Special teamers keep former XFL players relevant in NFL week five

Ex- New York Guardians Scott Daly snapped without incident for the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Tryouts: A new name has entered the tryout competition: G Kahlil McKenzie (Vipers) worked out for the New England Patriots on Tuesday. McKenzie started the first three games at center for Vegas in 2023 before getting injured and spending the rest of the season on IR. This was his first reported NFL workout of the season. McKenzie has 12 games of NFL experience to his name during his career. Unofficially, he is the 113th XFL 2023 player to receive an NFL tryout since the close of the XFL season.

Earning his second workout since being released from the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints on September 12, WR Jontre Kirklin (Roughnecks) tried out for the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday. He had previously worked out for the Houston Texans on September 26.

Transactions: For the last two weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals kept two quarterbacks on their practice squad. That ended on Monday when they released QB Reid Sinnett (Brahmas). This leaves the Bengals with third-string QB and former St. Louis Battlehawk AJ McCarron on the practice squad.

Two wide receivers were released from practice squads on Tuesday in WR Marcell Ateman (Battlehawks) by the Buffalo Bills and WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks) by the Denver Broncos. Bandy was re-signed by the Broncos to their practice squad the next day.

*Acting as the third quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) appeared on the team’s inactive list for week five.

*For the third straight game since signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, RB Godwin Igwebuike (Dragons) was a healthy inactive.

*Steelers LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) got on the stat sheet for the first time this year, registering an assisted tackle on special teams.

*The other end of the Steelers punting battery, P Brad Wing (Brahmas), was elevated from the practice squad for the second time to punt with Pressley Harvin still nursing a hamstring injury. A player can be elevated from the practice squad three times before he would need to be signed to the active roster to play again. Wing punted six times for a 42.8 per punt average. His net was only 37.3, thanks in part to a touchback on a punt of 42 yards. He landed two punts inside the 20.

*LS Scott Daly (Guardians) snapped without incident for the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

*Active on special teams once again, S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) made a tackle on the third unit for the Miami Dolphins against the New York Giants. Campbell played 81% of the special teams snaps but did not appear on defense.

*In the Atlanta Falcons’ come-from-behind win over the Houston Texans, QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) did not play as backup to Desmond Ridder.

*When Falcons RT Kaleb McGary went down with an injury in the third quarter, OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) was brought in as his replacement. Norton played the rest of the game at the position, amounting to 53% of the offensive snaps of the game. McGary’s injury doesn’t appear serious, and Atlanta Head Coach Arthur Smith had praise for Norton on Monday: “Storm comes in there, doesn’t flinch…(H)e didn’t blink, and played pretty good football for him and helped us win.”

*On Monday night football, P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) punted four times for a 46.0 average. He had just one punt end up inside the 20 but perhaps just as importantly, only had one punt returned – and for just six yards, leaving his net average at a pristine 44.5. Aside from a wounded duck that went just 41 yards for his second punt, Whelan was impressive for the second week in a row for the Green Bay Packers.

Byes: Cleveland Browns G Michael Dunn (Dragons), Los Angeles Chargers TE Donald Parham (Renegades)