Bengals’ backup QBs earn praise from coordinator

The stat line of Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Matt Barkley didn’t look like one worth ripping out of the game book and putting on the front of the fridge.

In his first game, Thursday's 30-27 exhibition victory over the Chicago Bears, Barkley finished 5 of 13 for 64 yards and a passer rating of 54.6. That rating looked even more pedestrian next to Andy Dalton’s 116.7 and Jeff Driskel’s 118.8.

Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor didn’t think the numbers told the story.

“I was a little bit surprised how the numbers turned out because my feel on game day was Matt played better than what his numbers were,” Lazor said. “I think our production will keep going up.”

The production he saw involved Barkley driving for a field goal at the end of the first half and Driskel leading the team to the game-winning touchdown at the end of regulation. Those situations are invaluable in evaluation.

“I thought they both did a fantastic job,” Lazor said. “Now you are putting a guy in as much of a pressure situation as you can. The communication was excellent, the poise was excellent.”

Jones starts for Chargers

Former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones started and played most of the first half for the Los Angeles Chargers in an exhibition game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night.

Jones completed 6 of 12 passes for 50 yards, without a touchdown or interception. He was sacked once.

He led one scoring drive in his four series, using 11 plays to go 37 yards to a 45-yard field goal by Caleb Sturgis.

Jones gave way to Geno Smith near the end of the first half with the Chargers trailing 7-3. Jones and Smith are competing to be the backup behind starter Philip Rivers. Jets LB suspended

New York Jets linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis has been suspended by the NFL for the first game of the regular season without pay for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Pierre-Louis was arrested and charged in January with several misdemeanors, including possession of marijuana, after a traffic stop in suburban Kansas City.