Tryouts
A couple of former XFL players worked out for NFL teams on Monday. RB Devin Darrington (Guardians) tried out for the Atlanta Falcons. This was Darrington’s third NFL workout since the end of the XFL season in May, though he has yet to sign a contract with a team. In seven games with the Orlando Guardians, Darrington averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns.
In a blast from the XFL past, TE Connor Davis (Battlehawks) worked out for the Baltimore Ravens, one of four tight ends to be put through the paces by Baltimore’s staff. Davis was part of the 2020 St. Louis Battlehawks team, though he played in just one game. The Stony Brook product also played in the AAF in 2019 and the USFL in 2022. This was not Davis’s first workout with the Ravens, as he attended their June minicamp as a tryout player as well.
Transactions
A torn ligament in his right wrist ended the season of Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow on Thursday night. Backup Jake Browning will lead the team the rest of the way, with former Battlehawk AJ McCarron likely to get promoted from the practice squad this weekend to serve as the second-string.
On Monday, the Bengals brought back QB Drew Plitt (Renegades), signing him to the practice squad as the third QB. Plitt was in training camp with the Bengals in 2022, but did not even earn a try out with a team after the most recent XFL season. Notable that Cincinnati went with Plitt instead of Reid Sinnett, who appeared briefly with the team this summer and spent just over a week on the practice squad in September.
It was a happy Thanksgiving for DT Bruce Hector (Renegades), as he signed back onto the Houston Texans’ practice squad on Thursday. This is his second stint with the team in 2023, having spent two weeks on the practice squad in September. Hector sandwiched a six-day stay on the practice squad of the New York Jets in between opportunities with the Texans.
Performances
*Green Bay Packers P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) has now strung together two strong games in a row. On Thanksgiving day, he punted four times for 152 yards for a gross and net average of 38.0. That may not seem like a lot, but all four of his punts landed inside the 20 and none were returned. He also punted all four times from plus territory. A detailed look at each one:
-1st punt: From Detroit’s 45-yard line, just before halftime the kick traveled 34 yards and was fair caught at the 16. Hand-timed hangtime was 4.50.
-2nd punt: From Detroit’s 47, midway through the third quarter. The ball bounced at the five and was saved from going into the end zone by coverage man Robert Rochell, who batted it back into the field of play where it was downed at the three by Zayne Anderson. That’s a gross and net of 44 yards, with a hangtime of 4.80.
-3rd punt: From Detroit’s 48 early in the fourth quarter. Fair caught at the nine, 39 yards gross and net, and a hangtime of 4.43.
-4th punt: From Detroit’s 42 with under 3:00 to go in game. Kick went 33 yards, fair caught again at the nine yard-line.
*Playing in the NFL’s first Black Friday game, S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) saw some garbage time on defense for the Miami Dolphins as they pulled away from the New York Jets late in the fourth quarter He played 10 snaps on defense (17%) and 71% of the special teams snaps. Campbell even had an opportunity for an interception on a Tim Boyle deep ball that went astray – he got his fingertips on it but it was just out of reach.
*A bye week was just what the doctor ordered for QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) to return to health and return to his original role as backup QB for the Atlanta Falcons. He did not play against the New Orleans Saints.
*Continuing to see action on special teams only in his swing tackle role, OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) played four snaps on ST for the Falcons.
*A gameday elevation for the first time this season, WR Chris Blair (Defenders) suited up for the Falcons. He played 15% of the offensive snaps and 42% of the special teams snaps, though he did not register any statistics. He took the place of WR Mack Hollins, who was out this week with an ankle injury.
*Lost in the shuffle of all of the XFL player movement from 2020 and 2023 has been S Micah Abernathy (Renegades) of the Falcons (h/t to Patrick Rifino for pointing him out to me). Abernathy played five games for Dallas in XFL 2020, then went on to the USFL in 2022. He was on Atlanta’s practice squad this season before signing to the active roster in October. He has played in six games this year, making five tackles. Against New Orleans, he played exclusively on special teams, seeing action on 83% of the snaps there.
*Active for the first time since week nine, RB Godwin Igwebuike (Dragons) played 58% of the special teams snaps for the Pittsburgh Steelers, none on offense.
*LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) snapped on all punts and field goals/extra points for the Steelers.
*With starting QB Joe Burrow out for the season, QB AJ McCarron (Battlehawks) was a gameday elevation for the Cincinnati Bengals. It was his first of the year. He’ll back up Jake Browning for the rest of the year, so Cincinnati is currently playing roster games by elevating him from the practice squad rather than signing him to the active roster. That will come eventually.
*Taking over his role as the extra blocker on offense, G Michael Dunn (Dragons) played seven offensive snaps compared to just five for Nick Harris, who had taken on that job when Dunn was on injured reserve. Dunn also played two snaps on special teams.
*A concussion knocked QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson out of the Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos game at the end of the third quarter. That brought QB PJ Walker (Roughnecks) back onto the field. Already down two scores, and without Cleveland’s top receiver in Amari Cooper (rib), Walker couldn’t put any points on the board. He was 6-of-13 passing for 56 yards. He also took four sacks in just one quarter of play.
*With starting TE Gerald Everett back in action, TE Donald Parham (Renegades) resumed his role as second tight end, playing 42% of the snaps on offense. It was the rare occasion when Parham did not see any targets in the pass game.
*QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) was inactive as the Baltimore Ravens’ emergency third quarterback.
*A gameday elevation for the injured LB Noah Sewell, LB DeMarquis Gates (Roughnecks) played 70% of special teams snaps for the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. He did not make any tackles. This was Gates’s third elevation; he will now have to pass through waivers or be signed to the active roster to play again.
