LaBryan Ray's continued production, Brandon Aubrey going for distance and more from spring football players in NFL week nine

Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) kicks a field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images (cowboyswire)

Tryouts

Following another difficult performance by Greg Zuerlein in week eight, the New York Jets hosted several kickers on Monday. Among them was K Andre Szmyt (Battlehawks). Zuerlein was placed on injured reserve this week and the Jets signed two kickers from that tryout – Szmyt not being one of them. Interestingly, the Jets hosted a tryout for three kickers two weeks ago and brought two of them back for a second look at the most recent one. The third, Matt Coghlin of the Memphis Showboats, was the only one of the three not to be brought back.

At this time of the season, NFL teams always seem to be desperate for offensive line depth. That search led the Washington Commanders to work out OT Julien Davenport (Brahmas), also on Monday. He was one of three offensive tackles to work out, with the team opting to sign veteran Bobby Hart.

Transactions

Lasting about a month on the team’s practice squad, the Indianapolis Colts waived DT Josiah Bronson (Showboats) on Monday. He’ll seek to make the rounds on the tryout circuit, looking for another opportunity in the second half of the NFL season.

WR Marcus Simms (Panthers) had quietly been stashed on the injured reserve list of the Seattle Seahawks since final cuts at the end of August. He was finally waived from IR on Monday. Once he is healthy, he could end up trying out for receiver-needy teams. He’d also likely be welcomed back by his UFL team if he finds no NFL takers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reorganized their running back depth chart. On Wednesday, they re-signed RB Aaron Shampklin (Gamblers) to the practice squad after recently releasing him from the active roster in favor of RB Jonathan Ward. The Steelers chose Shampklin over La’Mical Perine at that position on the practice squad: Perine was waived to make room for Shampklin’s signing.

Just prior to kickoff of Thursday Night Football, the Jets signed C Alec Lindstrom (Showboats) to the active roster, promoting him from the practice squad. This after he was a practice squad elevation the previous weekend. WR Deon Cain (Stallions) resurfaced on Thursday, signing with the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. This stint with Buffalo’s practice squad has already lasted longer than the one day he spent there before week one.

XFL

*Limited to four special teams snaps was OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) of the Atlanta Falcons.

*Though he had a tackle on punt coverage erased by a penalty, LS Nick Moore (Tampa Bay Vipers) continued to perform admirably as long snapper for the Baltimore Ravens.

*In mop-up duty, QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) played the final two offensive series’ in a Ravens blowout, contributing three rushes that were glorified kneel-downs to the stat sheet.

*Called upon for two punts on Sunday by the Green Bay Packers, P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) aced them both, landing one at the nine-yard line and one at the 12. He finished with a gross and net average of 42.0, not allowing a return on either kick. After finishing 30th in the league in net punting last year, Whelan sits eighth overall this year.

*For the first time this year, Cleveland Browns G Michael Dunn (Dragons) revived his 2023 role as an extra blocker on offense, playing two snaps there on Sunday in addition to his usual special teams work on the field goal team.

*The Los Angeles Chargers did not require the services of QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) on Sunday, though he was active as the backup quarterback.

*S Jevon Holland missed another game for the Miami Dolphins, but once again it didn’t mean an increase in defensive snaps for S Elijah Campbell (Defenders). He had an unremarkable day in seeing one play on defense and 52% on special teams, curiously, the lowest percentage of special teams snaps he’s played this year.

*LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians) handled all long snaps for the Chicago Bears without incident.

*In an overtime battle with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT C.J. Brewer (Roughnecks) played 32% of snaps with fellow DT Greg Gaines still sidelined by injury. Brewer was in as early as the third snap of the game for a 3rd down short yardage play. He managed one assisted tackle on the evening and was called for an offsides in the fourth quarter.

USFL

*In a reserve role on Thursday night, DT Khalil Davis (Stallions) continued to provide valuable relief for the starters along the defensive line of the Houston Texans. He was active for 26% of defensive snaps, adding one assisted tackle to the effort.

*On the wrong side of a 41-10 score, LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) had a quiet day for the Denver Broncos.

*Returning to a reserve role after starting last week, DE Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (Maulers) picked up a QB hit in playing 30% of defensive snaps for the New England Patriots.

*Of the spring football defensive linemen, DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) has been the most active week-in and week-out. Though he came off the bench, Ray had five tackles (two solo, three assists) as the Carolina Panthers picked up their second win of the season. He played nearly half (49%) of the defensive snaps, good for fourth of seven defensive linemen who suited up for Carolina.

*After hitting 10 field goals from 50 yards or beyond last season, K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) is already up to nine this season. Against Atlanta, the Dallas Cowboys kicker was 2-for-2 on field goals, good from 34 and 57, and 1-for-1 on extra points. All four of his kickoffs were returned (not counting an onsides kick), and the gambit paid off as on three of those four, Atlanta started with worse field position than they would have had Aubrey boomed touchbacks.

*Already struggling on offense, the Cowboys will be without QB Dak Prescott for a few weeks due to injury. We’ll see how that affects WR Kavontae Turpin (Generals), who had three catches for 36 yards on four targets on Sunday. He also returned three punts for 37 yards and one kick return for 28 yds. Turpin played 22% of offensive snaps and 38% on special teams.

*Elevated for the first time this year after spending the first eight weeks on the practice squad, Cowboys CB Josh Butler (Panthers) did not play on defense, but was on the field for 46% of the special teams snaps.

UFL

*Active but not seeing any game action in week eight, C Alec Lindstrom (Showboats) was again active in week nine after being signed to the active roster. This time, he did see the field, albeit on just three special teams snaps. Nevertheless, it was the first regular season game played in his career. Per Pat Rifino, Lindstrom is the first Showboats player in this iteration of the franchise to play in an NFL game.

*Playing just 13% of the snaps on defense for the Minnesota Vikings, DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades) made them count. His one tackle came on a screen that he blew up for a four-yard loss, fighting off the blocks of both right guard Dalton Tucker and right tackle Braden Smith to bring down Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.

*For the third consecutive game, LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) was a healthy inactive for the Denver Broncos.

*Playing in Lambeau Field was expected to be a real test for K Jake Bates (Panthers) – domes have been a safe haven for him in both the UFL and NFL. However, he looked comfortable with a 27-yard field goal for the Detroit Lions, adding three extra points on three tries.

*A discreet afternoon is just how long snappers like it. And so it was for Browns LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas).

Bye: Pittsburgh Steelers LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades)