Tryouts
The week began with veteran G Michael Dunn (Dragons) working out for the Los Angeles Chargers, who find themselves shorthanded along the offensive line. Dunn had a brief stay with San Francisco in training camp after spending the last several seasons in Cleveland.
On Tuesday, LB Jonathan Garvin (Stallions) tried out with the Chicago Bears. Garvin played for Birmingham in 2024, then latched on with the 49ers, where he spent most of last season on their practice squad. He went to training camp with them again this summer.
The next day, CB Keenan Isaac (Roughnecks) had a workout with the Baltimore Ravens. It was Isaac’s sixth known workout, one of the highest numbers from UFL 2025 graduates. DT Jacob Sykes (Brahmas) visited the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday as well.
Transactions
A day after working out for them, G Michael Dunn (Dragons) signed to the Chargers’ practice squad. Tuesday also brought the re-signing of G Liam Fornadel (Defenders) to the practice squad of the New York Jets, where he had just recently been let go in favor of LB Ben Niemann. This time, the roles were reversed, with Niemann being sent home in favor of Fornadel.
With injuries mounting in the defensive backfield, the Detroit Lions signed CB Nick Whiteside (Battlehawks) to the practice squad on Wednesday. Whiteside had some impressive moments in the pre-season for Detroit. Eagles GM Howie Roseman is a bit of a mad scientist when it comes to running his team’s roster. DT Jacob Sykes (Brahmas) was one of two players signed to the team’s practice squad on Thursday, only to turn around and get released on Friday, along with the other signing. I’m sure there’s a method to the madness…I’m just not sure what that is. This was Sykes’ second one-day stint on the team’s practice squad this season.
Thursday would’ve been the third and final practice squad elevation of the young season for San Francisco QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions), who was needed to be their backup QB again. So they instead signed him to the active roster. Finally, on Saturday, the Carolina Panthers activated DT LaBryan Ray (Stars) from injured reserve. He missed the minimum four games while on IR.
XFL
*Active for the first time this year, DT C.J. Brewer (Roughnecks) played five snaps on defense for Tampa Bay but did not register any stats.
*Baltimore’s poor offensive showing against Houston did not allow LS Nick Moore (TB Vipers) to snap very often for points; he did snap on four punts, however.
*Jayden Daniels returned to the starting lineup for the Washington Commanders, so QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) moved back to the third/emergency quarterback role.
*Making his presence felt on special teams for Miami to the tune of 86% of ST snaps, S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) made a tackle on kickoff coverage. He also played one snap on defense.
USFL
*An uncharacteristic missed extra point for Dallas’s K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) – a doink off the upright – was his only blemish on the day – he hit a 35-yard field goal and three other extra points. It was the fourth missed extra point of his career and first since 2023.
*A foot injury suffered by WR KaVontae Turpin (Generals) in Dallas’ overtime tie on Sunday night led to him not practicing during the week and being held out of Sunday’s matchup with the New York Jets.
*For the Broncos, LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) snapped on two field goals, an extra point and seven punts.
*Fresh off injured reserve, DT Labryan Ray (Stars) was thrown right into the fire by Carolina, making two tackles on Sunday afternoon, including one on a run stop near the goal line for no gain. He did that in playing 20% of the defensive snaps. Expect that number to increase as the season wears on.
UFL
*With the potential of QB Brock Purdy to miss more time beyond week five, QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions) was promoted to the active roster by San Francisco prior to Thursday’s tilt with the L.A. Rams. Despite issues Mac Jones had with his knee brace during the game, as well as him coming into Thursday a little dinged up, Martinez did not find his way into the game.
*Playing in Europe for the second week in a row for Minnesota, DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades) made an impact even though he failed to replicate the two-sack performance he had in Ireland. Redmond made a solo tackle and also drew a holding call against Cleveland OT K.T. Leveston early in the game. He also batted down a Dillon Gabriel pass later on, all on 59% of the defensive snaps, second-most played among defensive linemen in the game for the Vikings.
*Detroit’s prolific offense kept K Jake Bates (Panthers) from having to attempt any field goals, but they kept him busy with extra points: He went five-for-five on those.
*Continuing as the main kick returner for the Lions, RB Jacob Saylors (Battlehawks) returned three kicks for 87 yards, with a long return of 37, which marks a new season-long for him. He did not see time on offense, but played 69% of snaps on special teams.
*In Denver’s upset of Philadelphia, LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) knocked down a Jalen Hurts pass for a pass defensed in playing 26% of defensive snaps (and 48% on special teams).
*LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas) shows his coverage prowess with two assisted tackles for the Browns against Minnesota in London. Sunahara also very nearly downed a punt at the one yard-line; however, his foot was ruled to have gone into the end zone, resulting in a touchback.
*Cleveland K Andre Szmyt (Battlehawks) nailed both of his extra point attempts and his lone field goal for the Browns, a 31-yarder that put them on top of the Vikings heading into halftime of a game Minnesota ultimately came back to win.
*Elevated for the second time this year, WR Malik Turner (Panthers) played six snaps on offense and saw his first target in the pass game on Thursday night for San Francisco. He added seven snaps on special teams.
*In his first NFL game since 2021, CB Damon Arnette (Roughnecks) was elevated from the practice squad by Houston for week five. He made two tackles on kick coverage. Given the blowout nature of the Texans’ game against Baltimore, Arnette played two snaps on defense, plus 69% of the team’s special teams snaps.
Byes: Atlanta Falcons DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) and K Parker Romo (Brahmas); Chicago Bears LS Scott Daly (NY Guardians); Green Bay Packers P Daniel Whelan (Defenders); Pittsburgh Steelers LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades)
