Adrian Martinez’s surprise elevation, Turpin’s increased playing time among notable spring footballers in NFL week five

Tryouts

In his first tryout since being released by the New England Patriots on cut-down day, S AJ Thomas (Stallions) worked out for the Washington Commanders on Tuesday. The team ended up signing another safety from the same tryout, Sheldrick Redwine.

Transactions

On an active transaction Tuesday, the Denver Broncos released WR Kaden Davis (Panthers) from their practice squad. He had signed with them on September 11 after spending training camp with the Detroit Lions. Similarly, DT Matthew Gotel (Brahmas) was let go from the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks. He lasted about a week there.

In more positive spring football transaction news, Wednesday brought the re-signing of LB Jonathan Garvin (Stallions) to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. He was initially signed to start the season but was released soon after. RB Aaron Shampklin (Gamblers) was promoted to the active roster from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. Finally on Wednesday, G Michael Dunn (Dragons) was designated to return from the reserve/Non-football illness list. He was activated on Saturday.

XFL

*On the losing end of a thrilling Thursday night tilt, Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT CJ Brewer (Roughnecks) saw defensive action on 16% of the snaps. Though initially credited with an assisted tackle on a play, that was later removed upon review, leaving him stat-less on the night.

*The return to health of OT Kaleb McGary after missing just one game meant that OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) returned to the bench. He played nine special teams snaps, none on offense for the Atlanta Falcons.

*With starting S Jordan Poyer out injured, S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) moved up to Miami’s third safety on the game day depth chart. He ended the game as safety number two when starter Jevon Holland departed in the fourth quarter with what was later diagnosed as a broken bone in his hand. In place of Holland, Campbell made two tackles, including a tackle for loss, on a pass from Jacoby Brissett to Demario Douglas that lost a yard. He totaled 27% of the defensive snaps, while maintaining a strong presence on special teams to the tune of 69% of the snaps there.

*LS Nick Moore (Tampa Bay Vipers) handled all long snapping duties for the Baltimore Ravens, including on the game-winning 24-yard field goal by Justin Tucker in overtime.

*It’s been five games, five DNPs for Ravens backup QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats).

*Continuing his fill-in long snapping duties with the Chicago Bears, LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians) snapped on all punts, extra points, and field goal attempts.

*The stat line for P Daniel Whlean (Defenders) was a little anemic – five punts for a 37.2 gross and net, just one punt landing inside the 20 – so let’s dig into those numbers with some film. Something to keep in mind: The main punt returner for the Los Angeles Rams, Xavier Smith, had returned two punts for 55 yards this season. It’s possible the edict was to limit his return opportunities which, if that was the case, job well done as Smith accumulated no return yardage.

Whelan’s first punt wasn’t available to chart because the game in my area was joined in progress due to a late early game. His second punt, on the third try because of penalties, had a hang time of less than four seconds. Punt number three, in the second quarter, was much better, with a hang time of 4.68 seconds, despite traveling just 39 yards. His fourth punt wasn’t until the fourth quarter, after a 15-play drive. From the Los Angeles 41-yard line, it was Whelan’s best punt of the game, a hang time of 4.33 seconds landing into Smith’s arms at the nine-yard line. Whelan’s final punt was just 28 yards, a hang time over 5.00 seconds, but it didn’t get the bounce he was looking for.

*Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman faced a rush all night from the Dallas Cowboys, but he was able to get all of his kicks off unbothered. LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) was responsible for getting the snaps back in a timely manner to help negate that rush. Kuntz also had to deal with snapping a wet ball because of the downpour that delayed the start of the Sunday night game.

*Playing in his first game since being activated from the non-football illness list, G Michael Dunn (Dragons) was eased into action by playing three special teams snaps for the Cleveland Browns, none on offense.

USFL

*On special teams for the Atlanta Falcons, S Micah Abernathy (Gamblers) made a tackle on a long kickoff return, jumping on the back of Sean Tucker to bring him down in the second quarter. He was credited with an assisted tackle on the play, the only one he had on the evening. Abernathy tied for the team lead in playing 72% of special teams snaps.

*Dallas K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) proved to be human, getting a 38-yard field goal attempt blocked on Sunday night against Pittsburgh. It was blocked at the line, indicating a low trajectory. However, that was only after he drilled a 55-yarder. He also made one from 33 in the Cowboys’ victory.

*WR Brandin Cooks was placed on injured reserve this week, opening up more opportunities on offense for WR Kavontae Turpin (Generals). He rushed one time for a loss of six and also caught four passes for 50 yards in playing a season-high 22 snaps (29%). Turpin took his lone kickoff return back for 38 yards. An interesting wrinkle used by Dallas is to have Turpin as the sole returner in place, whereas most have two. Dallas may have felt teams were strategically kicking away from Turpin to neutralize his skills in that facet of the game.

*Taking over number two running back duties in place of the injured Jaylen Warren, RB Aaron Shampklin (Gamblers) ran four times for 14 yards (3.5 avg.). Shampklin was tasked with getting the Steelers out of the shadow of their own end zone with three straight runs at the end of the first half. He also returned four kickoffs for 101 yards (25.3 avg.). Shampklin played on 19% of the offensive snaps.

*It was a quiet Sunday afternoon for DE Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (Maulers). He didn’t make the stat sheet for the New England Patriots in their loss to the Miami Dolphins, playing in 27% of the defensive snaps.

*Starting in Carolina’s 3-3-5 defensive alignment, DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) had only a single assisted tackle against the Chicago Bears in 69% of the snaps, despite Chicago running the ball more than 30 times.

*Seeing the field on 11 snaps for the Denver Broncos was LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers): Two field goals, three extra points and six punts.

*In a wild 23-20 victory for the Houston Texans over the Buffalo Bills, DT Khalil Davis (Stallions) managed two solo tackles, including a sack of QB Josh Allen. His tackles came on back-to-back plays with Buffalo in the red zone on their second drive of the first quarter. Davis saw action on 36% of the defensive plays.

UFL

*It was seen by many as a curious decision that QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions) would be elevated off the practice squad for the New York Jets’ game against the Minnesota Vikings in London. Even more curious is that Martinez was active and not designated as the emergency third quarterback. Starter Aaron Rodgers had some knee issues during the week but didn’t require an injury report designation. Rodgers did get banged up during the game, but didn’t miss a snap. There was a thought that being active meant the Jets would have a package of plays that would feature Martinez, but alas, he did not play.

*After two weeks of being active and playing for the Minnesota Vikings, DT Jalen Redmond (Renegades) was back to being inactive for the NFL’s first game of the season overseas.

*Active but without a significant impact on the game was LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) for the Broncos. Tillman played 24% of defensive snaps and 47% on special teams.

Byes: Detroit Lions K Jake Bates (Panthers), Los Angeles Chargers QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks)