PJ Walker leads Browns to upset of 49ers and other XFL players in week six NFL action

Tryouts: Only one tryout featuring a former XFL player was on the docket last week, and that was TE Sal Cannella (Renegades) with the Minnesota Vikings. Cannella spent a short time with the Vikings in training camp. The team, seeking a tight end for the practice squad, opted instead to sign Troy Fumagalli, who also worked out for them last week.

Transactions: One day after punting for the team, the Pittsburgh Steelers released P Brad Wing (Brahmas) from their practice squad. They had a bye this week, giving extra time for Pressley Harvin’s hamstring to heal before they play again.

Two more cuts occurred on Tuesday, when K John Parker Romo (Brahmas) was waived from the practice squad of the Chicago Bears, and WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks) was once again released from the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. This was the third time since the start of the season that Bandy has been signed and released from Denver’s practice squad.

WR Jontre Kirklin (Roughnecks) returned to the New Orleans Saints via their practice squad, signing on Wednesday after the team placed WR Shaq Davis on practice squad injured reserve.

*Relegated to third QB duties once again, QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) was inactive for the Baltimore Ravens.

*The up-and-down season of second-year QB Desmond Ridder continued, as he threw three interceptions against the Washington Commanders in a 24-16 loss. It doesn’t seem as if the Atlanta Falcons are ready to move on from Ridder yet and turn to QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks), who once again did not play as the team’s backup QB.

*With the Falcons down three defensive linemen on Sunday, they elevated DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) from the practice squad for the first time this season. London played 20% of the defensive snaps (10 total) and was credited with one assisted tackle on the afternoon.

*After filling in admirably at right tackle last week, OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) returned to his role as backup offensive lineman and blocker on extra points and field goals. He played two special teams snaps, none on offense.

*Until Sunday, Cleveland Browns LG Joel Bitonio had not missed a game in seven years. A knee injury finally felled the iron man, resulting in a rare start for G Michael Dunn (Dragons) at the position. It was Dunn’s first start of the year and the fifth of his NFL career. He played all 76 offensive snaps, helping pave the way for the Browns to rush for 160 yards against a stingy San Francisco 49ers defense.

*Cleveland vs. San Francisco was expected to be a defensive slugfest, and it turned out to be exactly that. QB PJ Walker (Roughnecks) picked up the win in one of the biggest upsets of the early NFL season. Walker, starting in place of the injured Deshaun Watson, got the nod over backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who started earlier this month when Watson was previously banged-up. This was the second practice squad elevation of the season for Walker, who received first-team reps all week in practice. Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen were the Fox broadcasters on the call, and they reminisced about doing Walker’s XFL games in 2020. “I think the XFL is exactly the reason” Walker was in the NFL, Olsen opined on the telecast. “There’s no question in my mind that was the opportunity he needed to get the reps at the professional level to keep him around.”

While Walker led Cleveland to victory, it was a rocky road to get there. He was intercepted in 49er territory on Cleveland’s first drive. It appeared he didn’t see LB Fred Warner cut underneath his intended target. On the second drive, Walker had a touchdown pass to TE David Njoku called back for holding on guard Wyatt Teller. The series ended in a missed field goal (conditions were windy and rainy throughout the game). Walker’s longest pass play was a connection with a wide-open Amari Cooper down the left sideline for 58 yards, leading to a Kareem Hunt TD run before the half. Per sideline reporter Tom Rinaldi, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was “pleased” with Walker’s performance in the first half.

In the first drive of the second half, Cooper high-pointed the ball down the right sideline on a beautiful throw-and-catch for 27 yards into San Francisco territory. Up 13-10 early in the fourth quarter, facing a 4th-and-1 on his own side of mid-field, Stefanski opted to punt. Later, another interception by Walker, this time deep in Cleveland territory, led to a touchdown on the next play, allowing the 49ers to take a 17-13 lead. With little more than six minutes left in the game, Walker found David Bell on 4th-and-4 conversion in SF territory. Inconsistency reared its head as Walker bounced two throws to open receivers with less than three minutes to go and down by one. In the end, Walker was able to get the Browns in scoring range, and a Dustin Hopkins 29-yard field goal with 1:16 left turned out to be the game-winner, thanks to a late 41-yard miss by rookie Jake Moody of the 49ers. Walker’s stat line: 18-of-34 passing for 192 yards, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 45.2.

*S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) once again played the lion’s share of special teams snaps for the Miami Dolphins, 77% of them in fact. He played just four (6%) of the defensive snaps. He made one assisted tackle on defense, coming on a fake punt that ended up being one yard short of the line to gain for a first down.

*Snapping on four punts, three field goal attempts and two extra points was the extent of the action for Detroit Lions LS Scott Daly (Guardians).

*On Saturday, TE Donald Parham (Renegades) was listed on the injury report as “questionable” due to a wrist injury he suffered the previous week. In the end, he was able to suit up on Monday night for the Los Angeles Chargers against the Dallas Cowboys. Parham reeled in two of three targets for 19 yards, with a long reception of 13. His uncaught target was near the goal line, with QB Justin Herbert attempting to get the ball to him in the back of the end zone. Parham also drew a holding penalty on one pass as well. He played 41% of the snaps on offense, well off starter Gerald Everett’s 74%.

Byes: Green Bay Packers P Daniel Whelan (Defenders), Pittsburgh Steelers RB Godwin Igwebuike (Dragons), LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades)