Tryouts
Popping up on Monday’s list of tryouts was DT Kyon Barrs (Renegades) with the Washington Commanders. It was his first workout since September after spending training camp and a brief period on the practice squad with the Arizona Cardinals.
The next day, WR Brandon Smith (Defenders) was one of three receivers to work out with the New England Patriots, in search of some depth at the position with front-line players ailing. Smith won the competition, signing to the Patriots practice squad that day.
Transactions
The Houston Texans overhauled its practice squad on Tuesday and caught in the numbers game was CB Damon Arnette (Roughnecks), who was let go. On Wednesday, the Chicago Bears signed TE Thomas Gordon (Brahmas) to their practice squad, placing TE Qadir Ismail on practice squad injured reserve. The Bears are familiar with Gordon, as he spent some time in camp with them.
Also on Wednesday, DT Kyler Baugh (Battlehawks) was released from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. He spent all season there without being elevated to the gameday roster for any regular season action. DT Jeremiah Pharms (Maulers) was signed to the New England Patriots’ active roster from the practice squad on Saturday.
XFL
*Perhaps playing to keep his career alive, Washington third-string QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) made his first start since 2021 in Washington’s 30-23 loss to Dallas. Johnson kept the Commanders in the game, which is all you can ask for from a deep backup this time of year. He was 15-of-23 passing for 198 yards and most importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over. Johnson certainly performed better than what we’ve seen from third-stringers or even backups around the NFL this year.
*In Saturday night’s game against Baltimore, Green Bay P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) was not called upon to punt, but did hold for one field goal and three extra points.
*Baltimore ran roughshod over Green Bay, and LS Nick Moore (TB Vipers) continued his usual snapping duties.
*Offense was hard to come by for both Pittsburgh and Cleveland on Sunday. LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) was on the field for all of the Steelers’ scoring opportunities: Three field goal attempts (two successful). He saw more action in the punt game, snapping five times there.
*On the flip side, Chicago and San Francisco put on offensive clinics on Sunday night. That meant a lot of snapping on extra points and field goals for LS Scott Daly (NY Guardians) of Chicago.
*Starting in Atlanta’s upset of the Los Angeles Rams, but playing just 37% of the time on defense, DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) got on the board with four tackles, one of the solo variety and three assists.
*Up from the practice squad for the fourth time this year, WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks) had two catches for 14 yards for the Broncos. Those catches came among the seven snaps he played on offense.
*Elevated for the third time, WR Chris Blair (Defenders) made a special teams tackle for Atlanta on the opening kickoff of the second half. It was one of six special teams snaps he played, while he didn’t see the field on offense. Because the Falcons have exhausted his practice squad elevations, if he is to play in the finale next week, he’ll either have to be waived and re-signed to the practice squad or signed to the active roster.
USFL
*Using his game-breaking speed to run away from defenders, WR KaVontae Turpin (Generals) was lined up in the slot when he split two defensive backs, hauled in a beautiful pass from Dak Prescott and scampered the rest of the way to the end zone in what turned out to be an 86-yard score for Dallas on Thursday. It stands as the longest reception of his career and was not only his lone catch, but his lone target in this game. Turpin returned five kickoffs for a 23.0 average per run-back.
*Dallas continues to test the leg of K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions), asking him to attempt three field goals beyond 50 yards against Washington, hitting those from 51 and 52 but missing wide right from 58. He also made one from 42 yards. Aubrey was three-for-three on extra points. He erred on one of his kickoffs, falling short of the landing zone.
*Eking out a win over a disheveled Kansas City squad, Denver’s LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) handled all punt and kick snaps.
*Unfortunately, the most impactful play DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) made for Carolina was a 3rd-and-1 offsides that gave Seattle a first down. He also made assisted tackle in playing 21% of the snaps on defense.
*Recently signed to the 53-man roster, DT Jeremiah Pharms (Maulers) made an assisted tackle in New England’s cakewalk over the New York Jets, playing 32% of defensive snaps.
*With DT Quinnen Williams back healthy, Dallas DT Perrion Winfrey (Stallions) found himself back on the healthy inactive list on Christmas Day.
*All four kickoff returns were handled by Tom Kennedy for Detroit against Minnesota. RB Jacob Saylors (Battlehawks) was the second man back to return but ended up playing lead blocker for Kennedy. Saylors did not record any stats in playing 73% of special teams snaps.
*Playing the important role of jammer on the punt protection unit, facing the other team’s gunner on the outside, CB Nick Whiteside (Battlehawks) played 31% of special teams snaps.
*Upping his field goal percentage from between 40-49 yards to 80% was Detroit K Jake Bates (Panthers) by virtue of his 48-yard field goal against Minnesota. Bates also made his lone extra point attempt.
*It’s been a true breakout year for Minnesota DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades). Redmond had one tackle against Detroit, but it was a 3rd-and-goal tackle for loss from the three-yard line. Redmond also tallied a quarterback hit, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery, one of six Lion turnovers on the afternoon. Given the quick turnaround in playing a Thursday afternoon game, Redmond’s playing time decreased from usual, down to 73%.
*With half a sack against the Chiefs, Broncos LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) is just one sack away from last year’s total with one regular season game remaining. The assisted tackle was his lone stop on defense, though he was credited with two quarterback hits in playing 26% of snaps. He also had a special teams tackle, one of 67% of the snaps he played on that unit.
*When scoring is at a premium, all phases of the game are amplified, including special teams. LS Rex Sunahara (Brahams) had to be on point for Cleveland, and he was, snapping for two field goals and an extra point, as well as four punts.
*After a shaky start to the season, K Andre Szmyt (Battlehawks) has now hit 11 field goals in a row for Cleveland. That includes two critical makes against Pittsburgh, from 50 and 33. He added an extra point on the lone touchdown of the game.
*For the second year in a row, WR Kevin Austin Jr. (Stallions) has gotten extensive late season playing time for New Orleans. Against Tennessee in week 17, he earned the second-most targets from QB Tyler Shough, catching four passes for 52 yards, including a 10-yard score. It was the first touchdown of his NFL career. He played 81% of offensive snaps, just a few shy of Chris Olave’s team lead at the position.
*On Monday night, K Harrison Mevis (Stallions) nailed all three extra point tries and one field goal, from 35 yards. In a change from the usual, only one of his five kickoffs was a touchback despite playing indoors in Atlanta.
*Up from the practice squad due to an injury to TE David Njoku, TE Sal Cannella (Renegades) was pressed into more extensive duty than expected when rookie Harold Fannin Jr. also went down. That left Blake Whiteheart and Cannella as the only healthy active players at the position. In playing 35% of offensive snaps (and two on special teams), Cannella was targeted four times, including one that ended up an interception. He did have two catches for 11 yards, including his first being a third-down conversion for six yards. After six years in spring football, including TSL, USFL, XFL and UFL, this was Cannella’s first NFL regular season game.