Tag: Damion Square

Former Alabama players who are set to become NFL free agents this offseason

Every former Alabama player who is set to become a free agent this NFL offseason

On March 17 the NFL free agency will open up and as you would expect there will be several former Alabama players that will be in the open market. Now it is important to remember that some of these players could receive contract extensions from their current teams before hitting free agency

Once free agency begins we will be doing full breakdowns here at Roll Tide Wire on where each of these players signs and how it will impact their new team.

Here is the complete list.

Rams LB Christian Rozeboom is only former Chiefs player expected to play in Super Bowl LVI

The #Rams signed Rozeboom off the #Chiefs’ practice squad in November and now he’ll play in Super Bowl LVI.

In all likelihood, only a single former Kansas City Chiefs player will play in Super Bowl LVI.

Back in November, the Los Angeles Rams poached LB Christian Rozeboom from the Chiefs’ practice squad after an injury to LB Travin Howard. Rozeboom was signed to the practice squad in Kansas City following his release from Los Angeles during 53-man roster cuts ahead of the 2021 NFL season. He got his start with the Rams after signing as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State University in 2020.

Rozeboom did appear in just one game during his time in Kansas City. He was elevated from the practice squad once for the Chiefs this season, appearing in 10 snaps on special teams in the Week 7 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Rozeboom has appeared in 10 consecutive games for Los Angeles dating back to Week 12 of the regular season. He’s played over 50% of the team’s special teams snaps in each of those 10 games. He’s become a key depth piece for them on defense in addition to his contributions on special teams.

It’s possible that another former Chiefs player will play for the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. Defensive lineman Damion Square was claimed off waiver by Kansas City in 2014 and spent nearly two months with the team before he was released. He could be elevated from the Bengals practice squad for Super Bowl LVI as he was against the Chiefs in the divisional round.

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Raiders activate CB Trayvon Mullen, DT Darius Philon from injured reserve

#Raiders activate CB Trayvon Mullen, DT Darius Philon from IR ahead of facing #Chiefs

When the Raiders take the field at Arrowhead Sunday against division rival Chiefs, they will have a couple key cogs back on defense who had been missing much of the season.

The big news is the return of starting cornerback Trayvon Mullen who had been in out since early in the team’s week four loss to the Chargers. Mullen and Casey Hayward had played well as the team’s starting outside corners over the first three weeks.

Starting in his place for most of the games since then has been Brandon Facyson. Facyson has had some good games, but has had some rough outings as well.

Also back from injured reserve is defensive tackle Darius Philon who had been out the past three weeks — the minimum for players placed on injured reserve.

In a corresponding move, the team waived DT Damion Square who had appeared in seven games this season with one start.

How Gus Bradley, former Chargers players have fared with Raiders

Checking in on some former Chargers, who are now on the Raiders ahead of the Week 4 matchup.

Along with letting go of Anthony Lynn earlier this offseason, the entire band of the past few seasons parted ways, including former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

It wasn’t long until Bradley was hired for the same role for AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders.

After finishing in the top 10 in points allowed twice and the top 10 in yards allowed three of the four seasons with the Chargers, Bradley has played a vital role in improving the overall success of the Raiders defense.

Las Vegas was 30th in points allowed in 2020 and hadn’t been under No. 20 since 2006. But Bradley has led a unit that’s allowing only 24 points (15th in the NFL) and 355.7 yards (14th) per game.

Part of Bradley’s vision involved reuniting with some of his former players, five of which suited up in the blue and gold: Casey Hayward, Denzel Perryman, Darius Philon, Roderic Teamer, and Damion Square.

Hayward has been the best of all. His 82.8 overall PFF grade ranks second among corners, and he is third with an 85.0 coverage grade. In addition, he has a passer rating of 42.4 this season, third-best at the position.

Starting at middle linebacker, Perryman has looked like his old self, playing a physical brand of football and always head-hunting. He has produced double-digit tackles every game for a total of 36 so far.

Philon has been a critical rotational piece along the defensive line, contributing to seven total pressures and three run stops.

Teamer has been hampered by an injury, while Square has yet to make his regular-season debut in the silver and black.

Bradley’s defense, which most notably stymied the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson, will now have the task of slowing quarterback Justin Herbert and company next Monday night.

Raiders sign former Chargers DT Damion Square

Raiders sign former Chargers DT Damion Square

Gus Bradley will have another familiar face on the field for the Raiders. They are adding former Chargers veteran defensive lineman Damion Square off the Bears practice squad according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The roster for the Raiders is rather deep at the defensive tackle spot even with the loss of Gerald McCoy, who was carted off the field Monday night. But that seems to be the way they like it.

After entering the league with the Eagles in 2013, Square played six seasons with the Chargers, both in San Diego and Los Angeles. He was elevated from the Bears’ practice squad for their season opener, playing five snaps on defense.

Square joins a long list of Gus Bradley coached players including CB Casey Hayward, LB Denzel Perryman, LB KJ Wright, DT Darius Philon, DE Yannick Ngakoue, and S Roderic Teamer.

Aside from Teamer, who was injured for the game, all of those veteran additions played key roles in the Raiders’ season-opening win over the Ravens. So, clearly adding Bradley players to run his defense is working for them.

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Bears NT Eddie Goldman ruled out vs. Rams

The Bears have ruled out Eddie Goldman vs. Rams, which means rookie Khyiris Tonga should see plenty of action.

The Chicago Bears will be without an important defensive starter when they take on the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football.

The Bears have officially ruled out nose tackle Eddie Goldman for Week 1. Goldman, who tweaked his knee during Monday’s practice, was listed as day-to-day by Matt Nagy. Goldman didn’t practice all week and was listed as doubtful vs. Rams.

Chicago has also elevated linebacker Josh Woods and defensive tackle Damion Square from the practice squad to the active roster. NFL teams are permitted to elevate up to two practice squad players to the active roster by 3 p.m. CT the day before their scheduled game, which gives them the opportunity to carry 55 players on their roster for game day.

With Goldman out, look for Bilal Nichols and seventh-round rookie Khyiris Tonga to split reps at nose tackle, where Tonga is likely to get the start with Nichols at defensive end.

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Saints sign defensive tackle after tryout, waive backup fullback

Saints sign DT Damion Square after tryout, waive FB Sutton Smith

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A series of free agent tryouts this week have resulted in the New Orleans Saints signing some help. Friday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire saw New Orleans report a new addition to the depth chart in defensive tackle Damion Square, who spent his first six years in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Square, 32, weighs in at 6-foot-2 and 293 pounds. He was recently waived after spending training camp with the Cleveland Browns. He’s never been much of a pass rusher (bagging just 8 sacks in 1,196 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus) but could help solidify a position that’s running thin on experienced players with David Onyemata starting the year with a six-game suspension and Jalen Dalton landing on injured reserve.

Right now, the defensive tackles on New Orleans’ roster eligible to play in Week 1 are Square, Malcolm Roach, Shy Tuttle, Christian Ringo, Albert Huggins, R.J. McIntosh, and rookie Josiah Bronson. The team typically only keeps four or five, so at least three of that group will soon be waived and maybe revert to the practice squad.

The corresponding move was the release of fullback Sutton Smith, who was pushing veteran pickup Alex Armah Jr. for the starting job. Smith will test the waiver wire. He had been playing a high number of snaps on both offense and special teams while auditioning for the gig, but the Saints must have seen enough from Armah to call this battle off early. That marks the third preseason roster battle to be settled in as many days — punter Blake Gillikin won his job over rookie Nolan Cooney, while Jameis Winston was of course named the starting quarterback earlier Friday. The Saints’ Week 1 roster is beginning to take shape.

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Browns sign WR JoJo Ward, cut DT Damion Square

The Browns moved on from a free agent addition to add a smaller receiver today.

After making their first cuts earlier this week, the Cleveland Browns continue to make roster moves to best prepare them for the start of the NFL season.

After waiving OL Cordell Iwuagwu, linebacker Montrel Meander and cornerback Kiondre Thomas and placing WR Ryan Switzer and TE Stephen Carlson earlier this week, today the Browns moved on from a defensive lineman and added another receiver.

With injuries limiting many of the Cleveland pass catchers, adding another guy to run routes and catch passes makes a lot of sense. The defensive line has stayed mostly healthy allowing for the team to make a move there.

 

Square was signed by the Browns in free agency after six years with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. The 32-year-old was an added veteran, along with Malik Jackson, to help a defensive tackle group that is quite young. While few believed he would make the roster, the Browns hoped he could help the young guys along.

Ward was undrafted in 2020 and spent the season on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. A smaller receiver, Ward replaces some of what the team got from Switzer prior to his injury.

Browns sign veteran DT Damion Square

Square joins a growing crowd at DT in Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns have added another veteran to the defensive line mix. On Tuesday, the team announced it signed defensive tackle Damion Square to the 90-man roster.

Square comes to the Browns after several seasons with the Chargers. He played every game in the last four seasons and served as a key part of the Chargers interior DL rotation. The 32-year-old Alabama grad notched 20 total tackles and one sack for Los Angeles in 2020.

He joins an overhauled line that also includes recent signees Malik McDowell and Sheldon Day, along with veteran newcomer Malik Jackson and undrafted rookie Marvin Wilson. Andrew Billings is also poised to join the mix after opting out in 2020.

Chargers cancel scrimmage in response to Jacob Blake shooting

The Chargers are among the NFL teams not practicing Thursday in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.

The Los Angeles Chargers joined a handful of NFL teams not practicing Thursday in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.

The Chargers were expected to hold a scrimmage at SoFi Stadium before coach Anthony Lynn announced that they were going to cancel today’s practice after holding an hour long meeting with the team.

Lynn said the team is “committed to winning a championship and also fighting for social justice.”

While Lynn was speaking players of the team walked up to stand behind him.

A handful of other players, including quarterback Tyrod Taylor, defensive tackle Damion Square, running back Justin Jackson and punter Ty Long, then, put on a headset to express their thoughts to the nation.

Blake, a Black man, was shot seven times by police Sunday. Blake was shot as he attempted to enter the driver’s side door of his vehicle with three of his children inside. Video of the shooting was distributed on social media, sparking more protests and causing more athletes to speak out or take action.