Tag: Darius Phillips

Watch: Former Bengals CB Darius Phillips makes huge play in UFL

Another former Bengals player making big highlights in the UFL.

AJ McCarron isn’t the only former member of the Cincinnati Bengals making big plays in other football leagues these days.

Just look at former Bengals cornerback Darius Phillips, a fifth-round pick by the Bengals in 2018 who now suits up for the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas.

Over the weekend, Phillips halted a potential game-changing drive by the opposing offense deep in his own territory by picking off a pass and returning it back the other way to about the five-yard line.

Phillips, who remained with the Bengals through the 2021 season, is one of many former Bengals players suiting up in the UFL right now.

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Colts worked out WR Jarvis Landry among several players

Here are the eight players the Indianapolis Colts worked out Tuesday, including WR Jarvis Landry.

The Indianapolis Colts held a workout for several players Tuesday, including five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

The Colts wound up signing one player from the group of workouts, and it’s clear they had an eye to find a potential return specialist, which is likely why they signed Jaydon Mickens to the practice squad.

The Colts still have one more spot open on the active roster after suspending Isaiah McKenzie and Tony Brown for conduct detrimental to the team so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they added another player from this group.

Here’s a look at the eight players the Colts worked out Tuesday:

Lions shuffle up the veterans on the practice squad

Lions shuffle up the practice squad, adding veterans Anthiny Averett and Anthony Firkser to the mix

On a day where the Lions did not have a practice, Detroit made some changes to the team’s practice squad.

The Lions brought in two experienced vets to the unit, adding TE Anthony Firkser and CB Anthony Averett. To make room, Detroit dumped CB Darius Phillips and WR Trey Quinn from the practice squad.

Firkser is a 28-year-old who has played for several NFL teams since entering the league out of Harvard in 2017. He was last with the Patriots on their practice squad. He’s caught 115 passes in his career.

Averett brings starting experience of his own, as well as some special teams and postseason work in his time with the Ravens.

Neither Phillips nor Quinn appeared in a game for the Lions, though Quinn did have some action in the preseason.

Former local college standouts among the Lions tryouts after Week 2

The Detroit Lions held tryouts for 7 players on Tuesday, including a couple of familiar local college products

Tuesday was tryout day in Allen Park for the Detroit Lions. The Lions worked out seven players during the off day from practice, per the NFL’s transaction wire.

A couple of the players will be familiar names to fans of college football in the Mitten State. Former Michigan State defensive end Kenny Willekes and Western Michigan cornerback Darius Phillips were among the septet of tryout players. From the D-II level, running back Nate McCrary from Saginaw Valley State also worked out.

The other tryouts:

LB Mitchell Agude

CB Chris Jackson

RB Abram Smith

LB Jordan Smith

No players were immediately signed.

Texans sign rookie punter, release CB Darius Phillips, waive OT Jacky Chen

The Houston Texans signed P Ty Zentner, released CB Darius Phillips, and OT Jacky Chen.

The Houston Texans are tinkering with their roster as they prepare to take on the New Orleans Saints Aug. 27 at the Caesars Superdome.

The club announced Friday they signed undrafted rookie punter Ty Zentner, who had previously been with the Philadelphia Eagles since rookie minicamp. Philadelphia released Zentner on Aug. 18. The Kansas State product had a 46-yard punt in the first preseason game, and was able to showcase his talents in the second contest with five punts for 199 yards, a 39.8 average.

The Texans released cornerback Darius Phillips, a former Cincinnati Bengals 2018 fifth-round pick. Phillips also spent time with the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.

Houston also waived rookie tackle Jacky Chen.

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1 pending free agent Chargers should target: AFC West Edition

Listing one free agent from each of the Chargers’ division rivals who could be a fit for them.

The Chargers won’t be as aggressive as they have been in recent years when it comes to signing free agents.

While they’re cash-strapped, general manager Tom Telesco will likely make some moves to have some spendings available to them so they can sign some low-cost players.

That said, I will list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.

First up is the AFC West.

Broncos place 2 players on IR, add 2 players to 53-man roster

Broncos moves: LB Dakota Allen and CB Darius Phillips to IR; OT Christian DiLauro and QB Jarrett Guarantano promoted to 53-man roster.

The Denver Broncos made several injury-related roster moves early this week ahead of a Christmas Day showdown with the Los Angeles Rams.

First, the Broncos placed linebacker Dakota Allen (hamstring) on injured reserve on Monday, the team announced. To fill Allen’s former spot on the 53-man roster, Denver promoted offensive tackle Christian DiLauro from the practice squad.

After that, the Broncos placed cornerback Darius Phillips (hamstring) on injured reserve on Tuesday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Phillips is one of 11 Denver players who have missed time due to hamstring injuries this season.

To fill the spot created by Phillips’ move to IR, the Broncos promoted quarterback Jarrett Guarantano from the practice squad to the active roster, Brandon Krisztal of KOA Radio first reported on Tuesday.

Guarantano served as Denver’s backup quarterback behind Brett Rypien in Week 15. With Russell Wilson set to return this week, Guarantano will get bumped down to QB3 duties, but a promotion to the 53-man roster is a nice consolation.

Story update: The Broncos announced Tuesday evening that they also signed guard Parker Ferguson and defensive back Devon Key to the practice squad and released inside linebacker Harvey Langi.

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Broncos ‘feel good’ about cornerback depth chart

“I feel good,” Broncos GM George Paton said of the team’s CB depth chart. “We have a good mix of veteran and younger players.”

The Denver Broncos have impressive talent at the top of their cornerback depth chart, but the depth is a little shallow behind the top three options.

Pat Surtain and Ronald Darby are the locked-in starters on the outside with experienced vet K’Waun Williams playing on the inside.

Behind them, the Broncos have promising — but unproven — rookie Damarri Mathis and newly-signed veteran Darius Phillips.

“We have five corners, that’s typically what teams [keep], five or six,” general manager George Paton said last week. “I feel good. We have a good mix of veteran and younger players. ‘Darb’ and K’Waun are kind of the veteran [leaders] and really Pat is really a vet, he’s a second-year vet. Then you have this young, really talented kid in Damarri Mathis, and I think he’s ready to go if he has to play.”

The Broncos also have Essang Bassey available on the practice squad, along with rookies Faion Hicks and Ja’Quan McMillian.

“[Bassey] can do everything,” Paton said. “He can play inside; he can play outside, and he’s played a little safety.”

Additionally, Denver also has cornerback Michael Ojemudia (elbow) on injured reserve, and he’ll be eligible to return in Week 5.

Broncos fans will hope the team’s depth at cornerback won’t be tested this year, but if injuries do pop up, Paton seems to be confident in the team’s depth at the position.

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Broncos make another change to 53-man roster

Broncos added Darius Phillips and cut Essang Bassey. They also signed OT Will Sherman to the practice squad.

This is why “initial” is emphasized when NFL teams release initial 53-man rosters after cuts each August.

The Denver Broncos released their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday and it has already seen multiple changes. After bringing back two players and placing two players on injured reserve yesterday, the Broncos made another change on Thursday.

Denver signed veteran cornerback Darius Phillips and waived fellow cornerback Essang Bassey to make room for him on the 53-man roster. The team also signed offensive tackle Will Sherman to the practice squad.

The Broncos have two open spots remaining on the practice squad. One of them will likely go to Bassey if he clears waivers. Denver might be saving the other spot for wide receiver Seth Williams, who has drawn interest from other teams in addition to the Broncos.

So while the 16-player practice squad is still being finalized, here’s how the team’s 53-man roster looks as the team approaches Week 1.

Offense

QB: Russell Wilson, Brett Rypien

RB: Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone

FB: Andrew Beck

TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Eric Tomlinson, Eric Saubert

WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Montrell Washington, Jalen Virgil, Tyrie Cleveland

OT: Garett Bolles, Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson, Cam Fleming

G: Dalton Risner, Quinn Meinerz, Graham Glasgow

C: Lloyd Cushenberry, Luke Wattenberg

Defense

DE: Dre’Mont Jones, DeShawn Williams, Eyioma Uwazurike

NT: D.J. Jones, Mike Purcell, Matt Henningsen

OLB: Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Aaron Patrick

ILB: Josey Jewell, Jonas Griffith, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad

CB: Pat Surtain, Ronald Darby, K’Waun Williams, Darius Phillips, Damarri Mathis

S: Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell

Special Teams

K: Brandon McManus

P: Corliss Waitman

LS: Jacob Bobenmoyer

Denver also still has room for three more players on the practice squad.

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Broncos sign CB Darius Phillips, cut CB Essang Bassey

The Broncos are adding more depth and experience at cornerback by bringing in Darius Phillips.

The Denver Broncos are signing cornerback Darius Phillips, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Phillips (5-10, 190 pounds) entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of Western Michigan with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018. He went on to play four seasons in Cincinnati, totaling 73 tackles, 23 pass breakups, five interceptions and three forced fumbles in 47 games (10 starts).

In addition to adding depth and experience in the secondary, Phillips will also add more depth on special teams. He returned 25 punts for 177 yards and eight kickoffs for 169 yards with the Bengals last season.

Cincinnati opted to not re-sign Phillips when his contract expired in March and he then signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. He was a surprise cut when the Raiders trimmed their roster down to 53 players earlier this week.

In Denver, Phillips is poised to serve as the team’s fourth-choice cornerback behind Pat Surtain, Ronald Darby and K’Waun Williams. The Broncos also have rookie Damarri Mathis providing depth at cornerback.

To make room for Phillips on the 53-man roster, Denver will waive fellow cornerback Essang Bassey. If he clears waivers, Bassey will presumably be a candidate to return on the practice squad.

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