Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (39) on the sideline against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Rick Osentoski – freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Tryouts
An unusually low number of spring football tryouts this week, as just two were reported: LS Rex Sunahara (Brahmas) worked out with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday for one. He was one of two snappers and a handful of punters on the scene as the Steelers went in search of a replacement for their injured punter, Cameron Johnston. There was some speculation that the snappers were only brought in to snap to the punters, but it never hurts to work out in front of NFL personnel whatever the reason. Pittsburgh coaches are familiar with Sunahara as he has had two stints on the team in the last few years.
The Carolina Panthers brought in lefty P Brock Miller (Panthers) on Friday, along with two others. There’s no indication the Panthers are ready to move on from P Johnny Hekker – in fact, he seems to be the least of their problems right now.
Transactions
WR Ty Scott (Defenders) was signed to the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday. It was a short stay: He was waived on Friday. Scott spent training camp with the team. LB Jonathan Garvin (Stallions) was also waived from the practice squad, by the San Francisco 49ers early in the week.
It was a net zero spring football deal on Monday when the Los Angeles Chargers signed CB Nehemiah Shelton (Showboats) to the practice squad. Shelton had two stays on the roster of the New York Jets in training camp. To make room for his signing, CB Matt Hankins (Stallions) was released.
Wednesday brought the signing of WR Kaden Davis (Panthers) to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. Davis was originally signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022 before playing with Michigan in the USFL. He was with the Detroit Lions this summer.
After being a practice squad elevation in week one, LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians) was signed to the active roster of the Chicago Bears on Saturday. They had three opportunities to elevate him from the practice squad before they needed to sign him to the 53-man, so this is notable. Their regular long snapper, Patrick Scales, is on injured reserve, meaning he’ll miss at least the first four games of the season.
XFL
*The Buffalo Bills looked like the class of the AFC East on Thursday night against the Miami Dolphins and S Elijah Campbell (Defenders). When the Bills took over with about two minutes remaining in the game, Miami sent in their backups, down 31-10, and that included Campbell. Though two of those plays were kneel-downs, Campbell did make a tackle on a run by RB Ray Davis. They were the only four snaps he played on defense, contributing to 62% on special teams as well.
*The Tampa Bay Buccaneers elevated DT CJ Brewer (Roughnecks) from the practice squad for the second game in a row, once again joining DT Mike Greene in that role. Tampa got one of its defensive linemen, Logan Hall, back from injury this week but were still down Calijah Kancey. Brewer and Greene were active over recent waiver claim DT Ben Stille, who was made inactive against Detroit. Because the Bucs utilized a lot of two-down looks against Detroit, Brewer didn’t enter the game on defense until late in the second quarter, the fifth linemen to rotate in. An early second half knee injury to DT Vita Vea that knocked him out for the game opened up more playing time for Brewer. Brewer even aligned as a stand-up rusher off the edge on one third down snap. He was credited with three tackles (one solo, two assists) and a quarterback hit, playing on 26% of the snaps (down from 32% in week one).
*Snapping on all punts and kicks, LS Nick Moore (Tampa Bay Vipers) didn’t register any stats for the Baltimore Ravens.
*QB Lamar Jackson gave Ravens fans a scare when he missed practice early in the week leading up to the second game of the season, but it turned out to be only precautionary. He took all the snaps Sunday against Las Vegas, meaning backup QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) was active but did not play.
*It was a low-scoring affair at Lambeau Field in Green Bay’s 16-10 victory over Indianapolis. P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) did his job with precision, punting three times on the day and landing all three punts inside the 20-yard line, while also carrying a 46.3 gross and net average. Two of his three punts were downed inside the 10-yard line.
*QB Easton Stick continues to act as the primary backup to Justin Herbert, leaving QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) again on the inactive list as the emergency third quarterback.
*It was a clash of spring league long snappers in the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos game. LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) represented the XFL against his USFL counterpart on the Broncos (see below). The Steelers won, thus proving the superiority of the XFL (relax, I’m kidding). In reality, neither player made the stat sheet, battling to a long snapping stalemate on the afternoon.
*The Atlanta Falcons are happy when OT Storm Norton’s (Wildcats) usage is low, as it was on Monday night. That means their offensive line is healthy and rocking. Norton did play, but on just four special teams snaps.
*Now a member of the Bears’ active roster, LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians) rewarded the team with snaps that were on point all night, including on two field goals of 50+ yards from kicker Cairo Santos. Daly also made a tackle on punt coverage, nearly drawing a flag for a horse-collar tackle in the process. After losing his job in Detroit to a younger model who could better cover kicks downfield, Daly has begun the season with tackles in consecutive games.
USFL
*Though he sat out week one as a healthy scratch, DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) was “up” for Carolina in their week two tilt with the Chargers. Ray played and had two tackles (one solo, one assist).
*New Orleans put a hurting on Dallas in a route few saw coming. K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions), though, continued his impressive run, connecting on all four field goals he attempted with a long of 52. He also went viral for mastering the squib kick on the dynamic kickoff that limited the Saints’ starting field position.
*His athleticism yet to show up on offense, WR Kavontae Turpin (Generals) had three touches (two receptions, one rush) for a total of six yards. Turpin was also neutralized by New Orleans in the return game, bringing back one kickoff for 35 yards. The Saints wisely kicked it to the second return man back, S Juanyeh Thomas, who ended up returning four kicks. On offense, Turpin played on 27% of the snaps, the fifth-most among Dallas receivers.
*Two tackles and a QB hit was the line for DE Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (Maulers) of the New England Patriots. He saw his usage increase from week one, playing on 34% of the defensive snaps compared to 22% the week prior.
*LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) continued to snap for the Denver Broncos on all plays which require snaps longer than the normal length.
*In on 82% of the special teams snaps, S Micah Abernathy (Gamblers) didn’t record any stats on Monday night for Atlanta against Philadelphia.
UFL
*For the second week to start the season, DT Jalen Redmond (Renegades) was a healthy inactive for the Minnesota Vikings, one of two defensive linemen on the 53-man roster to have a seat for the game.
*He’s got the leg, but he’s gone largely untested from long range early in the season. K Jake Bates (Panthers) first connected on a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter for the Detroit Lions, then capped the ensuing drive by hitting one from 35 yards out. On the opening drive of the second half, Bates gave the Lions nine points when he drilled a 32-yarder. Down by four early in the fourth quarter, Detroit opted to punt and pin Tampa deep rather than trot out Bates to try a field goal from 58 yards. Had he made the field goal, it would’ve cut the Bucs’ lead to one, requiring only a field goal rather than a touchdown to win on Detroit’s final drive where they ended up deep in Tampa territory before turning it over on downs.
