Ex-Birmingham Stallions linebacker Deondre Tillman was promoted to the Broncos’ active roster, and he responded with three tackles, two sacks, and three QB hits. (denverbroncos.com)
Tryouts
The Indianapolis Colts brought in several players on Monday. Two of them played defensive line in the UFL in 2024: DE Malik Fisher (Defenders) and DT Josiah Bronson (Showboats). Both were on NFL teams during the preseason; this was their first workout since being released at the end of August.
Transactions
Wednesday brought about a promotion and a signing for UFL players. LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad by the Denver Broncos. To open up a roster spot, OT Mike McGlinchey was placed on injured reserve. Tillman’s presence was required with LB Baron Browning battling a foot injury.
Sometimes, there’s almost a butterfly effect when it comes to NFL transactions. An injury suffered by New York Giants K Graham Gano on Sunday led to the Giants needing a kicker. They signed Greg Joseph off of the practice squad of the Detroit Lions to satisfy that need. The Lions then replaced Joseph with another player at that position, K Matthew McCrane (Defenders). McCrane worked out for the team on July 26, but this is the first time he has signed since the end of the UFL season. Detroit now has two UFL kickers under contract.
After two practice squad elevations the first two weeks of the season, DT CJ Brewer (Roughnecks) was signed to the active roster by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, replacing CB Keenan Isaac, who was released. The Bucs continued to battle injuries along the interior defensive line, necessitating this depth move.
XFL
*Playing as the backup safety and special teamer, Miami Dolphins S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) made a tackle on special teams and was also flagged for illegal formation on punt coverage. Campbell had a second special teams tackle negated by a penalty. His sole action came on special teams, playing 74% of the snaps on the third unit.
*The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to deal with injuries along the interior of their defensive line, with DT Vita Vea joining DT Calijah Kancey on the inactive list this week. DT CJ Brewer (Roughnecks) was active in his first game since being signed to the 53-man roster earlier in the week. His first play was a 4th-and-goal snap at the goal line with about three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
It was an up and down game for Brewer. He missed a tackle in the backfield on the running back on the fourth drive of the game, where he finally saw extensive playing time. Brewer also missed a tackle on a screen pass later in the same drive. His second half was much better, as he tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage that was nearly intercepted by CB Jamel Dean. Later, he used a swim move just before the two-minute warning to get past the center and drop the back for a loss. He had two tackles (one solo, one assist), a pass defensed and a tackle for loss in playing 35% of the defensive snaps.
*Baltimore Ravens K Justin Tucker has not been as automatic as we’re used to seeing, missing two field goals through the first three weeks of 2024. That’s been no fault of LS Nick Moore (Tampa Bay Vipers), who has continued to snap on all field goals and punts for the Ravens.
*Entering week three tied for the league lead in special teams tackles by long snappers, LS Scott Daly (New York Guardians) was held tackle-less this week while handling all long snapping duties for the Chicago Bears.
*QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) was active but did not play as the backup to Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson.
*After a strong first two weeks of the season, P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) took a bit of a step back in week three. In total, he punted five times for a 48.8 gross average but just 36.0 net. Two touchbacks were among those five punts. He drilled a few punts inside the 20, but the returns brought them out of that area and thus he was not credited with landing any punts in that key part of the field. One touchback came on his longest punt of the day when he uncorked one for 63 yards.
*With Los Angeles Chargers starting QB Justin Herbert a game-time decision due to a high ankle sprain, both QB Easton Stick and QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) were active against the Pittsburgh Steelers. When Herbert was knocked out in the third quarter, apparently aggravating that ankle, it was Heinicke who entered instead of Stick, despite Heinicke being the third QB the first two weeks of the year. At the time he came in, the game was tied, 10-10. Heinicke was 2-for-2 passing for 24 yards but was sacked three times. That stalled any comeback hopes as the Steelers ended up winning, 20-10.
*On punt coverage, Pittsburgh LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) was credited with his first tackle of the season, an assisted stop on Davion Davis of the Chargers after a five-yard gain.
*Pressed into duty in the second quarter when Atlanta Falcons RT Kaleb McGary suffered what was later learned to be an MCL sprain, OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) took over and played the rest of the game. He manned the right side for 75% of the team’s offensive snaps on the evening. He did not surrender a sack or a hurry during that time.
USFL
*With the New York Jets doubling New England’s time of possession on Thursday night, while running the ball 33 times, more work than usual was required of DE Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (Maulers). The top backup defensive lineman played 48% of the defensive snaps and made two tackles (one solo, one assist) as the Jets were able to just wear down New England’s defensive front as the game wore on.
*DE LaBryan Ray (Stars) earned his first start of the year for the Carolina Panthers, with normal starter Jayden Peevy coming off the bench. Ray paid off Carolina’s confidence in him with four tackles (three solo, one assist) and a sack. After an 0-2 start, Carolina made some lineup changes in week three, and they were able to leave Las Vegas with a victory. Ray’s 58% snap share trailed only recently-acquired DE Charles Harris among defensive linemen.
*If it’s a day that ends in “y,” then Dallas Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey (Stallions) made headlines again. This time, he hit a 65-yard field goal, one yard shy of tying the NFL record. He’ll have to settle for the second-longest field goal in NFL history. Aubrey also hit a ho-hummer from 51 yards out and converted an extra point. In the fourth quarter, he helped Dallas convert an onside kick as they attempted to come back against the Ravens.
*Kickers have learned to kick away from WR KaVontae Turpin (Generals) of the Cowboys. It was Juanyeh Thomas who returned two kickoffs, while Turpin had zero. He was a little bit more involved on offense, running the ball once for one yard and making three catches for 51 yards and a 16-yard TD reception late in the fourth that brought Dallas within four points of Baltimore. Because the Cowboys were in comeback mode for much of the second half, QB Dak Prescott threw the ball 51 times, allowing more opportunities for Turpin in the 18 snaps (22%) that he played.
*For the Denver Broncos in their blowout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, LS Mitchell Fraboni (Maulers) snapped on four field goals, two extra points and two punts.
*In Atlanta’s near upset of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, S Micah Abernathy (Gamblers) played 88% of special teams snaps without making the stat sheet.
UFL
*Though he didn’t attempt any field goals, K Jake Bates (Panthers) was two-for-three on extra points, missing one wide right. Each one of his kickoffs went for touchbacks. Near the end of the third quarter, up by 10, the Lions eschewed a 51-yard field goal attempt to go for it on 4th-and-1 at the Arizona 34, an attempt that failed. It’s the second week in a row Lions head coach Dan Campbell kept his offense on the field instead of attempting a long field goal, despite Bates’s range.
*Active for the first time this season, DT Jalen Redmond (Renegades) saw mop-up duties in the Minnesota Vikings’ 34-7 thrashing of the Houston Texans. On Houston’s final drive of the game, with backup Davis Mills having relieved starter C.J. Stroud, Redmond sacked Mills prior to the two-minute warning. It was his only tackle of the game in 24% of the defensive snaps played.
*Joining the spring football sack parade was LB Dondrea Tillman (Stallions) of the Denver Broncos. On defense, his first playing time came with 9:21 left in the second quarter, lining up at left defensive end. He stood up and rushed on his first snap, then put his hand on ground on next snap in more traditional four-man alignment. Tillman’s first sack came when Denver sent six rushers. Tillman worked on the right tackle of the Bucs, Justin Skule (a backup playing in place of the injured Luke Goedeke). The rush got there with DE Zach Allen and CB Ja’Quan McMillian, who slowed down QB Baker Mayfield. Tillman came in to clean it up. He had another pressure early in the fourth quarter causing a rushed throw that fell incomplete.
The second sack was later in the fourth, with Mayfield sort of running into Tillman as Tillman was being blocked. He was able to get his arms around Skule to bring down Mayfield. In total, Tillman had three tackles, two sacks, and three QB hits. He played on 35% of the defensive snaps and 59% of those on special teams, getting involved in the coverage units as well.
