Pita Taumoepenu as a Vegas Viper. Largely a stand-up rusher in Vegas, Taumoepenu mostly played in a three-point stance in New York’s 4-3 defense, rushing from the wide-nine position.
Week one of the NFL preseason is in the books, marking the first time since the XFL season that players from that league were able to show out in game action. Here are some notable performances from them this weekend:
*On Thursday night, eyes of XFL fans were on the Minnesota vs. Seattle game to see RB Abram Smith (Defenders). Smith ended the night with seven carries for 18 yards (2.6 yards per carry). He also played on special teams, something he may not be accustomed to but is a skillset he’ll have to show to make a team. Smith out-snapped rookie seventh-round pick DeWayne McBride 25-11. Smith is likely battling McBride for the last RB spot. Smith’s XFL teammate in Minnesota, WR Lucky Jackson (Defenders), did not play.
*Many starters and key reserves along the defensive line sat out the opener for the New York Giants. That led to extensive playing time for DT Kobe Smith (Brahmas), who led the team in defensive snaps. The resting starters didn’t result in more playing time for DT Kevin Atkins (Battlehawks) – he played just 10 defensive snaps, all in the fourth quarter.
*It appears that Riley Patterson has inched ahead of K Parker Romo (Brahmas) for the kicker job in Detroit. Patterson may have increased that lead against the Giants. Both made short field goals, but Romo botched the second half kickoff that bounced around the field of play before going out of bounds. Perhaps he thought he was still playing by XFL kickoff rules.
*From XFL 2020, DB Saivion Smith (Roughnecks) mostly played safety in game one. He played the second-most defensive snaps of any Lion, and led the team in special teams snaps.
*Another special teams battle takes place in Green Bay, where Pat O’Donnell tries to fend off P Daniel Whelan (Defenders). O’Donnell’s one punt traveled 60 yards, but he out-kicked his coverage. Whelan had two punts for minimal return yardage, though he didn’t get the same distance that O’Donnell did. Consider week one a draw, which likely favors the incumbent O’Donnell.
*QB Reid Sinnett (Brahmas) did not play for Cincinnati against Green Bay. He joined starter Joe Burrow on the sidelines, while Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning handled QB duties during the game.
*Falcons S Lukas Denis (Battlehawks) picked off a pass against Miami. It was one of three Atlanta interceptions on the evening.
*Denis wasn’t the only former XFL player to make an impact for the Falcons. RB Godwin Igwebuike (Dragons), a late arrival to training camp, ran 13 times for 70 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a kickoff for 24 yards and made a tackle on special teams coverage.
*Miami started three XFL alums on defense: S Elijah Campbell (Defenders),CB Bryce Thompson (Sea Dragons) and LB Mike Rose (Battlehawks). Like many teams in week one, the Dolphins opted to rest its key players. Rose played all four quarters and was active with four tackles, while also getting defenders lined up pre-snap.
*Pittsburgh gave the game to its backup specialists as starters P Pressley Harvin III, K Chris Boswell, and LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) all sat out. That meant LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas) snapped on all punts and kicks. He handled each one cleanly.
*The Steelers were one of the few teams to play many of its starters on offense and defense in week one, resulting in WR Hakeem Butler (Battlehawks) not seeing the field until the fourth quarter. He ended up with one catch for 17 yards on two targets. DBs Kenny Robinson (Battlehawks) and Luq Barcoo (Brahmas) both played in excess of 40% of the defensive snaps, with Robinson garnering the start at safety.
*Buccaneers DT CJ Brewer (Roughnecks) made the most of his 24 snaps, dropping Steelers RB Greg Bell for a loss of yardage on one of them.
*With a new head coach and a new offense, Denver kept its first-team offense – including QB Russell Wilson – in the game until midway through the second quarter. QB Ben DiNucci (Sea Dragons) was the third QB to enter the game for the Broncos and played all of the fourth quarter, which amounted to just two series. He finished 7-of-9 passing for 57 yards and engineered an 87-yard drive that led to the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Two of his completions were to another former XFL player – WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks).
*The best quarterback in the XFL in 2020, QB PJ Walker (Roughnecks) is now backing up Justin Fields in Chicago. He uncorked a wild throw for his first pass, getting picked off by Tre Avery of Tennessee. He settled down after that though he was just 4-of-8 passing for 19 yards before giving way to Nathan Peterman in the third quarter.
*XFL champion DT Bruce Hector (Renegades) had himself a big play, sacking Panthers QB Matt Corral, stripping him of the ball in the process. He also recovered the fumble. On the outside, DE Pita Taumoepenu (Vipers) didn’t register any defensive stats but he was often in the backfield affecting the QB. He got his hands on Corral twice, though he couldn’t bring him down. Largely a stand-up rusher in Vegas, Taumoepenu mostly played in a three-point stance in New York’s 4-3 defense, rushing from the wide-nine position.
*Baltimore rested its franchise quarterback, Lamar Jackson, but it wasn’t his backup that started the game. Instead, it was QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats), who was thought to be battling second-year man Anthony Brown for the third-string job. Johnson played the entire first half while Jackson’s presumptive backup, Tyler Huntley, started the third quarter and shared second half duties with Brown.
*Bills WR Marcell Ateman (Battlehawks) converted a 3rd-and-20 on the opening drive of the second half, tip-toeing his feet in-bounds on a pretty play. On the next drive, he took a crossing route and went for 20 yards. Ateman produced well in limited action (32% of offensive snaps) but Buffalo’s wide receiver room will be a tough one to crack.
*Special teams could be the ticket for WR Jontre Kirklin (Roughnecks) to make the New Orleans Saints. He rotated in as kick and punt returner throughout the game, taking three kicks back for a 24.0 yard average. He also performed as gunner on punt coverage. From 2020, OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) took over on the second series at right tackle for starter Ryan Ramczyk and played the rest of the first half.
