In Week 17, QB PJ Walker (Roughnecks) was active but did not play. (Yahoo Sports)
Tryouts
Tuesday brought about the first tryout for P Brad Wing (Brahmas) since his brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the season. He was one of two punters put through the paces by the Cleveland Browns, along with fellow veteran Matt Haack. The Browns opted to sign Haack to the practice squad, and it was he who did the punting on Thursday night with Corey Bojorquez nursing a quad injury.
On Friday, P Brock Miller (Dragons) worked out for the San Francisco 49ers. Over the past few years, Miller, who punted for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL the last two seasons, has been a popular tryout player among teams with upcoming games against lefty punters. Miller, a lefty himself, is usually brought in to give the team’s punt returners a feel for the ball coming off a different foot. It just so happens that the 49ers played the Washington Commanders and left-footed punter Tress Way on Sunday.
Transactions
QB PJ Walker (Roughnecks) was promoted from Cleveland’s practice squad to its 53-man roster on Tuesday, as rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (ribs) was placed on injured reserve. Walker will finish out the regular season – and now, enter the post-season – as the primary backup to starter Joe Flacco.
Two other players were signed to practice squads on Tuesday: LB Frank Ginda (NY Guardians) with the Atlanta Falcons, and LS Alex Matheson (Battlehawks) with the Los Angeles Rams. I speculated last week that Ginda could be re-signed as he was dropped in favor of P Pat O’Donnell, a short-term signing to cover for the potential of Bradley Pinion missing last Sunday’s game due to the birth of his child. Indeed, O’Donnell was shuffled off the practice squad to create the spot for Ginda.
Matheson was also noted for his Friday tryout last week amid issues on the Rams’ kicking unit. The decision to sign him was likely made that day, as Matheson was listed as having been released from the Battlehawks on the XFL.com transaction page Friday as well. The signing did not officially hit the wire until Tuesday. The Rams are on their second long snapper of the season, 34-year old Carson Tinker, after rookie Alex Ward was placed on injured reserve. It’s possible that Tinker and Matheson could compete in practice over the next few weeks to see who will be active for the last two regular season games. Matheson becomes the 68th XFL player to sign an NFL contract after the 2023 season.
Another Battlehawk, S Nate Meadors (Battlehawks), was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad on Wednesday. It is Meadors’ first practice squad signing of the season after spending two weeks with the Cleveland Browns in training camp this summer. The Steelers have been hit hard by injuries in their defensive backfield, specifically at safety, in recent weeks.
Amid a controversial week for the Denver Broncos, a late move on Saturday saw WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks) get signed to the active roster from the practice squad. Bandy was promoted over veterans Tre’Quan Smith, David Sills, and Phillip Dorsett, three other receivers on the practice squad. Consider this redemption for Bandy, who had been signed and released from the practice squad five times this season.
Performances
*Making his regular season debut in his first practice squad elevation, DT Bruce Hector (Renegades) played valuable reserve snaps on the interior of the defensive line for the New York Jets against the Cleveland Browns. Though he made his mark in the preseason with his pass-rush prowess, Hector had two tackles (one solo, one assist) in this game, including a tackle for loss on a run play. He played 33% of the defensive snaps, giving starter Solomon Thomas some rest.
*In the same game, G Michael Dunn (Dragons) played 20% of the snaps as an extra blocker, often lined up in a tight end position just off the line of scrimmage on the right side of the line. He also played six snaps on special teams as a blocker on field goals/extra points.
*Back on the Browns’ 53-man roster, QB PJ Walker (Roughnecks) was active but did not play.
*S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) made a solo special teams tackle for the Miami Dolphins against the Baltimore Ravens. It was a touchdown-saving stop on the opening kickoff of the second half that Justice Hill took back 78 yards to the Miami 18-yard line. Campbell played 90% of the special teams snaps and just two snaps on defense.
*As has been the case for some time now, QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats) was inactive, serving as the Baltimore Ravens’ emergency third quarterback.
*Kaleb McGary’s return to health meant a return to the bench for OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) of the Atlanta Falcons. Norton played two snaps on offense, likely the final two offensive snaps of the game as the Falcons ran out the clock. He also played five snaps on special teams.
*In playing 84% of the special teams snaps for the Falcons, S Micah Abernathy (Renegades) made one assisted special teams tackle – like Campbell, it came on the second half kickoff.
*Against an improved Chicago Bears defense, QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) had a game to forget. Heinicke finished a paltry 10-of-29 passing (just a 34% completion percentage) for 163 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Seventy-five of those 163 yards came on a single pass play to RB Tyler Allgeier, which resulted in his lone TD pass. To his credit, Heinicke made hay on the ground, rushing four times for 46 yards and a score. Following his third pick, Heinicke was replaced by Desmond Ridder (Heinicke may have aggravated an ankle injury that saw him appear on the team’s injury report leading up to the game), who himself threw an INT on his first drive. It remains to be seen whether Heinicke or Ridder will start in week 18.
*Though he played just two fewer snaps than a starter at the position, DT LaCale London (Battlehawks) was credited with just one tackle for the Falcons. He played 45% of the defensive snaps in the game.
*With LB Noah Sewell back healthy, LB DeMarquis Gates (Roughnecks) took a seat in the Chicago Bears’ week 17 game against the Atlanta Falcons, as a healthy scratch.
*LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) snapped on three field goals, three extra points and one punt for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Seattle Seahawks.
*Continuing his string of impressive kick returns, RB Godwin Igwebuike (Dragons) returned two for 56 yards (28.0 average) and a long of 31. He was also involved in a special teams assisted tackle for the Steelers. Igwebuike participated in 46% of the special teams snaps.
*In his first practice squad elevation of the season for the Seahawks, DT Austin Faoliu (Sea Dragons) made one assisted tackle, on a Najee Harris first-down run. Faoliu served as a deep reserve, seeing action on just seven snaps (10%) on D.
*Inactive via coach’s decision for the second straight game, it’s clear that TE Donald Parham (Renegades) has fallen out of favor. He’s been leaped on the depth chart by Stone Smartt. Worth noting, Parham is under contract for next season, though a new coaching staff and general manager will be brought in to evaluate the roster.
*Signed to the 53-man roster during the week, WR Michael Bandy (Roughnecks) was active for the Denver Broncos against the Chargers. Playing against his former team, Bandy did not appear on the stat sheet but played two snaps on offense and 29% of the special teams snaps.
*Active as the backup to Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals QB AJ McCarron (Battlehawks) did not play against the Kansas City Chiefs.
*Green Bay Packers P Daniel Whelan (Defenders) looks to close out his 2023 season with some positive momentum heading into 2024. Against the Minnesota Vikings, Whelan punted twice for 99 yards (49.5 avg.) with a net of 47.5. His kicks:
-1st punt: From the Green Bay 23-yard line with 14;08 left in the first quarter. One of his best punts of the season, 54 yards with a hangtime of 5.22 seconds. Zero return yardage from the returner.
-2nd punt: From the Green Bay 21 with 47 seconds left in the first half. This punt was not as good, though the final yardage ended up looking decent. The hangtime was just 3.77 seconds, with the punt bouncing at the Minnesota 40, fielded at the 34 for a return of four yards. It was a punt of 45 yards gross and 41 yards net.
*Elevated from the practice squad for the second time in as many weeks, WR Lucky Jackson (Defenders) again played just one snap on offense. He played 33% of the special teams snaps, down from 46% last week.
