Hawkeyes in the NFL: Stanzi not the Manzi just yet

Ricky Stanzi didn't take a regular-season snap in his rookie season with the Kansas City Chiefs. If he takes one in this, his second season with Kansas City, it may require significant improvement on his part.

Or an injury glut at that position.

Or both.

Stanzi's showing in the Chiefs' 31-17 preseason loss to the St. Louis Rams Saturday was not good.He played for four series, and none resulted in scores. He completed 3 of 4 passes for 24 yards. The other pass was intercepted. He fumbled the ball away. And, he got sacked four times.

Brady Quinn, Stanzi's competition for No. 2 QB behind Matt Cassel, was 5 of 6 for 70 yards and a touchdown.

This Kansas City Star story tells the tale.

Rookie defensive tackle Mike Daniels isn't off to a sizzling start with the Green Bay Packers according to this column by Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

McGinn writes: Daniels, the fourth-round choice, sat out the entire off-season, five practices, the intrasquad scrimmage and the exhibition opener because of injury. His fine start in late July spawned optimism, but his exhibition debut against Cleveland on Thursday night wasn't good. ...

As a rusher, he really never got near the quarterback. He got off blocks and made two tackles in the running game, but several other times he was ridden out or on the ground.

Some good news for a former Hawkeye: Tight end Allen Reisner caught two passes for 22 yards for the Minnesota Vikings Friday against San Francisco.

Reisner played in six games for the Vikings last season as a rookie, catching one pass for 5 yards.

Minnesota is deep at tight end, but veteran John Carlson has been hurt, so Reisner is giving himself a chance to make the squad.

Though second-year Detroit Lions punter Ryan Donahue has been pushed by Ben Graham, Donahue made a strong case for keeping his job in Detroit's 27-12 victory over the Baltimore Ravens Friday.

Donahue pinned a punt on Baltimore's 2-yard line, and averaged 45.3 yards and 43.3 net yards on three punts.

Donahue made the team last year as an undrafted free agent. He played well over eight games, but injured a quad in November and missed the rest of the season, giving way to Graham.