Tag: derrick kelly

Panthers extend tryout invitations to three more XFL players

The Panthers have extended tryout invitations for three more XFL players, including the son of a beloved wide receiver.

Even after wrapping up a pretty important draft and picking through its ensuing free agents, the Carolina Panthers still have some roster spots to fill—and they could be doing so with an awfully familiar name.

As announced on Sunday night, the team has extended tryout invitations to three XFL players. The trio includes offensive tackle Derrick Kelly, center Dohnovan West and receiver Austin Proehl—son of former Panthers wideout Ricky Proehl.

A Charlotte native and University of North Carolina product, Proehl has made stops with eight different professional squads over the past six years. Originally a seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Bills back in 2018, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound pass catcher has also picked up NFL stints with the Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants.

Proehl began his second run in the XFL in 2023, as a member of the St. Louis Battlehawks. He reeled in 25 catches for 223 yards and a touchdown over nine games.

The 27-year-old also has an invite from the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.

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Saints claim OL Derrick Kelly off of waivers from the Jets

The Saints claimed journeyman offensive tackle Derrick Kelly off of waivers from the Jets, reuniting with one of their former backups:

There were just a few roster moves reported by the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire, with the big news being the return of Derrick Kelly. Kelly, who turns 27 next week, turned pro with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State back in 2019. He wasn’t re-signed after the 2021 season and ended up with the New York Jets, who released him at this week’s NFL roster cuts deadline.

Kelly played 16 snaps at left tackle for the Jets in their first preseason game — the Saints have deployed him primarily at right tackle and, in a pinch, at left guard in the past. He brings more experience than other backups on the roster like undrafted rookies Sage Doxtater and Lewis Kidd, but should still slot in behind the likes of Landon Young and Trevor Penning with Ryan Ramczyk and James Hurst holding down the starting jobs.

But that’s assuming everyone is healthy, which wasn’t the case on Wednesday with Ramczyk and Young resting while Hurst, Penning, and Doxtater left practice with apparent injuries (Penning, at least, was able to return to close out the session). The Saints could use all the reinforcements they can get after losing another experienced backup, Ethan Greenidge, to a season-ending injury.

As for their other move on the wire: defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson has been designated to injured reserve. Johnson, 28, recently re-signed with New Orleans after missing five days of practice and their first preseason game, having been waived on Aug. 10. Now his year is over with an injury. The specifics of what he’s dealing with remain undisclosed, but it’s a tough break for a player in his position.

And as for the Saints: they could be looking for a replacement in the interior rotation — as it happens, the Jacksonville Jaguars released nose tackle Malcom Brown on the same day, who first arrived in Jacksonville through a late-summer trade with New Orleans. Maybe another reunion is in the cards. Stay tuned.

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Giants-Bears Week 17: Offense, defense and special teams snap counts

The New York Giants lost their Week 17 game against the Chicago Bears. Here are the snap counts on offense, defense and special teams.

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The New York Giants had the doors blown off them in Week 17, falling to the Chicago Bears by a score of 29-3 at Soldier Field. It was a game that ended (for the Giants) after the very first play.

It was a new low for the Giants. And that’s saying something considering how poorly the 2021 regular season has gone. Unfortunately, they’ll have one more opportunity to outdo themselves in Week 18 against the Washington Football Team.

But before we look ahead, let’s look back. Here are the snap counts that contributed to the Giants’ latest humiliation.

Offensive snaps: 56
Defensive snaps: 66
Special teams snaps: 23

The Giants did a lot of rotating along the offensive line on Sunday — specifically at left guard where Wes Martin and Ben Bredeson platooned. They also frequently used a jumbo package with Derrick Kelly serving as an extra blocker.

Defensively, with Adoree’ Jackson back in action, Jarren Williams saw a significantly reduced role. Jaylon Smith also appears to be taking snaps away from other linebackers — he took 70% of all defensive snaps.

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Giants place Andrew Thomas, C.J. Board on injured reserve

The New York Giants have placed OT Andrew Thomas and WR C.J. Board on injured reserve and made a flurry of other roster moves.

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The New York Giants will be without starting left tackle Andrew Thomas for at least three weeks after he was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.

Thomas, who had already been dealing with a foot injury, got rolled up on during Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He left the game and was later diagnosed with an ankle injury on the opposite leg of his foot injury.

In addition to Thomas landing on IR, the Giants also placed starting kick returner C.J. Board on injured reserve after he suffered a fracture forearm in the same game.

Thomas and Board become the latest in a long, long line of Giants landing on IR or missing significant time due to injury.

Replacing Thomas and Board on the 53-man roster are wide receiver Dante Pettis and offensive lineman Korey Cunningham, each of whom were signed off the practice squad.

Both Pettis and Cunningham had been elevated last week and made their on-field regular season debut.

Meanwhile, the Giants terminated the practice squad contracts of tight end Jake Hausmann and guard Cole Banwart.

With several spots open on the practice squad as a result of the roster shuffle, the Giants also officially signed linebacker Benardrick McKinney, wide receiver Travis Toivonen and offensive tackle Derrick Kelly to the reserve unit.

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Michael Thomas officially active for Week 9 vs. Bucs

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas is active for Week 9’s “Sunday Night Football” game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Well, that’s that: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas is active for the first time since Week 1, having missed seven weeks due to injuries and a one-game benching. Thomas turned in several days of limited participation in Saints practice before dressing out for Sunday night’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The return of the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year can’t be understated, even if he’s playing on a pitch count. Having him back in the lineup will demand coverage assignments shifted towards him — and away from other weapons like Alvin Kamara, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jared Cook. It’s a lot for Drew Brees to work with.

Remember, linebacker Kwon Alexander (recently acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers) is not yet eligible to play while the Saints have been granted a one-week roster exemption. He’s expected to debut next week against his old 49ers team.

Here is the full list of inactive players from both squads in Week 9:

From the Saints

  • LB Kwon Alexander (roster exemption)
  • OT Derrick Kelly
  • RB Ty Montgomery
  • CB Ken Crawley

From the Buccaneers

  • G Ali Marpet (concussion)
  • QB Ryan Griffin
  • WR Justin Watson
  • RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
  • DL Khalil Davis

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