Tryouts
The Washington Commanders tried out CB Keenan Isaac (Roughnecks), his UFL-leading eighth tryout this year. However, Washington ended up signing the other corner at the workout, veteran Kevon Seymour. Defensive end-turned long snapper LS Niko Lalos (Sea Dragons) was part of a Tuesday tryout with the New York Giants where they auditioned several punters. It’s possible Lalos’s appearance was less a workout for him as much as it was a need to have a snapper for those punters. Nevertheless, it counts.
Transactions
An interesting development this week was the release of QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions) from the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday. It was a curious move as he served as the number three, and at times number two, QB all year. It also left the 49ers without a third-string signal-caller. The next day, he signed with the New York Jets’ practice squad, the team he played for last season and in training camp this year. Despite not being on the 53-man roster, he becomes the de facto #2 QB because of injuries to Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields. Undrafted rookie Brady Cook (who beat out Martinez for the #3 job in the Big Apple) started in week 15. The release from S.F. may have been a move initiated by Martinez if he knew he’d have a chance to go to N.Y. to be the backup for a few weeks.
Also on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Bucs waived DT C.J. Brewer (Roughnecks), who had been a deep reserve alogn the defensive line. He may end up back on the practice squad. RB Jashaun Corbin (Brahmas) was activated from the practice squad injured list of the New England Patriots. He spent six weeks on the shelf.
XFL
*With Tampa Bay driving into Atlanta territory, DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) sacked Bucs QB Baker Mayfield on 2nd down in the third quarter. An incompletion on 3rd-and-long on the next play forced Tampa to punt. It was London’s only tackle of the game, marking his fourth sack of the year. He also batted down a pass on the third defensive play from scrimmage for Atlanta. These plays were accomplished with London participating in 22% of defensive snaps.
*Green Bay’s offense kept P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) off the field for punts for much of the game. He put just one into the air, grossing 57 yards but with a net of just 37 as the ball came to rest in the end zone for a touchback. Whelan saw much more action as the holder on field goals and extra points.
*In a relatively low-scoring affair, Baltimore pulled out the win against Cincinnati. LS Nick Moore (TB Vipers) was the snapper on punts and kicks for the Ravens, doing so in relative anonymity.
*Temperature in the single digits at kickoff made life miserable for the players in the Cleveland vs. Chicago game, but more specifically, for the specialists. Chicago kicker Cairo Santos missed a 35-yard field goal, snapped by LS Scott Daly (NY Guardians). Santos later came back to make one from 41 yards out.
*QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) did not play as the backup to QB Marcus Mariota for Washington.
*Pittsburgh continued their winning ways on Monday night against Miami, and LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) was on the field for four extra points and five punts.
*Sidelined at practice with ankle and knee injuries this week, Miami S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) was listed as “doubtful” on the team’s week 15 injury report. He was on the inactive list on Monday night.
*Elevated from the practice squad for the first time this season was WR Chris Blair (Defenders), who has been with Atlanta all year. He had been passed over numerous times even as injuries hit Atlanta’s receiver corps. On Thursday, Blair played three offensive snaps and five on special teams.
*Practice squad veteran WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks) was called up for the second time this season by Denver. His second catch of the year went for a 20-yard touchdown when he caught a crosser over the middle from Bo Nix and ran down the sideline into the end zone. It was Bandy’s first career touchdown reception. The TD came on one of just two offensive snaps he played against Green Bay.
USFL
*Billed by UFL social media accounts as a Sunday night spring football battle, the Dallas Cowboys and K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) fell short against the Minnesota Vikings. Aubrey had an unusually off night, missing two field goals, though both from long distance (51 and 59), pushing them both wide right. It was the third time in his career he’s missed multiple field goals in a game. He did hit four shorter field goals – from 26, 37, and two from 41. Perhaps his most memorable play was a fake field goal in which punter Bryan Anger flipped the ball in a no-look pass to Aubrey, who ran six yards for a first down.
*Running once for two yards but faking other reverses was WR KaVontae Turpin (Generals) for Dallas. He also caught two passes for 10 yards on two targets. Turpin played just 20% of the offensive snaps. On special teams, he averaged 31 yards on four kickoff returns, with a long of 40.
*Continuing to be a steadying presence at the position, LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) handled all long snapping duties for Denver.
*His playing time have decreased significantly since being activated from IR several weeks ago, DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) was on the field for just nine defensive snaps (13%) for Carolina in their intra-division battle with New Orleans on Sunday.
UFL
*It was a rocky start in a big game for K Jake Bates (Panthers), who missed an early 43-yard field goal for Detroit. He was able to regroup and make kicks from 24 and 48 yards out, plus all four extra points.
*The L.A. Rams’ kickoff philosophy is to hit them deep, which meant a limited amount of return opportunities for Detroit RB Jacob Saylors (Battlehawks). The only returned kickoff went to Tom Kennedy. Saylors did contribute in playing 56% of special teams snaps.
*As a deep reserve in the defensive backfield, CB Nick Whiteside (Battlehawks) was inactive for the Lions.
*The big leg of L.A. Rams K Harrison Mevis (Stallions) led to six touchbacks and just one returned kickoff for Detroit. Mevis remained perfect on the year in extra points, converting all five attempts. He also made field goals of 37 and 44 yards.
*A special teams tackling machine, LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas) added another one to his league-leading total for the position. At this point, his success in this area should be garnering him Pro Bowl consideration.
*Cleveland’s struggling offense has created few opportunities for K Andre Szmyt (Battlehawks). Against Chicago, Szmyt connected on his lone attempt, from 50 yards in freezing temperatures. It was the only three points that went on the board for the Browns.
*Sporting a Dallas Renegades sweatshirt entering AT&T Stadium Sunday night was DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades). Redmond started and was his typically active self, registering five tackles (two solo, three assists) in playing 80% of the defensive snaps for Minnesota.
*Still waiting to play in his first game this season is DT Perrion Winfrey, who has been inactive each game for Dallas since he was activated from injured reserve.
*As the Packers were trying to come back late against Denver, LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) helped put a stop to that. Tillman sacked Jordan Love on a 2nd-down play in the fourth quarter with Denver up by eight. That created a 3rd-and-long situation and eventually, a miss on 4th down. Tillman had two tackles (one solo, one assist) in playing 32% of defensive snaps, 62% on special teams.
*Though the game ended up getting out of hand late, QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions) never saw the field for the New York Jets after he was elevated from the practice squad to back up Brady Cook against Jacksonville.
*The New Orleans Saints have now won two in a row, doubling their win total on the season during that time. WR Kevin Austin Jr. (Stallions) was elevated from the practice squad for the second time in as many weeks. He caught three passes for 33 yards on five targets, with a long of 18 yards. These represent the first three catches of the season for Austin. He played 38% of snaps on offense and 17% on special teams.