Jake Bates #38 of the Michigan Panthers kicks a 62-yard field goal during the second quarter against the Birmingham Stallions at Ford Field on April 07, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/UFL/Getty Images)
Two UFL players made initial NFL 53-man rosters that were announced on Tuesday. Barring further movement, Arlington Renegades DE Jalen Redmond and Michigan Panthers K Jake Bates will start the regular season on the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions respectively. Another eighteen UFL players were signed to NFL practice squads on Wednesday.
Redmond signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2023. He was waived in August and signed with Arlington in December. He battled injuries throughout the 2024 UFL season and appeared in just four games. He was still able to lead the Renegades in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (five). Redmond was one of the first UFL players to sign into the NFL at the conclusion of the spring season.
While not the most accurate kicker in the UFL, Bates made headlines with several long field goals. He was 6-for-10 beyond 50 yards on the season. He was reported to have many suitors and chose to stay in Michigan and kick at Ford Field for the Lions, the same stadium he played in for the Panthers. Prior to his UFL stint, Bates, a kickoff specialist in college, signed with the Houston Texans as a college free agent last year.
Wednesday was the first day teams could add players to their practice squads. Eighteen UFL players were signed, all with the team they attended training camp. They are:
-DE Jonathan Garvin, San Francisco 49ers (Stallions)
-CB Nate Brooks, Cincinnati Bengals (Panthers)
-WR Deon Cain, Buffalo Bills (Stallions)
-LB Dondrea Tillman, Denver Broncos (Stallions)
-LS Rex Sunahara, Cleveland Browns (Brahmas)
-WR Kelvin Harmon, Dallas Cowboys (Defenders)
-RB Anthony McFarland, Jr., Miami Dolphins (Brahmas)
-OT Julien Davenport, Atlanta Falcons (Brahmas)
-QB EJ Perry, Jacksonville Jaguars (Panthers)
-QB Adrian Martinez, New York Jets (Stallions)
-WR Brandon Smith, New York Jets (Defenders)
-G Kohl Levao, New York Jets (Brahmas)
-RB Nate McCrary, Green Bay Packers (Panthers)
-DT Walter Palmore, Carolina Panthers (Panthers)
-S AJ Thomas, New England Patriots (Stallions)
-G Liam Fornadel, New England Patriots (Defenders)
-WR Kevin Austin, Jr., New Orleans Saints (Stallions)
-DE Malik Fisher, Houston Texans (Defenders)
Three UFL players are also on NFL injured reserves, meaning they are out for the season and will remain on IR unless they are released with an injury settlement. WR Marcus Simms (Seattle Seahawks – Panthers), TE Sage Surratt (Arizona Cardinals – Showboats) and LB Wyatt Ray (Miami Dolphins – Brahmas) are those players.
Both active rosters and practice squads are fluid throughout the season. UFL players will continue to bounce on and off those rosters as the year progresses. UFL Board will continue to track those transactions, as well as UFL player performance in games on a weekly basis.
