When NFL teams announced their final 53-man rosters on Sunday evening, only two players out of the 74 hopefuls from the 2026 UFL season were signed to rosters. Columbus Aviator's standout wide receiver, Tay Martin, made the Detroit Lions' 53-man roster, while Houston Gamblers cornerback Ameer Speed made the Dallas Cowboys roster.
While it was disheartening for the UFL hopefuls who didn’t make the cut, Martin’s signing is particularly noteworthy, since he is the first UFL wide receiver to make an NFL 53-man roster out of training camp. Following Dallas Cowboys’ All-Pro KaVontae Turpin, who came from the USFL in 2022, Martin is just the second spring receiver to make the final cut, showing just how challenging it can be to survive the cutdown process.
Louisville Kings UFL To NFL -The Practice Squad
However, the good news is that the very next day, several UFL players who were waived were re-signed to their team’s practice 16-member squad. For the players who didn’t survive the final roster cut, making their team’s practice squad puts them one step closer to realizing their NFL dreams. Practice squad players participate in team practices during the week. Assuming the role of designated opposing players, they mimic their play style to allow the active players to adjust their game in preparation.
The practice squad is a stepping stone to the active roster. Throughout the season, a player could be activated from the practice squad to the game-day roster to cover for an injured or inactive player. Typically, the squad player is activated for a single game and returns to the practice squad the next day. However, if an individual player is activated for more than 3 games during an NFL season, he is then required to be added to the active NFL roster.
UFL to NFL Practice Squad to NFL Success Story
One recent success story of a UFL player who made the 53-man roster via the practice squad is Detroit Lions’ running back Jacob Saylors. A former St. Louis Battlehawks veteran and All-UFL team standout, Saylors bounced around NFL practice squads before finding success in the UFL. After his second successful stint with St. Louis in 2025, Saylors was signed to the Lions’ practice squad on July 29, 2025. Despite an impressive pre-season performance, Saylors didn’t make the final roster. However, he was signed to Detroit’s practice squad the next day.
Elevated early in September, Saylors made an impact as a return specialist. As the team's primary kickoff returner, he recorded 897 yards on 33 returns, which ranked 7th overall for the 2025 NFL season. In January of 2026, Saylors signed a one-year contract extension with Detroit.
During the 2026 preseason, with the team electing to rest Jahmyr Gibbs, Saylors was the team’s RB1. He rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries, along with 40 yards on five receptions. Saylors outperformed every other NFL running back except for the Arizona Cardinals' Evan Hull (189 yards on 38 carries). As one of the most electric and productive players in the NFL, he made Detroit’s 53-man roster. Now, with the health of Lions’ RB Isiah Pacheco in question, Saylors could be Detroit’s RB2 to open the season.
Louisville Kings: UFL to NFL Practice Squad Roundup
Ian Wheeler: (RB) Buffalo Bills
When United Bowl MVP Ian Wheeler wasn't named as one of the 53 players on the Buffalo Bills' roster, he was offered a practice squad position. However, after recording 79 rushing yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns, along with four receptions for 31 yards, Wheeler opted not to accept a practice squad role. Wheeler ranked 12th overall among NFL RBs during the 2026 season, one spot ahead of Bills' teammate Frank Gore Jr., with whom he shared touches throughout the preseason. However, in Buffalo's stacked RB room, neither made the 53-man roster.
Wheeler proved himself worthy of an NFL roster spot. He made the right call and will get picked up by another needy team.
Cam Gill: (OLB) Carolina Panthers Practice Squad
UFL Defensive Player of the Year Cam Gill was an impact playmaker throughout the entirety of the Carolina Panthers’ preseason. He recorded six tackles, 1.0 sack, one TFL, two quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles. With his third fumble recovery, Gill leads the NFL in that statistic. No other player has accomplished what Gill has by recovering three fumbles during the NFL preseason. Frankly, the decision ot to add Gill to the 53-man roster was a surprise. However, with 'roster gymnastics' being what they are, Gill will most likely be elevated to the roster beginning in Week 1 and remain throughout the season on the Panthers' active roster.
Lucky Jackson (WR) Detroit Lions Practice Squad
Being one of three UFL wide receivers in the Detroit Lions training camp, Lucky Jackson faced tough competition in Detroit's overcrowded receiving room. Angling for the final wide receiver slot against Tarik Black and Tay Martin, Jackson looked like the odd man out at one point. However, to his credit, he finished the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts with a stunning five-reception 94-yard performance that clinched his spot on the practice squad. Jackson will likely see game action early on as a return specialist or potentially as a receiver in the offense, now that veteran wide receiver Greg Dortch signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Bryce Hall (CB) Houston Texans Practice Squad
Louisville cornerback Bryce Hall was one of the last players signed to an NFL team this preseason. Signed on August 17th, Hall barely had time to unpack before his first game with the team three days later. Nonetheless, on August 20th, Hall produced 10 tackles (six solo) and one pass defense. Given how little time he had to acclimate and the results he produced in 10 days, he made a strong case for a roster spot. However, as predicted, the Texans decided that he was a player worth keeping as a player on the practice squad.
Deantre Prince (DB) Chicago Bears Practice Squad
Signed by the Bears only last week, Prince saw limited playing time with the Kings this past season. On Saturday night, he recorded two tackles (one solo) and a pass defense. While it wasn’t enough time to earn him a roster spot, it was enough to get him signed to the Bears' practice squad.
Louisville Kings -Other NFL Roster Cut Casualties
The following players have been released from their NFL teams:
Isaiah Winstead (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaheim Thomas (LB) Miami Dolphins
Isaiah Bolden (CB) Philadelphia Eagles
Kaden Prather (WR) Green Bay Packers
Tre McKitty (TE) Washington Commanders
Tarik Black (WR) Detroit Lions
Quindell Johnson (S) Washington Commanders
Antonio Grier (LB) Chicago Bears
Travis Bell: (DT) Cleveland Browns
Kellen Diesch (OL) Seattle Seahawks
Corey Mayfield, Jr. (CB) Tennessee Titans
Tanner Brown: (K) New Orleans Saints
As of September 1st, these players have been waived by their NFL teams. However, not every team has filled their 16-member squad, deciding to keep a few slots open. There may still be opportunities for the unsigned players listed above to make their team's practice squad. Or, another team may acquire them as a free agent signing.
Once the season opens, roster positions become available as player injuries pile up. It's quite likely that more of these talented Kings players will find their way onto NFL rosters during the 2026 season.