John Parker Romo gives Vikings OT win with 29-yard FG (NFL.com)
Tryouts
In search of a new quarterback following the benching of starter Daniel Jones, the New York Giants tried out a few QBs on Tuesday, including QB/WR Alex McGough (Stallions). McGough, who was converted to receiver this summer by the Green Bay Packers, may have worked out at both positions.
A blast from the past resurfaced on Friday: K Jose Borregales (Orlando Guardians) was one of five kickers to try out for the New England Patriots. The Pats always had some off-the-wall players in to work out under Bill Belichick, and it appears even with him gone, that philosophy has stayed.
Transactions
The New York Jets waived DT Bruce Hector (Renegades) on Monday, before signing him to the practice squad Wednesday. He had to clear waivers before they could do so. Also on Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers re-signed LB Jonathan Garvin (Stallions) to his third stint on their practice squad this season. And WR Alex McGough (Stallions) was signed to the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers, one day after his tryout with the Giants. Green Bay already has a quarterback on the practice squad (Sean Clifford) so McGough is being brought in at receiver.
XFL
*The first game to feature true winter conditions happened on Thursday night, as the snow off of Lake Erie wreaked havoc on the kicking game for both Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Steelers LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) had the unenviable task of snapping off wet, snowy grounds. He did so with aplomb.
*Usually brought in as an extra blocker for short-yardage situations G Michael Dunn (Dragons) played seven snaps, but it wasn’t just short yardage: Two of the seven snaps he played were on 1st-and-10 situations. He did help block for a fourth down conversion and a goal-line touchdown run. Notably, when used as an extra blocker, he’s considered an eligible lineman and has to report to the official each time. We saw last year how tricky that can be.
*The kicking game of the Chicago Bears continued to be plagued by blocks, as Cairo Santos has another one knocked down on Sunday. The Bears will need to continue to work through the operation, which includes LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians).
*Opposing the Bears was K John Parker Romo (Brahmas), who turned out to be the hero. He was a perfect three-for-three on field goals (from 40, 26, and 29), with the last one counting as the game-winner in overtime. It was the first walk-off winner of his NFL career.
*While the Green Bay Packers hung 38 points on the reeling 49ers, P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) still managed four punts. He averaged 49.8 yards per punt and 38.5 net. His first punt came just inside plus territory before halftime, traveling 37 yards. The hangtime was 3.48 seconds with a net of only 24 yards. His second punt, at the end of the first drive of the second half, went 48 yards, a hangtime of 4.78 seconds. It was kicked to the 12 with a return to the 25, but a penalty on San Francisco knocked it back.
With one minute remaining in the third quarter, Whelan punted a third time, getting 59 yards on 4.60 hangtime. Coverage was spotty again, allowing a 20-yard return, but another penalty wiped out that run-back. His final punt came early in the fourth quarter, his best of the day. The kick went 51 yards with a 4.92 hangtime, fair caught at the 10-yard line.
*Used exclusively on special teams once again for Miami, S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) played 68% of the snaps there. He failed to register any statistics.
*Despite the absence of DT Greg Gaines due to injury, DT C.J. Brewer (Roughnecks) did not see his snap share increase significantly. He played eight snaps (14%) along the defensive line for Tampa Bay.
*On Monday Night Football, Baltimore QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) was idle as Lamar Jackson’s backup.
*It was another flawless performance from LS Nick Moore (Tampa Bay Vipers) of the Ravens in snapping the ball longer than normally snapped.
*Johnson won the battle of XFL backup quarterbacks over QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) of the Chargers, whose services, like Johnson’s, were not needed on MNF.
USFL
*For the second consecutive game, DT Khalil Davis (Stallions) was inactive for the 49ers, even as they were down a defensive tackle (Kevin Givens) due to injury.
*Snapping on five field goals, including two from beyond 50 yards, LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) also snapped on four punts for Denver in their win against Las Vegas.
*Elevated for the third time as a member of Miami’s practice squad, LS Tucker Addington (Gamblers) will need to be added to the team’s 53-man roster if they want to use him again next week. He made 11 snaps on Sunday for extra points, field goals, and punts.
*One assisted tackle was the final stat line for New England Patriots DE Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (Maulers), who participated in 29% of the team’s defensive snaps, down from 60% in week 11.
*The Dallas Cowboys won a wild one in the nation’s capital, aided by 24 third quarter points. After missing just two field goals all year through 10 weeks, K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) has now missed three in the past two weeks. Against Washington, he was two-for-four, with one blocked (from 35 yards out) and one banging off the right upright (from 42). He later connected from 46 and 48. Aubrey was also a perfect four-for-four on extra points. His kickoffs to open the second half fell short of the landing zone, resulting in a penalty.
*Some day, teams will learn not to kick to WR Kavontae Turpin (Generals). That day has not arrived. Turpin’s big play went viral, returning a kick 99 yards after he initially botched it, then avoided the first defender with a spin move. From there, he was off to the races. In total, he returned four kickoffs for 179 yards. In 2024, Turpin now has both a punt return touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown. He continues to struggle to find a role on offense, however, as he was targeted just once, catching his pass for eight yards. One punt was returned for negative two yards as well.
*In a secondary beset by injuries, CB Josh Butler (Panthers) was called upon to start for Dallas after recently being promoted from the practice squad. Butler led the team with 12 tackles, had a sack, and three passes defensed. In playing 87% of the snaps, and despite being targeted often, he was not penalized. Per Pro Football Focus’s advanced stats, Butler was targeted 12 times and gave up nine receptions for 87 yards.
*Carolina nearly pulled off the upset of the year against Kansas City, but alas, it was not to be. DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) started for the Panthers, making three tackles (one solo, two assists).
UFL
*In a battle of long snappers, LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas) and the Browns won out over Kuntz and the Steelers in a big upset. Sunahara faced the same challenging conditions that Kuntz did, and had the same level of success with his snaps.
*As the last lineman in the rotation, DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades) contributed one tackle to Minnesota’s win over Chicago in playing 21% of the defensive snaps.
*Continuing to be a stalwart on special teams, LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) played 68% of snaps there, and 29% of the snaps on defense for Denver. On defense, he left Vegas with two assisted tackles to his name.
*The last four field goals for K Jake Bates (Panthers) have come from beyond 50 yards. On Sunday for Detroit, he hit from 56, making him a perfect 16-for-16 on the season. He was also three-for-three on extra points.
