Panthers announce flurry of practice-squad moves, including 4 additions

The Panthers have signed RB Emani Bailey, TCU’s leading rusher from 2023, to their practice squad along with three others.

The Carolina Panthers made a handful of moves to their practice squad on Tuesday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has signed four players to the group—including running back Emani Bailey. The 23-year-old is an undrafted rookie out of Texas Christian University.

A Dallas, Texas native, Bailey played his first two seasons of collegiate ball (2020 to 2021) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Over 16 games as a Ragin’ Cajun, he rushed for 702 yards and eight touchdowns on 112 carries.

Bailey transferred over to TCU in time for the 2022 campaign, where he was positioned behind Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado on the Horned Frogs’ depth chart. He took over starting duties in 2023, running for 1,209 yards and eight scores in 12 games.

The 5-foot-8, 201-pounder broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs this past spring. Bailey would, however, be selected in 2024 UFL draft in July—as he was taken in the third round by the Birmingham Stallions.

He’d remain with the Chiefs through the summer and go on to appear in all three of their preseason contests, amassing 29 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

Carolina also added wide receiver T.J. Luther, tight end Dominique Dafney and outside linebacker Thomas Incoom—who was waived from the 53-man roster this past Saturday.

To make room for the signings, the Panthers released wide receiver Sam Pinckney and safety Alex Cook from the practice squad.

They also placed running back Dillon Johnson and tight end Stephen Sullivan on the practice squad/injured list. Sullivan, as noted by head coach Dave Canales on Monday, sustained a “pretty significant” knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Washington Commanders waive former Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman

Tough break for him

After using up his college eligibility at Notre Dame, quarterback [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag] set his eyes on professional football.

After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, the Washington Commanders scooped him up as a free agent. If it didn’t work out, he also could go to the Birmingham Stallions, who drafted him into the UFL a few months later.

While the door isn’t completely closed on Hartman’s NFL aspirations, he’ll need to prove that he belongs in the league. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network is reporting that Hartman will not be on the Commanders’ roster to start the season but could remain part of the organization:

Hartman’s preseason showing left a little to be desired. He completed eight of 13 passes for 83 yards and no touchdowns, only playing in the Commanders’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. The longest pass he completed was for 19 yards.

The NFL can be unforgiving, so let’s hope Hartman eventually can clear the necessary hurdles to make it there.

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Former Husker signs with Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive tackle Carlos Davis returns to the NFL after spending last season with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League.

A former Nebraska defensive lineman has signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Defensive tackle Carlos Davis returns to the NFL after spending last season with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League.

Davis played at Nebraska from 2016 to 2019. In 48 career games, he recorded 125 tackles, 14.0 for loss, and 9.5 sacks. Following his career in Lincoln, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Last season with Birmingham, he appeared in nine games and recorded 23 tackles. He also had four tackles for loss and seven sacks for the Stallions.

After two seasons in Pittsburgh, he would also spend time with the Atlanta Falcons. His brother Khalil Davis is a defensive tackle for the Houston Texans.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Kevin Austin Jr. is Saints Player of Day 42

Countdown to Kickoff: Kevin Austin Jr. is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 42

The New Orleans Saints are now only 42 days away from kicking off their regular season against the Carolina Panthers. That makes today’s player of the day Kevin Austin Jr. — the Saints didn’t  have anyone wearing No. 42 when he joined the team, so this is a good opportunity to highlight Austin, who chose No. 81. Let’s get to know the newest member of the Saints:

  • Name (Age): Kevin Austin Jr. (24)
  • Position: Wide receiver
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 9.89
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $795,000
  • College: Notre Dame
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2022 (Jacksonville Jaguars)
  • NFL experience: Year 3

Austin is the Saints’ newest member, having signed just before the start of training camp. This was after Austin Suited up for the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL. He caught 15 passes for 253 receiving yards, scoring two touchdowns. The Stallions won the UFL championship, and Austin was targeted three times in the championship game.

Before all of this, Austin attended Notre Dame, where he caught fire his senior year, catching 48 passes for 888 receiving yards. After going undrafted, he signed with the Jaguars. He was eventually released and that is when he signed with the Birmingham Stallions.

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Adrian Martinez signs with New York Jets ahead of 2024 season

The New York Jets announced on Saturday that it signed UFL MVP Quarterback Adrian Martinez ahead of the 2024 season.

A former Husker is returning to the NFL following an MVP season in the UFL. On Saturday, the New York Jets announced that it signed UFL MVP Quarterback Adrian Martinez ahead of the 2024 season.

Martinez played for the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League. He earned UFL MVP honors by throwing for 1,749 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 528 yards. Martinez’s performance helped Birmingham to a UFL Championship, where he was named the game’s MVP.

Martinez entered the UFL after being undrafted and signed by the Detroit Lions in 2023. The Lions waived Martinez during the final roster cuts before picking him up by Birmingham. He now joins a Jets quarterback room that includes Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, and Andrew Peasley.

Martinez played four seasons at Nebraska before transferring to Kansas State in 2022. In his final season with the Huskers, Martinez threw for 2,863 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming the first player in school history with four 1,000-yard passing seasons.

He also averaged 308.0 yards of total offense per game, breaking his school record set during his freshman season. In his lone season at Kansas State, Martinez threw for 1,261 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 627 yards and ten touchdowns.

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Former Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman gets selected in UFL draft

Congrats Sam!

It’s a pipe dream for the [autotag]Birmingham Stallions[/autotag] of the UFL and quarterback [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag].

The former Notre Dame star is currently rostered by the Washington Commanders, but that didn’t stop the back-to-back-to-back champions from selecting him in the 9th round of their draft.

It may seem a bit low considering the talent in the league, and that’s Hartman is currently with an NFL team. However, taking a shot at a player of his caliber in that round makes perfect sense. Most likely players taken that late won’t even make a roster, so drafting a potential big-time prospect is a solid move.

Hartman now has options if it doesn’t work out with the Commanders, he knows he’ll continue to play football.

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Commanders QB Sam Hartman selected in the UFL draft

Commanders QB Sam Hartman selected in the UFL draft.

If quarterback Sam Hartman doesn’t make the Washington Commanders’ 53-man roster this summer, he could have a fallback option. The United Football League held its draft on Wednesday, and Hartman’s name was included.

The defending UFL champion Birmingham Stallions selected Hartman in the ninth round. All 10 UFL teams made 10 picks each.

The Stallions went 9-1 last season and defeated the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL championship game. Quarterback Adrian Martinez completed almost 59% of his passes last season for 1,749 yards, with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions.

In addition to Martinez, the Brahmas also have former NFL third-round pick Matt Corral. The Panthers selected Corral in the 2022 NFL draft and released him ahead of the 2023 season.

While Hartman went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, the Commanders gave him a significant signing bonus to sign as an undrafted free agent. Washington selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall and viewed Hartman as a potential long-term backup.

Hartman spent the first five seasons of his college career at Wake Forest, where he started 45 games before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season. Hartman started all 12 games for the Fighting Irish last season.

Whether Hartman ends up on the Commanders’ roster or not, he should find work in the NFL, even if it’s on a practice squad. However, if he did choose to play in the UFL, Birmingham would hold his rights.

Browns UDFA WR Ahmarean Brown drafted by UFL’s Birmingham Stallions

At least he has a backup plan if he can’t make the practice squad in Cleveland!

Signing with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL draft, wide receiver Ahmarean Brown now has a fallback option with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions as well.

The Browns have an established roster, so the chances of Brown making their roster are slim to none. However, landing on the practice squad is always an option for the former South Carolina Gamecock as well.

If the Browns opt not to give him a slot on their practice squad though, Brown could be UFL-bound after the Stallions selected him with the last pick in the eighth round.

He’s undersized at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds and was relatively unproductive throughout his college career with both Georgia Tech and South Carolina. He racked up just over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns in five seasons at the collegiate level.

Even practice squad players make more than UFL players, so if he’s given the chance to stay in Berea, he will take it.

Birmingham Stallions make a bad bet on Saints rookie in UFL college draft

The UFL’s Birmingham Stallions picked Saints rookie tight end Dallin Holker in the spring league’s college draft. What does it mean?

This is a little unusual — a New Orleans Saints player who is actively under contract with the black and gold heard his name called in the UFL college draft. Rookie tight end Dallin Holker, who played college football at Colorado State, was the Birmingham Stallions’ fifth pick in the spring league draft. So what does that mean?

For now, nothing. Holker has already reported for training camp with the rest of the Saints’ rookies and is preparing to hit the practice field at UC Irvine next week. And he has a great opportunity to make their 53-man roster in September and be active on game days.

With Juwan Johnson sidelined after foot surgery, the only players in front of him are Foster Moreau, Michael Jacobson and Tommy Hudson. The Saints also brought in Jesper Horsted after Johnson’s procedure, and Taysom Hill is also moonlighting at tight end and fullback, among other positions.

The Stallions are betting that Holker won’t make the team, and that the spring league presents a better opportunity than he’d fine on an NFL practice squad. But the Saints have made a sizable investment in him, and it sure looks like Holker is in their plans.

Holker received more guarantees in his rookie contract ($235,000) than two  Saints draft picks, sixth-round defensive tackle Khristian Boyd ($178,828) and seventh-round offensive lineman Josiah Ezirim ($98,416). That suggests the Saints plan on him at least signing with their practice squad if he doesn’t  make the 53-man roster.

So the Stallions own his rights if he becomes available. It’s not a bad fallback plan. We’ve seen other players excel at the USFL and in the XFL before their merger into the UFL and return to New Orleans like practice squad defensive linemen Niko Lalos and Jack Heflin. But Holker will likely only play for Birmingham if he doesn’t sign a reserve/future contract with a team in January, and that will only happen if he doesn’t remain with the Saints on their practice squad. If he’s on the roster (as is very likely) it’s out of the question entirely.

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Former Husker quarterback’s jersey displayed in Pro Football Hall of Fame

The jersey worn by Adrian Martinez of the Birmingham Stallions during their victory in the inaugural UFL Championship Game is now being shown in Canton. 

A former Nebraska quarterback has had his jersey displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The jersey worn by Adrian Martinez of the Birmingham Stallions during their victory in the inaugural UFL Championship Game is now being shown in Canton.

Martinez and the Stallions defeated the San Antonio Brahmas 25-0 in the inaugural United Football League Championship Game. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after the victory.

The quarterback played four seasons at Nebraska, from 2018-21, before transferring to Kansas State to finish his career. While in college, he threw for 9,391 yards and 49 touchdowns with 30 interceptions. Martinez also ran for 2,847 yards and 44 touchdowns.

A game ball and a jersey Martinez wore in the UFL title game have been placed on display in the Hall of Fame’s “Pro Football Today Gallery.”

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