Hector adds to spring football defensive line success this season, plus other spring football notes and stats from NFL week 18

Lions kicker Jake Bates drills clutch FG to close out half vs. Vikings

Tryouts

A first workout for DE Garrett Nelson (Brahmas) came just before the final weekend of NFL regular season play. The pass-rusher tried out for the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.

Transactions

The Cleveland Browns must’ve been satisfied with what they saw over the last week from K Dustin Hopkins, as they waived K Andre Szmyt (Battlehawks) from the practice squad on Tuesday. He lasted a week there. After working out for the team previously, the San Francisco 49ers signed G Zack Johnson (Stallions) to their practice squad, also on Tuesday.

A blast from the past resurfaced on Wednesday, as CB Luq Barcoo (Brahmas) was signed to the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys. Barcoo hadn’t even gotten so much as a workout since being waived by Pittsburgh in June. He was released with an injury designation at the time, so it’s possible he has just recently gotten healthy.

Friday, the Browns promoted WR Kaden Davis (Panthers) to their 53-man roster from the practice squad. He had signed with the team in early December. He was part of a group of players the Browns brought up for their final game.

More upgrades took place on Saturday: The 49ers signed LB DaShaun White (Panthers) to their active roster from the practice squad. White spent all season on San Fran’s practice squad without being elevated for any games, so this came as somewhat of a surprise. Not so much of a surprise was DT Bruce Hector (Renegades) being signed to the Jets’ active roster from the practice squad. This is Hector’s second stint there this season.

XFL

*Brought in as an extra blocker on three offensive plays, that was the extent of playing time for G Michael Dunn (Dragons) with the Browns, save for two additional snaps on special teams.

*Entering the game just prior to the two-minute warning on Baltimore’s final drive, QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) made three hand-offs before a punt late in the team’s victory over Cleveland.

*Putting in a full season after missing 2023 with a torn Achilles, LS Nick Moore (Tampa Bay Vipers) will head into the playoffs on a solid snapping streak with the Ravens.

*Whether it was the wind or the freezing temperatures, Pittsburgh LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) was not as automatic as usual. He had a few low snaps, one that was dropped by P Corliss Waitman, though he eventually got the kick off. On another punt snap, he was off-target, causing Waitman to have to adjust slightly to his right. Kuntz’s field goal snaps were on-point, however.

*It was an even-steven kind of afternoon for LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians) of the Chicago Bears: He made a tackle on special teams, but was also called for a false start.

*The Bears used some trickery to score a special teams touchdown against the Green Bay Packers, and unfortunately, P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) was the one whose numbers suffered for it. The Bears sent two returners back and faked that the ball was going to one of them on one side of the field when in reality, the punt was fielded on the other side by the second returner, who didn’t encounter much resistance in going 94 yards for the TD. It was one of three punts for Whelan, whose gross average was 44.3 yards, but because of the return touchdown and a touchback on another punt, his net average was 6.3 yards. On his first punt, Whelan muffed a bad snap from long snapper Matt Orzech before sending it 35 yards. All in all, an afternoon to forget for Green Bay’s special teams unit as a whole.

*While many playoff teams rested their key players, the Los Angeles Chargers were still competing for seeding in the post-season, so all of their starters played throughout. That included QB Justin Herbert, so QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) did not play.

*Straddling the line between active and inactive each week, DT CJ Brewer (Roughnecks) found himself on the “inactive” side of that line in week 18 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

*Back on the active roster to finish out the year, DT Bruce Hector (Renegades) had three tackles (two solo, one assist), a sack, and two tackles for loss. His sack came on the last play of the game, cleaning up a pressure by former first-round draft pick Solomon Thomas. It was Hector’s first sack of the year, giving him 1.5 for his career. He played on 34% of the defensive snaps for the Jets.

*Making one assisted tackle on the afternoon was S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) for the Miami Dolphins. The tackle came on one of his three defensive snaps, while also seeing the field on 62% of special teams plays.

*Though the Atlanta Falcons were not playing for a playoff berth, OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) was still relegated to special teams only, seeing seven snaps on that unit.

*Playing one snap on offense was WR Chris Blair (Defenders) for the Falcons, adding seven snaps on special teams.

USFL

*Showing explosive traits in his first NFL regular season game, WR Kaden Davis (Panthers) handled kick returns for the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. He returned three for 107 yards, averaging over 35 yards per run back. In his one year with the Michigan Panthers, Davis finished second on the team in kick returns. Though he played on offense, he was a non-factor in the passing game, with zero targets on 25% of offensive snaps. Davis added 44% of the snaps on special teams as well, playing the role of gunner on punt coverage.

*For the second time this year, DT Domenique Davis (Gamblers) was elevated from the practice squad by the Cincinnati Bengals, this time to play his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. And for the second time, Davis was active but did not see any action.

*Against a Buffalo Bills team sitting the majority of its starters, DE Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (Maulers) managed three tackles (two solo, one assist) for the New England Patriots in what turned out to be Jerod Mayo’s final game as the team’s head coach, as he was dismissed Sunday evening.

*The Denver Broncos left the regular season on a high note, delivering only the second loss of the season to a Kansas City Chiefs team that had already secured the number one seed in the playoffs. LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) did all of the long snapping for the Broncos.

*Earning the starting nod for the Carolina Panthers’ 17th game, DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) did not make the stat sheet. He led all Panthers linemen in playing 66% of defensive snaps.

*Named to his second Pro Bowl earlier in the week, Dallas Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) showed how wise that decision was as he hit four field goals (from 34, 41, 36 and 22) as well as one extra point.

*Another Cowboys Pro Bowler, WR KaVontae Turpin (Generals) finished third on the team with five targets, catching three passes for 53 yards, among the a long gain of 33 yards. He saw an increase in his offensive snaps, playing 50%, good for third among Dallas receivers. Turpin also ran it once for five yards. On special teams, he returned one punt for three yards and one kickoff for 30 yards.

*It was a disappointing end to the season for DT Khalil Davis (Stallions). After a trade from Houston to San Francisco, Davis found himself on the gameday inactive list more often than not. Week 18 was one of the “more often” situations.

UFL

*Finishing out the season for the Browns, LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas) capped his first year with a solid day of snapping against the Ravens.

*Broncos LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) had a solo tackle and a quarterback hit on Sunday against the Chiefs in 44% of defensive snaps and 61% of special teams snaps.

*Ending the season on a quiet note, WR Kevin Austin, Jr. (Stallions) saw one target, catching it for 13 yards for the New Orleans Saints. That was in playing 55% of offensive snaps and 21% of special teams snaps.

*Playing in his first pro game after a promotion to the active roster, LB DaShaun White (Panthers) played four snaps on special teams.

*The most action DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades) saw in Minnesota’s important Sunday night matchup with Detroit came when DT Harrison Phillips was hurt in the third quarter. Redmond entered the game as his replacement, registering an assisted tackle on the very next play. He took part in 38% of the snaps on defense.

*While the game was still up for grabs, K Jake Bates (Panthers) connected on an important 48-yard field goal just before halftime for the Lions. They took control in the second half and Bates added four extra points on four tries.