Walker and Phillips were arguably the top two players in the XFL during its short season roughly 600 years ago in early 2020. Walker was the league’s runaway MVP candidate, leading Houston to a 5-0 record. Meanwhile, Walker was the XFL’s top receiver, posting 455 yards and nine touchdowns.
First, the team has made the signing of former XFL receiver Cam Phillips (six-foot, 174 pounds) official. He played with backup quarterback P.J. Walker on the Houston Roughnecks and was the league’s most productive wideout. Carolina also signed wide receiver Darrell Stewart Jr. (six-foot, 212 pounds). He played his college football at Michigan State, where he posted four touchdowns and 697 yards on 49 catches last season.
To make room for the two new receivers, the team placed undrafted rookie Omar Bayless on injured reserve. According to the Charlotte Observer, he underwent successful surgery on his knee yesterday. The recovery time is only expected to be a couple of weeks, so we might see him again in 2020.
Cornerback Derrek Thomas was also waived/injured. He left practice early on Tuesday but it’s not clear exactly what happened.
Carolina Panthers trying out former XFL star WR Cam Phillips.
The Panthers hosted are trying out WR Cam Phillips, a star in the recent XFL. He led all players with 455 receiving yards in just five games and lit it up with 9 TDs.
If signed, he'd join his XFL QB P.J. Walker in Carolina.
According to Field Yates at ESPN, the Carolina Panthers are trying out former XFL star wide receiver Cam Phillips, who played with backup quarterback P.J. Walker on the Houston Roughnecks. Phillips (six-foot, 174 pounds) was Walker’s favorite target, leading the league in receiving yards and touchdown catches before the season ended early due to the pandemic.
Assuming Bayless gets put on the injured reserve list, his spot could wind up going to Phillips if he signs.
Even with all the bad news coming out of training camp, this young and fast wide receiver corps is arguably still the strongest position group on the roster. Phillips’ connection with Walker could come in handy if starting QB Teddy Bridgewater ends up on the injury report during the season.
The Panthers also worked out wide receivers Jeff Badet, Saeed Blacknall and Darrell Stewart in addition to quarterback Cole McDonald.
Dolphins reportedly interested in XFL standout wide receiver
The Miami Dolphins are, generally speaking, well off at wide receiver. This group doesn’t have a lot of established talent or consistent production, but the Dolphins receivers boast a 2019 breakout star in DeVante Parker, a promising young rookie to play on the outside opposite of him in Preston Williams and some speedy (although injury prone) targets in Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson. But, as should be the case on a rebuilding team, the Dolphins aren’t considering any position group “finished” just yet, apparently.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Miami Dolphins are one of two teams interested in a former XFL standout receiver, former Virginia Tech Hokie Cam Phillips.
Dolphins and Bengals interested in @XFLRoughnecks wide receiver Cam Phillips
Phillips was a star this winter in Houston with the XFL’s Roughnecks franchise and prior to that enjoyed a productive college career in the ACC, rolling up in excess of 3,000 receiving yards from 2014-2017. Phillip would go on to to be undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft after running a 4.78s 40-yard dash at the Hokies’ pro day that spring.
But play speed didn’t seem to stop Phillips from tearing apart the XFL competition in the 5 games he played with the Houston franchise — will that brief sample size be enough to prompt the Dolphins to take a shot on him? Will they be willing to get into a bidding spat with the Cincinnati Bengals for his services? If the Dolphins ultimately do, Phillips will then have to convince the team he’s worth keeping around once the games start — no easy task.
But we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, we wait to see if Miami wants to pay to take a shot.
Cam Phillips is an XFL name on the radar of the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Cincinnati Bengals free agency might end up including an XFL star.
And that probably wouldn’t be the most shocking development of the team’s unexpectedly aggressive approach to the market this offseason.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Bengals are one of two teams with an interest in Cam Phillips of the Houston Roughnecks.
Over just five games, Phillips caught 31 passes with 455 yards and nine touchdowns before the XFL shuttered its re-debut season due to coronavirus concerns.
Phillips was originally an undrafted free agent in 2018 in Buffalo before taking his talents elsewhere. After an explosion, he’s on the NFL radar in a bigger way than before and could be the second major XFL start to get an NFL contract.
It should go without saying, but Phillips’ numbers led the XFL:
The XFL's leader in receptions, receiving yards, and TDs is still a free agent.
Phillips would be more competition for the wideout group, if not something of a more proven commodity now that he’s gone and dominated a different league.
The Los Angeles Chargers might look to sign these six XFL players.
The XFL cancelled the remainder of their 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic last week.
As a result, players of the league are now allowed to sign with NFL teams as of today. This is noteworthy because originally players wouldn’t have been allowed to sign with teams until after the 2020 NFL Draft.
With that being said, here are six XFL players the Chargers could consider signing:
WR Cam Phillips
There wasn’t any other receiver in the league on Phillips’ level in the five-week stint.
The 24-year old was targeted 44 times for 31 receptions, 455 yards (14.7 average) and nine touchdowns. He won XFL Player of the Week in three weeks.
Phillips began his professional football career with the Bills after going unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent two offseasons with Buffalo before joining the XFL last year.
Given the need for depth at the wide receiver position, Phillips would be a fine acquisition.
Next XFL game, only 2 minutes in and we already got a deep ball touchdown.
The Chargers shored up the offensive tackle position with the signing of Bryan Bulaga. However, the retooling is far from over, and they will be looking for more depth.
Norton was the No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Wildcats in the XFL’s offensive line draft. The 25-year-old ended up as Pro Football Focus’ highest graded XFL offensive lineman.
Norton went undrafted out of Toledo in 2017. He’s spent time with the Lions, Cardinals, and Vikings.
The Chargers franchise tagged Hunter Henry, ensuring that he will be back next season. Behind him is Virgil Green, who hasn’t stepped up in the receiver role and Sean Culkin, who has drawn durability concerns.
Parham, the 6-foot-8 and 240 pounder led XFL tight ends with 24 receptions for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
Even though he is a liability in the blocking department, the former Stetson product has an impressive skillset in the receiving game where he dominates at the catch point and has the straight-line speed to attack the seam and make plays down the field and in the red zone.
The Chargers addressed the cornerback position with the signing of Chris Harris Jr. But it’s expected that he will primarily play in the slot, which leaves a need to be filled on the outside.
Campbell was Pro Football Focus’ top graded coverage cornerback. He broke up two passes, blocked one punt and had a 60.9 passer rating when targeted. For his efforts, the 5-11, 190 pounder also made CBS Sports’ “All-XFL Team.”
RB Matt Jones
The Chargers running back room is made up of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson after Melvin Gordon signed with the Broncos days ago. Even though they could roll with just those two, they would benefit from Jones’ skillset.
Jones, the 6-foot-2 and 227 pounder has very good athleticism for a big back and is a physical pile-mover who is difficult to bring down. That physicality also shows up in the pass blocking department where defenders struggle to get by him.
The 27-year old ranked second in the XFL with 314 rushing yards. Jones, who played with the Redskins for two seasons combined for 950 rushing yards during two seasons with the team from 2015 to 2016.
The Chargers released Thomas Davis prior to the new league year. While they have Denzel Perryman, Drue Tranquill and Kyzir White slated to start, they need to add more depth at such a critical position on the defensive side of the ball.
Prior to the XFL, Thurman enjoyed a productive career in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders, amassing 134 tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles in two seasons. The 6-foot and 225 pounder had 28 tackles and one interception with the DC Defenders.
With XFL players free to sign with NFL teams, here are seven names the Baltimore Ravens could be interested in during free agency
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted sports all across the world with several big-name events being delayed or even canceled. One such event was the 2020 debut campaign for the XFL, which stopped after just five games. With the spring league cutting its inaugural season short, any players who took part are now allowed to sign with an NFL team, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
For many of the XFL’s players, playing a handful of live games this spring has allowed them to put some tape together and hopefully impress both scouts and general managers. Plenty of small school prospects that likely just got missed previously got a chance to show what they could do against some standouts.
With the NFL in the middle of free agency and a whole new market of players opened up to sign, here are seven players the Baltimore Ravens could be interested in bringing aboard.
Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
WR Cam Phillips
Phillips played for the Houston Roughnecks and ending up leading the XFL in all three major receiving categories. Phillips finished the season with 31 receptions for 455 yards along with nine touchdown catches.
Phillips was an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech in 2018 although he did spend most of that season with the Buffalo Bills. Phillips played two games for the Bills, catching his only target for nine yards.
The Ravens need to get more out of their wide receivers in 2020 and haven’t really addressed the position in the early stages of free agency. Phillips’ production for the Roughnecks makes him a player that should certainly be on the radar of most NFL teams.
The XFL officially announced the cancellation of the rest of the 2020 season, bringing a short end to the league’s recreation thanks to the coronavirus.
While many felt the league’s sustainability was in question, the league’s innovative rules and overall talent level seemed sustainable, and as of now they have every intention of making a return in 2021.
However – they’ll likely have to do it without many of their best players, as the NFL will be free to sign players from the XFL onto their rosters starting Monday, March 23 at 6:00 a.m. PT.
NFL teams may begin signing XFL players on Monday at 9 a.m. ET.
Many of the XFL’s star players will now get a chance to show what they can do at the game’s highest level.
The Seahawks have already showed interest in at least one key player from the XFL ranks, and there are a handful of others who could be of interest to this team as they look to build a 90-man roster ahead of training camp.
Now that XFL players are free to sign with NFL rosters, here are five players the Buffalo Bills should pursue.
As NFL free agency begins to heat up, players who hoped to better their stock by playing in the XFL are now looking to cash in on their risk.
The league, which prematurely concluded its season last week due to the COVID-19 outbreak, has informed players that they are free to sign with NFL teams if they so choose, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
As first-and-second-tier free agents begin to ink deals with new franchises this week, teams may start to look to XFL alumni to add competition to their roster.
Though the Buffalo Bills have wasted no time in adding elite talent to its roster this offseason, there are a few XFL veterans who could prove to be interesting and valuable additions.
Here are five former XFL players that the Bills should pursue.
When put up against fellow NFL rejects and cast outs, P.J. Walker shined.
He was dubbed ‘the Patrick Mahomes of the XFL’ by many, finishing the inaugural XFL season with a 65 percent completion percentage and a 15-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Walker dominated the XFL news cycle throughout the entirety of the season, leading the Houston Roughnecks to a 5-0 start. Had the league been able to conclude its campaign, Walker likely would have been named MVP at year’s end.
He was the reason why many people tuned into the XFL each and every week. Despite this, don’t expect the 25-year-old to continue his stretch of dominance should he ultimately land on an NFL roster. Walker is a talented quarterback who showed exceptional athleticism and intelligence throughout his short stint in the XFL.
He did so, however, when facing off against teams made up of NFL camp bodies and those looking to prolong their professional football careers. Walker, himself, was once an NFL camp body, spending the 2017, 2018, and 2019 preseasons with the Indianapolis Colts, never making the team’s 53-man roster.
Walker undoubtedly showed upside in the XFL, but it’s important to note the context in which he showed this upside. Though he was the best player in the spring league by a longshot, don’t expect an NFL team to bring him in and allow him to compete for its starting quarterback job.
Though it’s unrealistic to expect the uncrowned XFL MVP to win a starting job in the NFL anytime soon, he’s still an incredibly intriguing option for teams looking to improve their quarterback room.
This is why Buffalo should have some interest.
The Bills currently have just three quarterbacks on their roster – Josh Allen, Matt Barkley, and Davis Webb, a now fourth-year signal-caller who spent the 2019 season on Buffalo’s practice squad. Though one could argue that Walker would not be an upgrade at the bottom of the depth chart, his play-style makes the idea of his addition intriguing,
Walker is an instinctive quarterback. Throughout the XFL season, he consistently showed confidence in the face of pressure and wasn’t afraid to improvise when plays broke down, often using his athleticism to buy time for a receiver to get open or to simply pick up yardage with his legs.
Though one would never physically mistake the 5-foot-11 Walker for the 6-foot-5 Allen, the impromptu nature of both of their games is what makes Walker a potential fit in the Bills’ offense.
Walker is at least more instinctive and athletic than Barkley, a relatively immobile passer who failed to impress in limited action last season. Though Webb is far from a poor athlete, he lacks the on-the-fly decision-making ability that made Walker the player that he was in the XFL.
Given his instinctive nature and underrated arm strength, Walker is perhaps more similar to Allen than either Barkley or Webb, something that would allow Buffalo’s offense to continue in rhythm should Allen ever be forced to leave the field for an extended period of time.
The Bills’ offense, at times, benefits from Allen’s improvisation. Having a backup quarterback who is capable of an at-least similar level of impromptu play certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea.
There’s no risk in allowing Walker to compete for the Bills’ backup quarterback job. If he’s unable to supplant Barkley and Webb on the depth chart, Buffalo can release him at the end of the preseason – no harm, no foul.
If he ultimately wins the team’s backup role, however, he’d be a high-upside safety net that would allow the team’s offense to semi-normally operate in the event of an Allen injury.
XFL players are now allowed to sign with NFL teams, so the New York Giants may want to check out P.J. Walker, Donald Parham and others.
With the XFL suspending their inaugural season this week due to the coronavirus outbreak, their players will immediately become free agents for NFL teams to sign.
The XFL has advised players they can sign immediately with teams in the NFL or any other league once their exit physicals are complete tomorrow, per sources. So for the stars — Josh Johnson, P.J. Walker, Jordan Ta’amu, et al. — a chance to land quickly.
For the New York Giants, that could mean a number of things. The team’s facility is closed but that may not preclude them from inquiring about several players seeking second chances in the NFL such as quarterback P.J. Walker or tight end Donald Parham.
Walker was the XFL’s first-ever Star of the Week as the QB of the Houston Roughnecks. He had an impressive 1,338 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions in five games played. Walker is a contrast to Daniel Jones and the Giants might want more versatility at quarterback behind Jones and Alex Tanney.
Walker is from Elizabeth and played his college ball at Temple. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 as an undrafted free agent and spent the better part of two seasons on their practice squad.
Parham hails from Stetson and stands 6-feet-8 and weighs 237 pounds. He spent some time on the practice squads of the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions in 2019 before hooking up with the Dallas Renegades of the XFL.
Parham had 24 receptions for 307 yards and four touchdowns. With the Giants seeking some depth at tight end, they could be interested.
Another XFL player the Giants (and other teams) should be eyeing is Houston wide receiver Cam Phillips (31 receptions, 455 yards with 9 TD), a former Virginia Tech star who played the 2018 season with the Buffalo Bills.
