BEREA, Ohio — Brock Osweiler has risen from trade throw-in to preseason starter.

The Browns’ quarterback saga has produced another surprise.

Brock Osweiler was a throw-in in a trade and hasn't taken a snap with the first-team offense, but he'll start the Browns' preseason opener. Associated Press/Tony Dejak

Osweiler was picked by Coach Hue Jackson over Cody Kessler, rookie DeShone Kizer and Kevin Hogan to start Thursday’s exhibition opener against the New Orleans Saints in what will be an important stage in a QB competition that’s midway through its second week and with no end in sight.

Osweiler, who started 14 games for Houston last season, has not taken any snaps with the starting offense during camp, but he’ll be first on the field Thursday with a chance to impress Jackson and potentially win the full-time starting job.

It’s a stunning ascension for Osweiler, 26, who arrived via trade in March when the Browns acquired him and his guaranteed $16 million contract simply so they could get a 2018 second-round pick.

But he’s still around, and he could wind up beating out Kessler and Kizer, the team’s presumed future QB, as the team’s full-time starter.

JETS: New York wide receiver Quincy Enunwa has a bulging disc in his neck that will likely require surgery and sideline him for the entire season.

Coach Todd Bowles said that Enunwa will seek a second opinion, but the receiver is facing a recovery time of 6 to 9 months. The injury is not considered career-threatening, but he will be placed on injured reserve.

BILLS: Buffalo signed free agent Anquan Boldin in a move that adds a veteran presence to a mostly young and untested group of receivers.

Boldin is a 14-year veteran who spent last season with Detroit, where he had 67 catches for 584 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games.

Boldin’s 1,076 catches for 13,779 yards overall rank third among players since breaking into the NFL in 2003, when he was drafted in the second round by Arizona. He played seven seasons with the Cardinals and also had two three-year stints in Baltimore and San Francisco.

VIKINGS: Minnesota activated running back Latavius Murray from the physically unable to perform list.

The move cleared him to join the team on the field for the first time since signing as a free agent in March. Murray missed all of the offseason practices and the first 10 days of training camp while rehabbing his surgically repaired right ankle.

Coach Mike Zimmer made it clear last week that it was important for Murray to start getting some work in during camp so he didn’t fall too far behind. He figures to share the workload in the Vikings’ backfield with rookie Dalvin Cook and veteran Jerrick McKinnon.

BRONCOS: Trevor Siemian hasn’t officially won Denver’s quarterback job just yet but he has earned the starting nod over Paxton Lynch in Denver’s preseason opener at Chicago.

Siemian will get first crack against the Bears on Thursday while Lynch will start Denver’s second game, at San Francisco on Aug. 19.

BEARS: Guard Eric Kush will miss the season because of a torn hamstring.

SEAHAWKS: Frank Clark’s discipline for punching teammate Germain Ifedi during Seattle’s training camp seems to be expiring.

Coach Pete Carroll said Clark is expected to return to practice later this week after being sidelined since the fight erupted during practice last Thursday.

DOLPHINS: Officials say Miami wide receiver Jarvis Landry is being investigated for possible domestic battery.

A spokesman for the Broward County State Attorney’s office said Monday in an email the allegations were under review and no decision has been made on whether Landry will be charged.

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