Jake Bates’s game-winning field goal for the Lions the biggest story for spring football players in NFL week seven

Tryouts

Monday brought about the first in-season workout for WR Maurice Alexander (Stars), as the Indianapolis Colts invited him in for a look-see. Alexander was in training camp with the Detroit Lions this year. P Brock Miller (Panthers) had visits on Tuesday and Friday, with the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers, respectively. Both of those teams faced lefty punters this weekend and Miller once again was brought in to provide that left-footed practice for the punt returners on those teams. It’s Miller’s second workout with the 49ers, as he also visited with them in August.

The Dallas Cowboys plucked DT Jalen Dalton (Brahmas) out of the mothballs on Tuesday for a workout. Dalton played seven games for San Antonio in 2024 but hadn’t received any NFL bites to this point. That could be owed to the fact that he ended the UFL season on injured reserve. It’s possible he’s just now getting healthy.

K Matt Coghlin (Showboats) was among three kickers the New York Jets worked out on Wednesday. After Greg Zuerlein missed two field goals in Monday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills (a game decided by three points), the Jets wanted to see what was on the market. None of the three were immediately signed, so it may have been just a warning shot for Zuerlein.

Transactions

Spring football players were all over the wire this past week. On Monday, the Broncos waived WR Kaden Davis (Panthers) from the practice squad. It’s the second time he’s been waived this season, lasting just six days this time around. Tuesday, DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades) signed to the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings. He was released the previous week after initially making the 53-man roster out of training camp.

Also on Tuesday, the Atlanta Falcons placed S Micah Abernathy (Gamblers) on injured reserve. This was expected after head coach Raheem Morris indicated that Abernathy would miss significant time after the injury he suffered in week six.

WR Deon Cain (Stallions) was let go from the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday. He first made the practice squad of the Bills out of camp but was shuffled off quickly. He signed with Carolina on August 30, so he had been with them all season to this point.

Though I don’t usually highlight the movement of UFL Rookie Draft picks here, this week was a particularly busy day of signings and releases featuring those 2025 draftees. On Tuesday alone, three UFL draft picks signed to practice squads: CB Miles Battle (Brahmas) with the New England Patriots; TE McCallan Castles (Showboats) with the Los Angeles Chargers; and OT Spencer Rolland (Renegades) with the Green Bay Packers. C Sincere Haynesworth (Brahmas) was bounced from a practice squad on Tuesday, by the Patriots. The movement continued on Thursday, when WR Ahmarean Brown (Stallions) was waived from the Bills’ practice squad and RB Blake Watson (Showboats) was jettisoned from the 53-man roster of the Broncos. C Andrew Raym (Showboats) met the same fate with the Carolina Panthers on Saturday.

After his workout, the Cowboys didn’t let DT Jalen Dalton (Brahmas) leave the building, officially signing him to their practice squad on Wednesday. The only spring football-related transaction on Thursday consisted of the Jets waiving C Alec Lindstrom (Showboats) from the practice squad after he had been signed eight days earlier. CB Nehemiah Shelton (Showboats) exited the practice squad of the Chargers on Saturday, bringing to an end his second stint there.

XFL

*Originally promoted from the practice squad due to injuries along the defensive line, Tampa Bay’s linemen have become healthy, leaving no room on the game day roster for DT CJ Brewer (Roughnecks). Therefore, he was made inactive on Monday night.

*Stepping in at left tackle during Sunday’s game for the Falcons was OT Storm Norton (Wildcats). He replaced starter Jake Matthews for 10 snaps on offense against the Seahawks. It was likely the final 10 snaps, which matches up to when QB Michael Penix entered in relief of starter Kirk Cousins with the game out of hand.

*LS Nick Moore (Tampa Bay Vipers) continued snapping on all long snaps for the Baltimore Ravens.

*Working in his second game of the season, QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) came on for the final three plays for the Ravens against the Bucs. He handed the ball off on all three plays after the two-minute warning.

*Having himself a day was Green Bay Packers P Daniel Whelan (Defenders). In total, he punted five times, averaging 56.8 yards per punt and a net of 51.6. His longest punt traveled 66 yards. Not only did the ball rocket off his foot against the Texans, he managed significant hang time on most of his punts as well. As the holder for field goals and extra points, Whelan was working with a new kicker, Brandon McManus, who was signed this week to replace rookie Brayden Narveson. McManus hit his lone field goal, the game-winner from 45 yards out as time expired. Whelan was forced to corral a low snap on that play. Counting training camp, McManus is the sixth kicker for whom Whelan has held.

*Continuing his exceptional snapping streak on the season was LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) of the Steelers, who has developed into one of the best in the league.

*Though rookie Zak Zinter is listed as the starting right guard on the team’s unofficial depth chart, G Michael Dunn (Dragons) drew his second start in a row at that position. He played all 84 offensive snaps.

*Active as the backup to Justin Herbert, QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) did not play for the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.

*Once again stepping in as the third safety with starter Jevon Holland down due to injury, S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) didn’t record any stats or defensive snaps, but as a gunner on punt coverage, he downed the first punt of the game at the Indianapolis 10-yard line. It was one of the 74% of special teams snaps in which he participated.

USFL

*LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) was the snapper on four field goals, three punts, and three extra points in the Broncos’ Thursday night blowout of the New Orleans Saints.

*After playing all six games for the Patriots to this point, DE Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (Maulers) was a healthy scratch for the team’s game in London.

*In a cross-conference battle, DT Khalil Davis (Stallions) failed to make the stat sheet for the Houston Texans against the Packers. He played 28% of defensive snaps and 21% of those on special teams.

*One of two running backs inactive for the Steelers on Sunday night, RB Aaron Shampklin (Gamblers) joined Cordarrelle Patterson on the bench against the Jets.

*Even with star QB Jayden Daniels missing most of the game due to injury on the other side, the Washington Commanders easily dispatched with DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) and the Carolina Panthers. Ray, who started the game along the defensive line, had four tackles (one solo, three assists) as the Commanders ran for over 200 yards against the Panthers defense. Second among defensive linemen in snaps with 62%, Ray also chipped in an additional 31% on special teams.

UFL

*Prior to Thursday night’s match-up with the Saints, the Broncos activated LB Baron Browning from injured reserve. That led LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) to take a seat, as he was inactive in the game.

*Snapping in his second regular season NFL regular season game, LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas) notched his first tackle, taking down the returner after a third quarter punt.

*One of Sunday’s stars was K Jake Bates (Panthers), who went viral all over UFL social media for his game-winning 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining. Bates made the kick twice, as the Vikings iced him the first time by calling timeout. It was Bates’s only field goal of the day to go along with four made extra points.

*Though he was waived from the 53-man roster prior to last week’s game, DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades) re-signed with the team’s practice squad this week and was elevated for Sunday’s game. He didn’t record any stats, however, and was in for only two snaps on defense all game.

Byes: Dallas Cowboys WR Kavontae Turpin (Generals) and K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions), Chicago Bears LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians)