Tryouts
No tryouts involving spring football players were reported – for the third week in a row.
Transactions
Tuesday was a rough day for spring football players in the NFL. LB Garrett Nelson (Brahmas) was released from the practice squad of the Denver Broncos. The New York Jets waived WR Brandon Smith (Defenders) from their active roster after just promoting him from the practice squad a few days earlier. However, he was re-signed to the practice squad on Thursday.
At the end of training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers placed DT Domenique Davis (Gamblers) on injured reserve. Almost two months to the day he was placed on IR, Davis was released with an injury settlement, making him a free agent. Finally on Tuesday, RB Jashaun Corbin (Brahmas) was placed on practice squad IR by the New England Patriots, a case of unfortunate timing as the Patriots were in the market for a running back due to injuries suffered at the position. They ended up signing two to their practice squad this week and another to their 53-man roster.
After being let go by the San Francisco 49ers at final cuts in August, LB Jonathan Garvin (Stallions) resurfaced on Wednesday, signing with the practice squad of the Chicago Bears.
XFL
*Due to injuries in the secondary, S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) got his most extensive playing time of the season on defense for Miami, appearing in 23% of the snaps. He also contributed on 79% of special teams snaps, though his name does not appear on the stat sheet.
*Though he didn’t record a tackle in Baltimore’s Thursday night tilt with Miami, LS Nick Moore (TB Vipers) did miss a tackle along the sidelines on punt returner Malik Washington for what turned out to be a 35-yard return.
*Green Bay scored just 13 points against Carolina; however, despite the low point output, P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) did not punt on the afternoon. His role on Sunday was relegated to holding on field goals and extra points.
*Finding himself fourth on the depth chart at one of Atlanta’s defensive line positions, DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) was moved into active duty for the first time since week four because of injuries to two of those ahead of him in the lineup, Ta’Quon Graham and Zach Harrison. London did not disappoint with five tackles (four solo, one assist) and two sacks, including a forced fumble on one of those sacks. He saw significant playing time to the tune of 41% of the team’s defensive snaps. It was a deep and frequent rotation for Atlanta as no linemen had more than a 70% snap share.
*It was a heartbreaker for the Atlanta Falcons and K Parker Romo (Brahmas). Romo made a 38-yard field goal and two extra points. But with under five minutes remaining, Romo missed a point-after that would’ve tied the game at 24. Atlanta did have one additional possession but could not score, losing by that one point.
*Pittsburgh stopped Indianapolis’s momentum on Sunday. For the Steelers, LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) handled all snapping duties with no issues.
*In a wild Chicago win over Cincinnati, LS Scott Daly (NY Guardians) snapped on all kicks and punts for the victors, the Bears.
*A gruesome dislocated elbow suffered by QB Jayden Daniels in a blowout loss to Seattle Sunday night is expected to sideline him for the foreseeable future. Though he was the emergency third quarterback for Washington on Sunday, expect QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) to be active as the backup moving forward.
*Elevated from the practice squad for the first time this year and seeing regular season action for the first time since 2023 was WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks), who to this point has been on Denver’s practice squad all season. Bandy caught one pass for 16 yards in six offensive snaps and handled punt return duties, taking back four for 30 yards (7.5 average) with a long return of 12. He returned punts in place of Marvin Mims, the usual returner, who was inactive due to injury.
USFL
*One rush for three yards and two receptions for 10 yards was the stat line for WR KaVontae Turpin (Generals) on Monday night. He also returned one punt for six yards for Dallas and six kickoffs for 151 yards (25.2 average) with a long of 36. He played just 19% of the offensive snaps.
*Jacksonville’s Cam Little set an NFL record for longest field goal on Sunday at 68 yards. One day later, K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) attempted to tie that record. Unfortunately, his kick from 68 sailed wide left. He hit a chip shot from 26 later in the game for Dallas and both of his extra point tries were true.
*In Carolina’s upset of Green Bay, DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) played but recorded no stats. He was down to just five snaps on defense, a season-low since he was activated from injured reserve.
*Part of the battery that contributed to the game-winning 34-yard field goal with no time left, LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) also made a tackle on punt coverage for Denver, though he received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on that very play.
*A blocked kick loomed large for Detroit’s K Jake Bates (Panthers), as the Lions lost to NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings by just three points. He hit a field goal from 41 but had a 45-yarder blocked with just over six minutes remaining in the game. The block may have been the result of a low kick as the defender didn’t have to leap very high to get a full mitt on it. Bates did hit all three extra points and make an assisted tackle on a kickoff return.
*Nothing if not consistent, almost all the kickoff returns by RB Jacob Saylors (Battlehawks) of Detroit came out to the 29 or 30-yard line. He returned six kicks for 170 yards (28.3 average) with a long of 39. He made an assisted tackle on special teams but perhaps his most important contribution was being held on a kick return touchdown by the Vikings, nullifying the TD. Saylors was a part of 63% of special teams snaps on the afternoon.
*One of the heroes from Detroit’s win two weeks ago, CB Nick Whiteside (Battlehawks) didn’t see as much playing time this week – he had one assisted tackle on his lone snap on defense when he subbed in for the injured Amik Robertson. Robertson quickly returned to the game. On special teams, Whiteside took part in 30% of the snaps.
*Making his mark on defense and special teams for Denver, LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) had a half sack as part of two assisted tackles. His sack came on the final play from scrimmage before halftime. He also had two tackles on special teams (one solo, one assist). One came on kick coverage, one on punt coverage. He played 38% of defensive snaps but 73% on special teams.
*QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions) got into his first regular season NFL game on the final play for San Francisco in their 34-24 win over the New York Giants. After three consecutive handoffs, he was brought in for the final kneel-down. He spent the game backing up Mac Jones, once again starting in place of the injured Brock Purdy. Jones spoke about the moment, subbing himself out so Martinez could have his first game action, afterward.
*Minnesota’s sack leader, DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades), added his fourth against Detroit, cleaning up a successful rush by a teammate. Redmond had three tackles (one solo, two assists) in addition to the sack. He was a workhorse on Sunday, playing on 91% of the snaps, a high number for a defensive lineman as Minnesota leans on him more and more.
*Interestingly, even with Brandon McManus healthy and having kicked the previous week, Green Bay kept K Lucas Havrisik (Renegades) on the roster for another week. Though he was inactive in week nine, McManus missed a 43-yard field goal after missing two the week before in his return. Perhaps the Packers are keeping Havrisik for insurance, perhaps as a trade chip with the trade deadline coming up on Tuesday. His role should become clearer this week.
Byes: Cleveland Browns K Andre Szmyt (Battlehawks) and LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas), Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT C.J. Brewer (Roughnecks)
