Ryan Leaf played in three Apple Cups and won his last one, in 1997. Alex Brink became the “Husky Killer” after defeating UW on three occasions – 2004, 2005 and 2007. Timm Rosenbach got it done on his third try, leading the Cougars to a 32-31 win in 1988. It took Jeff Tuel four attempts, but the last WSU QB to snare a win over the Huskies was responsible for a 31-28 overtime triumph in 2012.

Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly returned to practice for the first time since suffering a concussion in the Carolina’s season-opening win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The four-year pro spent four weeks in the NFL’s concussion protocol and missed three games before being cleared to return. The Panthers had a bye last week and travel to play Seattle on Sunday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed Jeff Tuel to the practice squad, giving them a third quarterback in case Blake Bortles can’t play this week because of a sprained throwing shoulder. Bortles injured his right shoulder early in a 38-31 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday. He finished the game, completing 23 of 33 passes for 303 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.

The Buffalo Bills have shuffled their depth at quarterback by claiming Matt Simms and waiving former Washington State star Jeff Tuel. The Bills were awarded Simms on Friday, a day after he was cut by the New York Jets. He spent two seasons in New York and is reunited with former coach Rex Ryan in Buffalo. The 26-year-old had 195 yards passing with one touchdown and an interception in four appearances. Tuel’s two-year tenure is over in Buffalo. He made the Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2013, and struggled in two appearances, including a start in a 23-13 loss to Kansas City. Tuel spent last season on the practice squad. The Bills are in the midst of a starting quarterback competition between EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor. – Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Preposterous as it might have once sounded, quarterback Matt Leinart finds himself suddenly having much in common with Jeff Tuel. Upon arriving in Buffalo last weekend for what could be a last chance at resurrecting his career, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner offered Tuel – an undrafted rookie out of Washington State – advice on how to prepare for the possibility of being the Bills’ opening-day starter.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Passed over in the NFL draft in April, quarterback Jeff Tuel settled on signing with the Buffalo Bills a few days later with the sole objective of cracking the team’s roster. As of Monday, the raw rookie out of Washington State is in line to start in the Bills’ season opener against New England Sept. 8.

Passed over in the NFL draft in April, quarterback Jeff Tuel settled on signing with the Buffalo Bills a few days later with the sole objective of cracking the team’s roster. As of Monday, the raw rookie out of Washington State is in line to start in the Bills’ season opener against New England Sept. 8.

PULLMAN – Jeff Tuel spent six weeks in Orlando, Fla., recently, living and training with former teammate Marquess Wilson and former Eastern Washington receivers Brandon Kaufman and Greg Herd. The time spent training under Tom Shaw, a heralded speed and performance coach, is starting to pay off. So are his new friendships.

PULLMAN – Washington State quarterback Jeff Tuel will no longer seek a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA and will instead begin working toward an NFL career, Tuel confirmed to The Spokesman-Review. The Seattle Times was the first to report Tuel’s decision.

Washington State quarterback Jeff Tuel will no longer seek a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA and will instead begin working toward an NFL career, Tuel confirmed to The Spokesman-Review.

PULLMAN – Somewhere, lost blissfully in the din of Martin Stadium’s makeshift outdoor party on Friday afternoon, Logan Mayes knows there was a child smiling ear-to-ear. That was Mayes not all that long ago, growing up the son of a WSU legend, living and dying with each of Washington State’s Apple Cup wins and losses.

PULLMAN – His 6-foot-4 frame hunched over a pair of crutches, Travis Long was a spectator for Washington State’s 31-28 victory over Washington in another thrilling Apple Cup. It was not a position with which the senior linebacker was familiar. Long had started 47 consecutive games, every one of his career, before a right knee injury sidelined him for Senior Day.