win over the Jaguars.

The Panthers' starting offense played the entire first quarter, and McMillan helped set up the team's first touchdown of the night with a pair of receptions from Bryce Young. McMillan is the clear top downfield option in Carolina after a rookie campaign in which the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft recorded a 70-1,014-7 line on 122 targets over 17 regular-season games, before hauling in five catches on seven more targets for 81 yards in a wild-card loss to the Rams.

Allen rushed three times for four yards and caught his lone target for five yards in Friday's 17-0 preseason win over the Steelers.

Allen got the start at running back in the absence of Breece Hall (groin) and played the opening drive along with the team's starters. That possession produced a touchdown, but Geno Smith's arm did the heavy lifting rather than Allen's legs. The Jets are optimistic that Hall will be back by Week 1, and Isaiah Davis (knee) could push Allen for the top backup spot once healthy. Allen is the team's top available RB at the moment, but this is a situation that will be worth monitoring in the coming weeks.

Head coach Liam Coen said after Friday's 34-17 preseason loss to the Panthers that Meyers jammed his right hand during Wednesday's joint practice with Carolina, Juston Lewis of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Meyers was wearing a brace on his right hand while observing Friday's exhibition contest from the sidelines. It's unclear whether the veteran wideout will be cleared to practice in the upcoming week, but the injury could prevent him from suiting up for Jacksonville's preseason finale against Tampa Bay on Friday, Aug. 28. Any time that Meyers misses means Travis Hunter and rookie sixth-rounders Josh Cameron and C.J. Williams would be in line for more reps alongside Brian Thomas and Parker Washington (undisclosed).

Brooks carried the ball five times for 18 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 34-17 preseason win over the Jaguars.

With Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) sidelined, Brooks worked with the Panthers' starting offense for the entire first quarter and opened the scoring with a one-yard TD plunge on the team's second possession. Hubbard is expected to be healthy for a Week 1 tilt against the Bears, but in the meantime, Brooks is getting a chance to make his case to take over the starting job in Carolina's backfield.

Cooper caught his only target for nine yards in Friday's 17-0 preseason win over the Steelers.

Cooper's lone catch came on a pass from fellow rookie Cade Klubnik in the two-minute drill to end the first half, with the Jets' second-string offense in the game. The rookie first-round pick out of Indiana has yet to work his way ahead of slot receiver Isaiah Williams, while Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell appear entrenched as the team's top two wide receivers until further notice. Cooper's likely to feature in next Friday's preseason finale against the Giants, even if the Jets rest their veteran starters.