Tryouts
One of two tight ends to try out with the Detroit Lions on Tuesday, TE Thomas Gordon (Brahmas) lost out on the practice squad job to his competition at that work out, Anthony Firkser. This was Gordon’s third workout post-UFL, including a training camp stint with the Chicago Bears.
After being released by the Atlanta Falcons last week, K Parker Romo (Brahmas) worked out with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday. Their current kicker, Daniel Carlson, has missed four field goals and an extra point thus far this year. The other kicker at the tryout, Greg Joseph, ended up signing to Vegas’s practice squad. Joseph was a draft pick of the XFL Seattle Dragons back in 2020 but did not end up signing with the league.
CB Micah Abernathy (Gamblers) resurfaced in a Tuesday tryout with the New York Giants. Abernathy had not been heard from since being placed on injured reserve last October by the Falcons due to a knee injury. He did not attend training camp at all this year. It’s possible he’s only now getting healthy enough to try to get back into the league.
Transactions
On Tuesday, the Denver Broncos waived WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks), making for a short time spent on the 53-man roster. After Josh Harris’s successful return from injury for the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, the team parted ways with LS Peter Bowden (Panthers), who had been on the practice squad for about a week.
Tuesday was for subtractions, but Wednesday was for additions: For one, the Broncos re-signed LB Garrett Nelson (Brahmas) to the practice squad. It’s his second opportunity with the team after spending two weeks on the practice squad last month. The Cleveland Browns signed WR Kaden Davis (Panthers) to the active roster from the practice squad, marking the fifth USFL alum to currently find themselves on an active roster.
The news wasn’t as positive for OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) of the Falcons. Expected to be the top tackle off the bench for the team in 2025, Norton was placed on IR at the end of training camp, thought to return at some point during the season. However, after suffering a setback in practice, his 21-day practice window has expired, so he’ll spend the rest of the season on IR. The Broncos brought WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks) back to the practice squad on Thursday.
Saturday, two players were waived from 53-man rosters: QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions) was dismissed by San Francisco, no longer needed on the active roster with starter Brock Purdy back from injury. Martinez will likely be re-signed to the practice squad provided he clears waivers. Also let go was CB Damon Arnette (Roughnecks), who had just been promoted from Houston’s practice squad the week before. Arnette appeared on the injury report with an ankle injury and was slated to be “out” this weekend anyway. Spots were needed as Houston activated two players off IR for Sunday. Arnette is a candidate to be brought back to the practice squad as well.
XFL
*Green Bay’s P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) punted well in windy conditions at the Meadowlands. He punted four times for 195 yards, good for a 48.8 gross average and a 44.5 net, landing two inside the 20. Included in that was his best punt, a 60-yarder that went out of bounds at the New York 15-yard line.
*Starting for the first time in his NFL career, DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) of Atlanta made three solo tackles, including a sack, which was a 4th-and-1 play that turned the ball over to the Falcons. Despite his starting gig, London played only 35% of the defensive snaps.
*Finding himself to be a healthy scratch once again was DT C.J. Brewer (Roughnecks) for Tampa Bay.
*In clawing out a victory against Cleveland, Baltimore Ravens LS Nick Moore (TB Vipers) snapped on all the team’s field goal attempts and punts.
*Four field goals helped Chicago eke by Minnesota, and LS Scott Daly (NY Guardians) snapped for all of them. He also assisted on a tackle on punt coverage.
*Washington starting QB Marcus Mariota got banged up at one point against Miami, and had to leave the field on a 3rd-and-15 play. QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) was called into duty for the second time this year, handing the ball off leading to a punt. Mariota was able to return on the team’s next drive.
*In Madrid, Spain with the Miami Dolphins, S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) played 80% of special teams snaps but had no stats.
*Pittsburgh pulled away from Cincinnati in the second half, and Steelers LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) was a part of the team’s special teams effort.
USFL
*Ho-hum, another 50-yard field goal banked by K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) in Dallas’s Monday night win. He also hit all four extra point tries.
*An unusual situation arose when starting receivers Cedee Lamb and George Pickens were held out of the first drive by Dallas. WR Kavontae Turpin (Generals) was not one of the receivers that replaced them: The starting assignments went to Jalen Tolbert and Ryan Flournoy. Turpin was targeted just twice in the pass game, catching one for zero yards. Those numbers were put up in 34% of the offensive snaps. Turpin did shine in the return game, bringing back his lone punt for 14 yards and averaging 27.8 yards on four kickoff returns.
*In the stat book for the first time in a few weeks, DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) was credited with an assisted tackle on 24% of the snaps on defense for the Panthers.
*In his second game of the season, the first as a member of the 53-man roster, WR Kaden Davis (Panthers) saw the field for the Browns but didn’t record any stats. He played one snap on offense, nine snaps on special teams.
*Playing for what may be the hottest team in the NFL, the Denver Broncos, LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) was called for one false start on a punt snap but also snapped on the last-second game-winning 35-yard field goal.
*Khalif Raymond handled two kickoff returns for Detroit, leaving just one for RB Jacob Saylors (Battlehawks). Saylors brought his back for 26 yards while Raymond averaged only 18 yards per return on his two chances. It was one of the 73% of snaps Saylors played on special teams. He also played one on offense, but that was a kneel-down at the end of the first half.
*The swirling winds in Philadelphia made life difficult for the kickers on Sunday night. Detroit K Jake Bates (Panthers) hooked an extra point wide right when the wind took it. Because of a celebration penalty after a Jameson Williams touchdown, the extra point was a 48-yarder, which contributed to the miss and made it that much tougher on Bates given the conditions. He did come back to nail a 54-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, his third from beyond 50 this season.
*The backup to Rock Ya-Sin, Lions CB Nick Whiteside (Battlehawks) played one snap when Ya-Sin had to leave the field to get tended to by the medical staff. Whiteside covered WR Devonta Smith on the play. He also added 42% of snaps on special teams, playing opposite the other team’s gunner on the punt return unit.
*Starting for Minnesota was DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades), who made three tackles (one solo, two assists) including a tackle for loss in a loss to the Bears. Redmond also got away with an obvious facemask on a third-down play in which Chicago had to settle for a field goal. Had officials seen it, it would’ve been an automatic first down for the Bears. Redmond once again led his position group in snap share (87%) while also contributing an additional nine snaps on special teams
*In the Broncos’ win over division-rival Kansas City, LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) made an assisted tackle and registered a QB hit on all-world QB Patrick Mahomes. He also made two tackles (one solo, one assist) on kick coverage. Tillman did this while playing 40% of snaps on defense and 66% on special teams.
*Though they had Baltimore on the ropes, Cleveland was not able to close the deal. K Andre Szmyt (Battlehawks) has gotten into a groove of late for the Browns, and he was good on all three field goal attempts against the Ravens (from 30, 24 and 46) and made his only extra-point attempt.
*Making the stat sheet with a tackle on a punt return for Cleveland was LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas), stopping the dangerous LaJohntay Wester after a seven-yard gain.
*Everybody loves the backup quarterback, usually, until he’s called into action. Packers fans loved K Lucas Havrisik (Renegades) after a strong initial game and especially after Brandon McManus returned from injury and struggled. McManus was out again with a leg ailment and this time, Green Bay fans may be buying Havrisik a ticket out of town. He missed two extra points against the New York Giants, going one-for-three in total. To be fair, 17 MPH winds may have played a part. He did not attempt any extra points. Luckily, unlike Parker Romo a few weeks ago, the misses didn’t end up costing Green Bay the game. We’ll see if, like Romo, it costs Havrisik his job.
*After two games, K Harrison Mevis (Stallions) has yet to attempt a field goal for the Los Angeles Rams. He continued to be perfect on extra points, going three-for-three against Seattle in his second practice squad elevation in as many weeks.