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NFL notebook: Rookie Wentz named Eagles' starting quarterback

[September 06, 2016] The Sports Xchange

Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson announced Monday that rookie quarterback Carson Wentz will start against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener.

Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick, will get the start over veteran quarterback Chase Daniel on Sunday after the Eagles traded Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.

Wentz played just one preseason game before suffering a hairline rib fracture during the first preseason game Aug. 11.

Wentz, who made just 21 starts at North Dakota State, was considered a project when the Eagles drafted him.

--President Barack Obama said during the G20 Summit in China that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is "exercising his constitutional right" not to stand for the national anthem.

During a press conference in Hangzhou, China, where the president is attending a meeting of Group of 20 countries, Obama was asked about Kaepernick's controversial decision to sit as a protest of racial injustice and police brutality.

"In terms of Mr. Kaepernick, I've got to confess that I haven't been thinking about football while I've been over here and I haven't been following this closely, but my understanding, at least, is that he's exercising his Constitutional right to make a statement," Obama said. "I think there's a long history of sports figures doing so. I think there are a lot of ways you can do it."

--Johnny Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner and ex-Cleveland Browns quarterback, has re-enrolled at Texas A&M, where he is majoring in Recreation, Park & Tourism Science.

Manziel was listed on Monday as a senior with 90 or more hours.

What's unclear is if Manziel was actually taking classes at College Station, Texas, or online. Previous reports said he was taking classes via the Internet while he was living in Southern California.

The Browns, who drafted Manziel in the first round two years ago, cut the 23-year-old in March.

--The Chicago Bears signed free agent kicker Connor Barth after releasing 11-year veteran Robbie Gould on Sunday night.

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Barth's deal is for one year, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

--The Green Bay Packers made a number of roster moves, including re-signing long snapper Brett Goode.

The Packers did not keep a long-snapper on their initial 53-man roster after they cut Rick Lovato, who finished last season in Goode's place after he sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 15 on Dec. 20.

The Packers also claimed running back Jhurell Pressley off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings, placed cornerback Makinton Dorleant on injured reserve and released running back Brandon Burks.

--The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent cornerback Darryl Morris and waived cornerback Frankie Williams.

The 5-foot-10, 188-pound Morris has played in 36 career NFL games (one start), totaling 39 tackles, one interception, six passes defensed and 13 special teams stops with the Houston Texans (2014-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2013).

-- The San Francisco 49ers released fullback Bruce Miller just hours after he was arrested on suspicion of assault charges.

KTVU, citing San Francisco police sources, reported that Miller is suspected of assaulting a 70-year-old man and his son at the Fisherman's Wharf Marriott Hotel in San Francisco.

The 49ers made a flurry of other roster moves, including the signing of running back DuJuan Harris to a one-year contract.

The 49ers also placed cornerback Will Redmond on injured reserve, claimed defensive tackle Taylor Hart off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles, signed wide receiver Chris Harper to the team's practice squad and waived safety L.J. McCray.

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