Notable performances from XFL/USFL/UFL players in NFL preseason, Week One

This past weekend, more than 40 former UFL players suited up for the first time since their season ended in the  spring. This time, they were trying to prove they deserved roster spots on NFL teams. Week one of the preseason was a time in which several UFL players made their mark; whether it was enough to convince NFL decision-makers to keep them around for the regular season is another story. They’ll have two more opportunities over the next two weeks to state their cases.

In addition to those UFL players, a number of former USFL and XFL players found themselves in the same situation: Trying to claw their way onto an NFL roster. Below is a game-by-game look at USFL, XFL and UFL players and how they performed in week one of the preseason.

Hall of Fame Game: Houston at Chicago

The HOF Game is considered NFL preseason week zero as both Houston and Chicago will be the only teams to play in four exhibition contests. Each year, teams treat this game as a glorified scrimmage, sitting all of their starters and even some of their key backups. DE Malik Fisher (Defenders) played the first series on defense at right defensive end for the Texans. Houston sat five of its defensive ends, hence Fisher’s early playing time. He played 46% of the defensive snaps and finished with one assisted tackle while leading the team with two quarterback hurries.

Chicago featured LB Javin White (Panthers), who will go down as the answer to a trivia question: What player was guilty of the first false start on the XFL-like dynamic kickoff? It was for moving before the ball was touched by the receiving team. White had one assisted tackle on 30% of the defensive snaps, tying for the team lead with special teams snaps at 14.

Carolina at New England

DT Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (Maulers) was one of the most productive spring football players in the first week of NFL preseason action. He made four tackles and had a sack for the Patriots in playing 41% of the defensive snaps while also earning a starting nod. His sack in the first quarter was a play in which he overpowered the left guard, pushing him into the lap of QB Jack Plummer. In listing his risers and fallers for this game in The Athletic, Pats beat writer Chad Graff said “no one was better” than Pharms.

Not far behind Pharms in production was S AJ Thomas (Stallions). He tied for the second-most snaps played on D for New England (80%) and he had four solo tackles on the evening. Thomas first saw the field early in the second quarter, playing free safety. The Patriots ran a very vanilla defense, often featuring two-high safety looks. Later in the game, he took snaps closer to the line of scrimmage, almost in a LB position. He was able to fill a hole and make a tackle on a run play from that spot.

G Liam Fornadel (Defenders) entered the game with 4:12 left in the third quarter when Joe Milton III came in to play QB. He played right guard despite being listed on the team’s depth chart as a backup at left guard. On the next drive, Fornadel flipped over to LG. In total, he played 30% of the offensive snaps. Thanks in part to Fornadel’s efforts, New England’s deep reserves on the offensive line helped the team run the ball effectively against Carolina’s backup defensive linemen.

DT Josiah Bronson (Showboats) only really played in the fourth quarter, on 19% of defensive snaps. He managed two assisted tackles. TE La’Michael Pettway (Stallions) played 20% of offensive snaps and 29% on special teams. Starting long snapper Joe Cardona was one of the veterans who sat this one out, so LS Tucker Addington (Gamblers) handled all of the snapping duties for the Patriots.

For Carolina, DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) was held out of the game and did not play. More than one-third of Carolina’s 90-man roster was inactive against New England.

Detroit at New York Giants

We might have a real battle for the long snapping job on our hands in Detroit. Rookie free agent Hogan Hatten started the game at the position and showed good downfield coverage skills. He also played five snaps on defense at linebacker, making two tackles. Snappers don’t usually play multiple positions anymore. Incumbent LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians) hasn’t played poorly, but he has already been projected by some as being knocked off the roster by Hatten. Daly snapped in the second half for Detroit.

WR Kaden Davis (Panthers) caught an in-breaking slant for five yards in hurry-up near end of first half. It was his only catch despite tying for the team lead with four targets. He played 26% of the offensive snaps. A rough night was had by WR Maurice Alexander (Stars): As the team’s punt returner despite not being listed on the top two there on the depth chart, Alexander muffed the first punt, though the Lions recovered it. He also lost his second punt, one in which the Giants recovered, though he ended up being ruled down by contact. Alexander also handled the second half kickoff; he’s not listed as a kick returner on the two-deep, either. He played 30% of the offensive snaps and had one catch for six yards as well as a kickoff return for 20 yards.

Still the only kicker in camp, K Jake Bates (Panthers) is out to prove there’s no need to bring in another. To that end, he connected on his only field goal attempt, from 53 yards out. Notably, the conditions were not favorable in that it was rainy for much for the game. However, the ensuing kickoff was penalized for a landing zone violation (falling short of the 20-yard line), resulting in the ball being placed at the 40 yard-line of the Giants.

Opening the second half at right guard, G Jacob Burton (Panthers) got pushed into QB Hendon Hooker’s lap a couple of times in pass protection. He gave up a sack to UDFA DT Casey Rogers that was negated by a facemask penalty. Burton ended up playing 50% of the snaps on offense, along with four other linemen he worked alongside.

Though buried on the depth chart, TE Tyree Jackson (Defenders) saw action early in the second quarter. On his first catch, he got behind the linebackers over the middle and had to adjust to make the catch as the pass was behind him. On the next drive, he got open again downfield but dropped the pass. Two plays later, he caught a pass down to the goal line. A third reception, in the third quarter, was called back by penalty. In all, Jackson played 67% of the offensive snaps and had two catches for 34 yards.

RB Jacob Saylors (Battlehawks) debuted on punt coverage in the second quarter. He did not play a snap on offense, bad news compounded by the fact that the other backs that did play performed very well. Saylors was released by the Giants after the game.

Atlanta at Miami

The second-team offensive line started for the Falcons and included OT Storm Norton (Wildcats). He opened the game at right tackle and played until the second drive of the second half, accumulating 52% of the snaps on offense. The second QB in after rookie Michael Penix, Jr., QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) entered on the seventh drive, midway through the second quarter. On his second snap, Heinicke pulled away from center thinking there was a false start, at the same time the center hiked the ball. Miami pounced on the fumble as no penalty flag was thrown, recovering at about the five-yard line. He had trouble with another snap early in the third quarter that ended up being a busted play. Heinicke failed to move the ball in a significant way on any of his drives. He was replaced on the first offensive drive of the fourth quarter by CFL veteran Nathan Rourke.

Another former XFL player earned a start for Atlanta: WR Chris Blair (Defenders). He came down with a catch on the second drive, but fumbled away the ball to the Dolphins. However, he came back on the next drive and hauled in a deep pass down the sidelines good for 41 yards, beating CB Ethan Bonner on the play. Atlanta went to him later in the first half on a similar play, but the pass was defended by UDFA Storm Duck. Blair played the second-most snaps of any receiver for Atlanta at 49%. He caught two passes for 45 yards.

While Norton began the game at right tackle, the other side of the line was manned by OT Julien Davenport (Brahmas). He was flagged for one false start and played until the second drive of the second half. He was reinserted for a drive and a half after two false starts on OT Jaryd Jones-Smith (Battlehawks). Davenport then exited with what looked like back issues, replaced by Jones-Smith. Jones-Smith relieved Davenport in the second half initially but his two false starts came on the same fourth quarter drive. Davenport played 70% of the snaps on offense while Jones-Smith was in for 41%. Those numbers indicate one or both played multiple positions along the line during the game.

A fourth lineman in Atlanta, OT Barry Wesley (Sea Dragons), actually played left guard when he saw the field beginning in the third quarter. He ended up playing 37% of the snaps. On the other side of the line of scrimmage for the Falcons, DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) played 37% of the defensive snaps from the late first quarter on. He didn’t register any stats. Fellow DT Prince Emili (Brahmas) entered later in the game (midway through the second quarter) but only played a hair fewer snaps (32%). He did make more of an impact, however, with three total tackles.

Three spring football safeties are vying for what could be one job. S Micah Abernathy (Gamblers) is the favorite to retain his job. He was one of two returners back to receive the opening kickoff and also started as a gunner on the punt coverage team. He missed a tackle downfield on the first punt. On the punt return team, he was positioned as the jammer opposite the gunner. He played 41% of the snaps on defense and 33% on special teams. He made four tackles on D.

One man’s injury may be another man’s opportunity. When a cart came out to remove S Demarcco Hellams from the field on the second play of the game, S Lukas Denis (Battlehawks) replaced him. Denis missed a tackle on a third-down play down the sidelines against TE Tanner Conner. He got revenge by knocking a pass away from Conner on 4th-and-6 just before the half. Denis played the entirety of the first half on defense after entering on the third play. He was also a jammer on the side of the field opposite Abernathy on the first punt return team. Denis made three tackles in playing 68% of the snaps on defense, just shy of the team lead in that category.

S Tre Tarpley II (Maulers) made a tackle on the opening kickoff of the second half. He entered on defense in the second half as well. In one of his more notable plays, Tarpley overran a pass that the should’ve nabbed as an interception in the third quarter. He played 46% of the defensive snaps and 52% of the special teams snaps en route to a three-tackle performance on special teams. TE Jordan Thomas (Stallions) came in for a few plays midway through the fourth quarter, catching one pass for six yards. He played just six offensive snaps.

Safeties in Miami also had a spring football flavor with S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) starting in their defensive backfield. It was a short night, however, as he played only 17% of the defensive snaps without making any tackles.

Houston at Pittsburgh

As the only long snapper in camp, LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) did all of the punt and kick snapping on the evening. He did have a high snap that may have contributed to a missed extra point by kicker Matthew Wright. Notably, rookie DL Logan Lee has done some practice long snapping at times this summer. In on the first drive of the second half, RB Aaron Shampklin (Gamblers) carried twice for six yards. He played 24% of the snaps on offense and 17% on special teams.

Texans DT Khalil Davis (Stallions) played his first game of the preseason after being one of the key contributors to sit during the Hall of Fame Game. Davis came in on the second defensive drive. His one play of note was when he chased down a screen pass for a tackle, his lone one of the game on 31% of the defensive snaps.

Teammate DE Malik Fisher (Defenders) earned his first defensive snaps toward the end of first half. At times, he played against first and second teamers on Pittsburgh’s offensive line (including a few one-on-ones against starting RT Broderick Jones). Fisher had two tackles, one for a loss. The TFL came on a play where he also drew a hold – his tackle was a bit of luck as it was really the running back falling down and Fisher touching him to end the play. Like Davis, he also played 31% of the snaps, down from the 46% he played in game one.

Philadelphia at Baltimore

Working his way back from a torn Achilles, LS Nick Moore (Tampa Bay Vipers) was up first in the long snapping battle against rookie Randen Plattner. Moore snapped into the second half before ceding the rest of the game to Plattner. Baltimore apparently liked what they saw from Moore in his return – Plattner was released this week.

QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) started with Lamar Jackson not playing. Johnson saw the field with a couple starters on the offensive line. At 37 years old, Johnson even showed that his running ability hasn’t completely left him as he scampered for 11 yards on two rushes. Johnson played the entire first half before he was relieved by Devin Leary after halftime. The former LA Wildcat finished 4-of-12 passing for 62 yards.

Most of the snaps for WR Austin Watkins, Jr. (Stallions) came very late in the game. He had one reception for five yards but played only 11% of the offensive snaps in the game for the Eagles.

Chicago at Buffalo

LB Javin White (Panthers) was spotted on punt coverage late in the third quarter for the Bears. He entered the game on defense with about 10:00 left in the fourth quarter. He totaled one assisted tackle, 13% of the defensive snaps and 18% of special teams snaps. His nine total plays on defense was the fewest of any Bears player that saw action on that side of the ball.

Las Vegas at Minnesota

Vikings WR Lucky Jackson (Defenders) played in the first quarter on the kick return team. He was seen running down on kick coverage in the second quarter. One special teams tackle was registered as he made a stop short of the 20-yard line on a kick return. Jackson started playing on offense with a little over 5:00 left in the first half. Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield both caught TD passes in the game, and they’re two of Lucky’s competitors for a roster spot. He did have one catch called back by a penalty in the fourth. Even as Minnesota found themselves in come-from-behind mode passing a lot near the end (and as he played 48% of the snaps), Jackson made just one grab for four yards.

The best play from DE Jalen Redmond (Renegades) was at the goal line, beating a block by TE Zach Gentry to help stop a run play for a loss on 3rd down in the fourth quarter. It was one of three tackles for Redmond. He played 38% of the snaps on D.

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati

DT CJ Brewer (Roughnecks) made an appearance on defense on the second drive of the game. He played up until the fourth quarter. He had two tackles in playing 42% of the snaps. TE Sal Cannella (Renegades) was held out until the fourth quarter, with about 6:00 left in the game. He played 15% of the snaps

DT Domenique Davis (Gamblers) did not play in the game for the Bengals. His partner in the interior defensive line rotation, DT Carlos Davis (Stallions) entered midway through the second quarter. He got a clean shot at QB Kyle Trask on a pass rush, forcing an awkward throw. He played all of the second half as well, totaling 59% of the defensive snaps (second on the team) to go with one assisted tackle.

There’s been some buzz about CB Nate Brooks (Panthers), who was listed as second-team on the unofficial depth chart. A good example of it being unofficial: Rookie Josh Newton, recorded as a third-teamer, took snaps ahead of Brooks with the rest of the second team defensive backs. Brooks came in for the first drive of the second half, predominantly lining up on the left side of formation. He played all of the second half, to the tune of 53% of the snaps and five tackles.

Offensively, WR Hakeem Butler (Battlehawks) played just six total snaps, seeing his first action with about 5:00 left. He was a target in the end zone as Cincinnati tried to come back with under a minute to go but both he and the defender tumbled to the ground as the ball reached them. Head coach Zac Taylor wanted a pass interference call badly, but he did not get it. In the end, Butler mustered just one catch for 12 yards.

San Francisco at Tennessee

If you’re going to play just one snap, make it count: WR Jontre Kirklin’s (Brahmas) only play of the game on offense was the final snap, a Hail Mary in which he got his hands on the ball, but it was picked off at the goal line by defender Chance Campbell. Kirklin played four snaps on special teams.

DE Jonathan Garvin (Stallions) played early on in the second quarter to match Tennessee bringing in their second team offense. Though at times a DE/LB hybrid, Garvin played DE with his hand on the ground for the 49ers. He was in on a 4th-and-1 stop late in the fourth quarter. In all, he played 49% of the defensive snaps with four tackles.

Kansas City at Jacksonville 

Newly-signed DE Breeland Speaks (Panthers) participated in the fourth quarter only for the Jaguars. He was in on a sack on one of his first plays as QB Ian Book tried to step up in the pocket. Speaks played right defensive end and was in the backfield often against his former team: He was credited with two pressures and a half-sack.

Seattle at Los Angeles Chargers

CB Matt Hankins (Stallions) experienced first quarter action. He played into the fourth quarter, jumping a route in that stanza for a near pick-six. Hankins was active, playing 68% of the snaps on defense, 36% on special teams. He had five tackles and a pass break-up.

His highlights were all over social media even as QB Luis Perez (Renegades) completed just 5-of-12 passes for 61 yards. Perez followed Easton Stick and Max Duggan, coming into the game with 4:41 remaining. He already leapfrogged one QB on the depth chart, as the team released UDFA Casey Bauman, who did not play, after the game.

TE Donald Parham (Renegades) continued playing into the fourth quarter, not a great sign for someone who has been on the team for several years. He made a good effort on a pass to pickup an extra few yards after contact to get a first down, his only catch of the day. Parham played on 30% of the snaps.

QB PJ Walker (Roughnecks) continues to kick around the NFL, this summer landing with the Seahawks. Second-stringer Sam Howell started the game, with Walker taking over on the second drive of the second half. He stayed under center for the rest of the game. Walker made a couple strong downfield throws, finishing 4-of-10 passing for 60 yards.

Wearing the number zero, WR Ty Scott (Defenders) played the fourth quarter only, almost coming down with a long pass down the sidelines in the end zone at one point. Scott beat Hankins, but the ball was a bit underthrown and Hankins broke it up. He was held catch-less on five total snaps on offense.

New Orleans at Arizona

The Saints have acquired a cache of spring football talent. DT Jack Heflin (Roughnecks) entered the game late in the third quarter. He contributed half a sack. Heflin was also flagged for a roughing the passer penalty late in the game for a low hit on Clayton Tune. That set up Arizona for a go-ahead score. It was one of the 17% of snaps he played. DE Niko Lalos (Sea Dragons) opened the second half at defensive end. He finished with a sack, playing 56% of the snaps.

WR Kevin Austin, Jr. (Stallions) played on the third drive of the game with some first-and-second team players after the starters took the first two drives. He caught a 6-yard fourth down conversion in the second quarter. Austin led the offense in playing 62% of snaps. Another receiver, WR Samson Nacua (Panthers) came in much later, in the fourth quarter to be exact. He had a couple of catches on the final drive with the Saints down by one. Despite the late start, he still managed to play 25% of the snaps and snare two passes for 19 yards.

LB Mike Rose (Battlehawks) played early on the core four special teams units. His playing time on defense didn’t come until late in the fourth quarter. Rose played only four defensive snaps, but was second on the team in playing 56% of special teams snaps.

Green Bay at Cleveland 

A top reserve interior offensive lineman for the Browns, G Michael Dunn (Dragons) did not play – coach’s decision. G Zack Johnson (Stallions) was pressed into action earlier than anticipated when backup center Luke Wypler had to be carted off early in the second quarter. It was Johnson who replaced him at the pivot. Cleveland didn’t have a third-string center listed on the depth chart behind starter Ethan Pocic and Wypler. The optimism that Johnson could make the team in place of Wypler was doused a day later when the Browns acquired C Nick Harris from Seattle to fill that role. Still, Johnson put together solid tape in playing 69% of the snaps.

LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas), who grew up in Ohio, did all the snapping with regular snapper Charley Hughlett nursing a minor injury. He was thrown into the fire early with his first snap being for a 55-yard field goal that was made by Cade York. Hughlett has returned to health and Sunahara was released this week.

The only punter in camp in Green Bay, P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) punted twice for a 45.5 gross average (39.0 net), landing one of the punts inside the 20. DE Zach Morton (Brahmas) played 17% of the defensive snaps for the Pack and made one tackle.

Washington at New York Jets

Seventeen Commanders players were targets of 32 passes thrown by quarterbacks. WR Davion Davis (Stallions) was not one of those targets. He did, however, return three punts for 18 yards. Davis played 11% of offensive snaps and 37% of snaps on special teams. Another Birmingham alum, OT Alex Taylor (Stallions), played 30% of the offensive snaps from the late third quarter on, manning the left tackle spot.

Though he did not start, DT Bruce Hector (Renegades) played on the first drive of the game, beating the guard and running back to sack Marcus Mariota on Mariota’s first play of the game (unfortunately for Hector, it was credited as a rush for Mariota, so no sack). Hector saw extensive playing time, into the fourth quarter. He had four tackles and a tackle for loss on 56% of the defensive snaps.

G Kohl Levao (Brahmas) joined the offensive line at left guard early in the second quarter. He moved to right guard to open the second half, then it was back to left guard in the fourth quarter. That accounted for a team-high 87% of the snaps for the game.

UFL MVP QB Adrian Martinez (Stallions) came in midway through the third quarter, the third QB for the Jets after Tyrod Taylor and Andrew Peasley. His best throw was to WR Brandon Smith for 37 yards; he had to drop it in the bucket over the defender’s shoulder. Martinez came back on the last drive and, while on the run to his right, found Smith again for 33 yards as Smith was double covered. Then on 3rd-and-7 on the same drive, he showed off his wheels, taking off for 13 yards and a first down. Martinez was 6-of-10 passing for 104 yards, running twice for 24 yards.

WR Brandon Smith (Defenders) paced the Jets in receiving yardage with 70 on two catches, both from Martinez. He played 47% of the snaps on offense. WR Isaiah Winstead (Renegades) played 35% of the snaps and on the final drive, beat his man deep and went up for a ball, only to have it knocked out of his hands as he went out of bounds. It turned out to be his only target.

Denver at Indianapolis

In his second year with the Broncos, WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks) returned a punt in the second half, netting one yard. He played offense in the fourth quarter, aligned in the slot. Bandy dropped one pass that came his way on 3rd down, getting it knocked out of his hands when he tried to turn up the field. He played 14% of the offensive snaps and his punt return was his only play on special teams.

LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) snapped on all punts and kicks for Denver, secure in his spot on the team. DE Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) wasn’t seen until deep into the third quarter. He began as a stand-up rusher on the end of the line of scrimmage, later also putting his hand on the ground to rush. He had a sack/fumble of #1 UFL College Draft pick QB Jason Bean, recovered by teammate Matt Henningsen at the Colts’ 19-yard line. Tillman saw action on 21% of the snaps.

For the Colts, DE Levi Bell (Panthers) came in on the first drive of the second half. He played DE in the team’s four-man front. He also rushed a time or two from a stand-up stance. Bell was active in the run game, totaling three tackles. Bell came very close to recovering a fumble with his team down four with about 3:00 to go. He played on 40% of the defensive snaps.

Leading the team with two catches for 45 yards, WR DJ Montgomery (Panthers) caught a nice deep ball before the half, accounting for 39 of those yards. Conversely, he had a fourth quarter drop that hit him right between the numbers. Montgomery played 38% of the snaps, one of three receivers to hit that exact playing time mark.

Dallas at Los Angeles Rams

Dallas wasn’t afraid to test the leg of K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions): They had him try a 65-yard field goal, on which he came up just short. He made four others and also handled kickoffs under the new format. WR Kavontae Turpin (Generals) was one of several key players held out by head coach Mike McCarthy.

CB Josh Butler (Panthers) played early on defense. He defended WR Tyler Johnson well on a long ball down the sideline in the first quarter. He was still in as late as the fourth quarter, as well as on kick coverage deep into the fourth quarter. He led Dallas defenders playing 76% of the snaps on defense, adding 40% more on special teams. Butler was called for holding on 4th down around the 2:00 warning, negating a Dallas interception that all but would’ve iced the game. He stuffed the stat sheet with four tackles, a tackle for loss, two passes defensed, and a special teams stop.

Another player that has impressed in training camp, LB Willie Harvey, Jr. (Battlehawks), got into the game at the end of the first quarter. He played middle linebacker and was done in the second half. He made three tackles on 39% of the snaps.

Former NFL draft pick WR Kelvin Harmon (Defenders) didn’t play until the fourth quarter. On his first catch, he went up to get the ball and had his legs taken out from underneath him by UDFA CB Josh Wallace. Harmon hit the ground hard but held on. Later on the same drive, he climbed the ladder to grab a Trey Lance pass then broke a few tackles on the run to get into the red zone for a 26-yard gain.

Another UFL receiver in Dallas, WR Deontay Burnett (Renegades), entered the contest early in the third quarter. Toward the end of the first drive of the second half for Dallas, Burnett and TE John Stephens ended up in the same area on a 4th down pass that fell incomplete. Later, he converted a 3rd down. Burnett ran a reverse that picked up a couple yards but was called back by a holding penalty. He had two catches for 23 yards on 41% of offensive snaps.

For the home team, OT Matt Kaskey (Stallions) did not play from scrimmage and had just one special teams snap to his name. That was more than could be said for C Alec Lindstrom (Showboats), who did not play in the game.