Tryouts
Two UFL players who were in NFL training camps tried out for other teams on Monday. DT Kyon Barrs (Renegades), who spent most of the summer with the Arizona Cardinals, and OT Gunner Britton (Defenders), briefly with the Detroit Lions in August, were two of the 10 free agents the Carolina Panthers had in for workouts.
Transactions
The one UFL 2025 player to land on initial 53-man NFL rosters lasted just one week there: On Monday, DT Winfrey (Stallions) was moved by the Dallas Cowboys to injured reserve. Per reports, he had not practiced since August 31, and would be eligible to be activated off IR at some point this year (after missing the mandatory four-game minimum). Also on Monday, G Liam Fornadel (Defenders) returned to the New York Jets, in a practice squad role. He worked much of training camp at center for the Jets and is now one of four spring football players on New York’s practice squad.
The Atlanta Falcons exchanged an XFL player for a UFL player on their practice squad on Tuesday. DE Ronnie Perkins (Stallions), signed only the week before, was released to make room for K John Parker Romo (Brahmas). Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo was already under a microscope before missing a week one 44-yard field goal that would’ve tied the game against Tampa Bay. Romo is actually kicker number two on the practice squad: Atlanta also has Lenny Krieg, an International Pathway Player. Like all IPP players, the Falcons have an exemption for him to allow him on the practice squad while not counting against the 16 they can keep there.
Also on Tuesday, DT Jeremiah Pharms (Maulers) was not surprisingly re-signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad. He made the team out of camp but was released prior to week one. Wednesday brought about the signing of DT Jacob Sykes (Brahmas) to the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he was in training camp. Skyes’s stint lasted just one day, as he was let go on Thursday in favor of another defensive tackle, Gabe Hall, who had been waived off the 53-man roster the day before. Hall was a 2024 UFL College Draft pick of the San Antonio Brahmas.
XFL
*In Thursday’s night’s tilt, P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) continued his hot start to the season for Green Bay – at least as far as gross average is concerned – punting four times for 213 yards, or 53.3 yards per kick. However, he appeared to outkick his coverage a few times, resulting in a net of just 35.8 yards, which was also hurt by a touchback.
*QB Jayden Daniels was kept in check by the Packers and didn’t miss any snaps. That meant QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) was not needed as the emergency #3 quarterback. The QB situation could change this week with Daniels day-to-day due to a knee injury.
*LS Nick Moore (TB Vipers) handled all long snaps in Baltimore’s route of division-rival Cleveland.
*Another XFL snapper, LS Scott Daly (NY Guardians), did his job well in Chicago’s loss to Detroit.
*In Pittsburgh, LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) had a clean game, snapping on three field goals made from beyond 40 yards.
*Seeing an uptick in snap share for week two, DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) played 32% of the defensive snaps for Atlanta, up from 24% in week one. Still, like week one, he was blanked on the stat sheet.
*Atlanta held a kicking competition during the week between practice squad pickup K John Parker Romo (Brahmas) and incumbent Younghoe Koo. Romo earned the opportunity to be elevated and kick in Sunday night’s game aaginast Minnesota, the team for whom he played as an injury replacement last season. The plan going into the week is to continue that competition, though Romo may have won the job outright with his performance in week two. He connected on all five of his field goal attempts (though the first, from 38, just snuck in over top of the goal post). His long was 54 yards and until the fourth quarter, his field goals were all the scoring Atlanta did on the evening. Though Romo was successful on field goals, kickoffs were the responsibility of punter Bradly Pinion, alleviating him of those duties.
USFL
*Dallas threw 52 passes in their overtime victory over the New York Giants, offering plenty of opportunities for WR KaVontae Turpin (Generals) to touch the ball. He caught all four targets for 47 yards, including 10-yard touchdown. He also carried twice for six yards. He added one punt return for two yards and four kickoff returns for 100 yards with a long of 29. Turpin exited the game with a neck injury and sported a neck brace after the game, though he said after the game “my x-rays came out good” and that he’d be “fine.”
*In that same game, K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) was once again the star. A 64-yard field goal as time expired sent the game into overtime for the Cowboys, and his 46-yarder won it. The one from 64 yards out was one yard away from his career high. But that wasn’t all as he also made field goals of 51 and 44 and was perfect on all four extra points. Expect Aubrey to get paid – handsomely -this off-season.
*Vaulting to the top of the spring football long snapper tackle standings, LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) was in on an assisted tackle on punt coverage for Denver.
*Making his first special teams tackle of the year was Miami S Elijah Campbell (Defenders). He stopped the dangerous Marcus Jones after an eight-yard punt return.
UFL
*Stationed on the opposite sideline from another spring league long snapper in Baltimore’s Moore, LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas) snapped on Cleveland’s punts and kicks.
*It should be a more comfortable week than it was after week one for K Andre Szmyt (Battlehawks). Szmyt made his only field goal attempt, from 38 yards out, and was two-for-two on extra points.
*When a kicker misses a kick, it’s always important for them to come back strong. K Jake Bates (Panthers) missed his first field goal of the year, from 55 yards out – he had the leg, but it was wide left. Bates was able to display his short memory by hitting his next opportunity, from a distance of 34 yards. The Lions pummeled the Bears, resulting in Bates also making five extra points.
*Though both kick returns in the books went to Grant Stuard, RB Jacob Saylors (Battlehawks) made the wise choice to step out of bounds while simultaneously fielding the opening kick, giving Detroit the ball at their own 40. It was reminiscent of former Seattle Dragon, Godwin Igwebuike, doing something similar for Pittsburgh a few years ago. On coverage teams, Saylors registered two tackles (one solo, one assist).
*Indianapolis gashed Denver through the air and on the ground. LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions), in a reserve role, made three tackles (one solo, two assist) for the Broncos.
*Earning his second start in as many games along the defensive line, Minnesota DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades), playing the three-technique (lined up on the outside shoulder of the guard), was far more disruptive than in week one. He beat one of the best interior linemen in the NFL, Chris Lindstrom of the Falcons, for a tackle for loss. Later, he powered his way through LG Matthew Bergeron for his first sack of the season. In all, Redmond had six tackles (three solo, three assist) as well as two tackles for loss.
*Elevated from the practice squad to serve as the backup quarterback in San Francisco with Brock Purdy missing the game due to injury, QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions) dressed but did not play. Purdy may miss next week as well – if that’s the case, expect another elevation for the 2024 UFL MVP.
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