Several former XFL players tried out this week. It began on Monday when RB John Lovett (Vipers) and RB Brenden Knox (Sea Dragons) worked out for the Green Bay Packers. This was both players’ first in-season workout, and Knox’s first of his post-XFL career. He is, unofficially, the 115th XFL 2023 player to work out for an NFL team.
Specialists took center stage on Tuesday. K Taylor Russolino (Renegades) worked out for the Houston Texans, who lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday when Matt Ammendola’s last-second 58-yard field goal bounced off the cross-bar. Ammendola was subsequently waived by the Texans, and Russolino was one of two kickers Houston worked out on Tuesday. They opted to re-sign Ammendola to the practice squad.
The New England Patriots worked out 13 players, most of them special teamers. Among them were K Matthew McCrane (Defenders), WR Matthew Sexton (Vipers), and K John Parker Romo (Brahmas). Sexton was likely getting a look as a returner. The Patriots ended up signing Sexton and K Matthew Wright, who was not part of the workout but who had recently been released by the Atlanta Falcons, to the practice squad.
Also on Tuesday, RB Jacques Patrick (Brahmas) reemerged in a workout with the New York Jets. He was one of four running backs to work out, though none were immediately signed. Of those who worked out Tuesday, Romo is the only one who has participated in more than one workout during the NFL season.
Transactions
Wednesday brought a couple of signings with XFL ties. LB Frank Ginda (Guardians) signed to the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons. In 2020, Ginda was a backup linebacker for the New York Guardians, leading the team in special teams tackles. Most recently, he was named USFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2023 while playing for the Michigan Panthers.
WR Matthew Sexton (Vipers) emerged from a large workout to sign with the practice squad of the New England Patriots. His stay was short-lived, however, as he was released the next day to make room for K Matthew Wright. The Patriots may be looking for insurance at that position with rookie K Chad Ryland struggling.
Speaking of short-lived, DT Bruce Hector (Renegades) was released from the practice squad of the Houston Texans on Thursday. He lasted just a week with the team. It was inevitable that QB AJ McCarron (Battlehawks) would eventually be promoted to Cincinnati’s active roster – the only healthy QB on the 53-man was starter Jake Browning. That promotion came just prior to the Bengals’ Monday night tilt with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Expect McCarron to stay on the active roster for the rest of the season as the backup – provided Browning stays upright.
Performances
*The Denver Broncos are one of the few teams with a healthy quarterback room. It was curious, then, that one of their practice squad elevations this week was QB Ben DiNucci (Sea Dragons). DiNucci was made inactive before the team’s game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, acting as the team’s emergency QB. Perhaps the Broncos simply wanted to reward DiNucci with a gameday paycheck, or perhaps there’s more to the story that has yet to be reported.
*Offense was in short supply in the Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots game. Production for TE Donald Parham (Renegades) was limited to just two catches for 12 yards on four targets. One of the targets that went uncaught was a dropped third-down pass late in the game. Parham played 62% of the offensive snaps, almost identical to first-stringer Gerald Everett’s 64%.
*In another low-scoring contest, the Atlanta Falcons survived the New York Jets, 13-8. QB Taylor Heinicke (Battlehawks) was active but did not play as the backup to starter Desmond Ridder.
*Once again stepping in for an injured Kaleb McGary at right tackle, OT Storm Norton (Wildcats) took over in the second quarter for the Atlanta Falcons and played 78% of the offensive snaps (adding three special teams snaps). It appears that McGary avoided a “long-term” injury, but his status for the upcoming week’s game remains unclear.
*S Micah Abernathy (Renegades) tied for the team lead by playing on 89% of the special teams snaps for the Falcons. He didn’t see any action on defense nor record any stats.
*Fourth-string RB Godwin Igwebuike (Dragons) was active ahead of Anthony McFarland at the position for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Igwebuike’s lone statistical contribution was a kick return that he took back 26 yards, though he did play on 50% of the special teams snaps.
*Pittsburgh LS Christian Kuntz (Renegades) snapped on all punts and field goals for the Steelers.
*One of several players to log three defensive snaps as the Washington Commanders ran the final three offensive plays before time expired, the blowout nature of the Miami Dolphins’ game once again afforded S Elijah Campbell (Defenders) a precious few snaps on D. The rest of his time came on special teams, where he participated in 75% of the plays.
*An extra blocker on 11% of the offensive snaps, G Michael Dunn (Dragons) also played on 12% of the special teams snaps for the Cleveland Browns. One of Dunn’s offensive snaps came on Joe Flacco’s only touchdown pass of the day, an eight-yarder to TE Harrison Bryant.
*With QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson nursing a concussion, the Cleveland Browns turned to newly-signed Joe Flacco to lead them at quarterback over QB PJ Walker (Roughnecks). Flacco had to be elevated from the practice squad to start against the Los Angeles Rams. Walker was the backup, though he did not play. When Thompson-Robinson returns, it’s possible Walker is relegated to emergency QB duties.
*In Green Bay’s controversial upset of the Kansas City Chiefs, P Dan Whelan (Defenders) punted two times for 76 yards, a 38.0 gross and net average, landing both punts inside the 20. An in-depth look at both punts:
-1st punt: From the Kansas City 39 with 18 seconds remaining in the first half, Whelan got off a 36-yarder with a hand-timed hangtime of 4.23. The ball bounced at the eight-yard line and was downed at the three.
-2nd punt: From the Green Bay 41 with 11:44 left in the fourth quarter. A hangtime of just 3.78 seconds, the ball bounced at the 19 and went sideways out of bounds. It was a gross and net of 40 yards.
*In his first game as a member of the 53-man roster in 2023, QB AJ McCarron (Battlehawks) did not play in Cincinnati’s Monday night overtime win over Jacksonville.
Bye: Baltimore Ravens QB Josh Johnson (Wildcats)
Summary
Total XFL players in the NFL, as of Week 13 of the NFL season:
Active Roster (12):
LS Christian Kuntz
QB Taylor Heinicke
S Elijah Campbell
TE Donald Parham
OT Storm Norton
S Micah Abernathy
G Michael Dunn
RB Godwin Igwebuike
QB Josh Johnson
P Daniel Whelan
QB PJ Walker
QB AJ McCarron
Reserve Lists (5):
LS Nick Moore, Baltimore Ravens (Vipers) (Reserve/NFI List)
RB Austin Walter, Las Vegas Raiders (Renegades) (IR)
LS Scott Daly, Detroit Lions (Guardians) (IR)
DT LaCale London, Atlanta Falcons (Battlehawks) (IR)
OT Barry Wesley, Atlanta Falcons (Sea Dragons) (PS IR)
Practice Squad (17):
LB DeMarquis Gates, Chicago Bears (Roughnecks)
TE Tyree Jackson, New York Giants (Defenders)
OT Jaryd Jones-Smith, Washington Commanders (Battlehawks)
LB Jordan Thomas, Carolina Panthers (Battlehawks)
CB Luq Barcoo, Pittsburgh Steelers (Brahmas)
WR Lucky Jackson, Minnesota Vikings (Defenders)
DT Jack Heflin, New Orleans Saints (Roughnecks)
DE Niko Lalos, New Orleans Saints (Sea Dragons)
WR Jontre Kirklin, New Orleans Saints (Roughnecks)
