NFL Notes: Aldon Smith, Johnny Manziel, Bills, & Rams

Aldon Smith

A 49ers source tells Josina Anderson that Aldon Smith was “on a track” and “making good decisions” before his recent arrest.

“He was on a track and he was making good decisions,” Anderson’s source said. “But I’ll say one thing, there shouldn’t be a rush to judgment. We need to figure out what happened and not go into a instant panic. There is usually much more to a story. Let’s not overreact and say his career with the 49ers is over just yet.”

• 49ers owner Jed York tells Mike Silver of NFL Media that he hasn’t made any decision regarding Smith following his recent arrest.

Johnny Manziel

Browns QB Johnny Manziel discussed being the team’s backup and the possibility that he could play well enough to force them to consider going with him over Josh McCown.

“I’m definitely not getting caught up or enamored with the whole starter-backup role,” said Manziel, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “If I can show that I’m improving, I want to do that. From there on, Coach Pett, everybody else, they make that call. Last year, I think that was probably a little bit of my problem, getting caught up in the starters and the reps with the ones and the backups and all this.

“I’d never really been a backup before. So this year, I’m definitely just trying to take a little bit different approach and if I show that I’m getting better and go out in the preseason and play well, then who knows what’ll happen?”

Bills

• Bills HC Rex Ryan said that veteran RB Fred Jackson is dealing with a hamstring injury and could miss a few weeks. (Matthew Fairburn)

Rams

• Rams HC Jeff Fisher mentioned that first-round RB Todd Gurley is unlikely to play in the preseason. (Gregg Rosenthal)
• Fisher added that they don’t have to see Gurley play in preseason for him to see game action in regular season.