Ex-Broncos backup QB named starter for UFL’s Houston Roughnecks

Remember Jarrett Guarantano? He had a brief stint with the Broncos in 2022. He’s now set to start in the UFL this spring.

A former Denver Broncos (backup) quarterback has been named a starter in the United Football League (a new spring league formed by the merger of the XFL and USFL).

The Houston Roughnecks will start Jarrett Guarantano in their season opener next weekend, coach Curtis Johnson announced Wednesday.

Guarantano, 26, played college football at Tennessee and Washington State before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. After the Cardinals released Guarantano from their practice squad midway through his rookie season, he tried out for Denver. Two weeks later, the Broncos signed Guarantano to their practice squad.

He was elevated to the game-day roster in Week 15 to serve as a backup behind Brett Rypien (Russell Wilson was out with a concussion). Guarantano was fully promoted to the 53-man roster the next week. Denver cut the QB last summer and he signed with the UFL last December.

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Guarantano isn’t the only QB who had a cup of coffee with the Broncos set to play in the UFL this spring.

Case Cookus, who lasted three days in Denver during the 2021 offseason, has had quite a journeyman career. After his brief stint with the Broncos, Cookus went on to spend time with three NFL teams, one CFL team and one USFL team. He is now set to play for the Memphis Showboats in 2024.

Two other ex-Denver quarterbacks — Paxton Lynch and Kyle Sloter — were backups in the XFL last spring but are now free agents.

Also of note: former Broncos coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will serve as the head coach of the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas.

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Saints aren’t tendering wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr.

The Saints aren’t tendering Lynn Bowden Jr., which means only 3 of the 11 wide receivers who played for them last year are set to return for 2024:

Get ready for a new-look New Orleans Saints wide receiver corps in 2024. The Saints will not be tendering veteran wideout Lynn Bowden Jr., per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, which will make him a free agent when the new league year begins on March 13.

This isn’t too surprising in itself. Bowden primarily worked as a blocker and decoy for the Saints, only drawing 16 targets in 15 games last year while catching 11 passes for 83 yards, picking up a pair of first downs. He also recorded 5 rushing attempts for 32 yards on the ground, moving the chains three times. He was a serviceable emergency returns specialist, averaging 7.6 yards per punt return and 21.3 yards per kick return. That isn’t production teams pay top-dollar for.

But things are interesting under the surface. Fowler initially said that Bowden was an exclusive rights free agent, not a restricted free agent, which he later said was a mistake. Not tendering Bowden as a restricted free agent made sense because it costs at least $2,985,000. Re-signing Bowden at the league-minimum salary is an option.

Maybe he returns later as a minimum signing, but it’s possible that the Saints will be moving on as offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak revamps the receiving corps. Bowden is the latest wideout from New Orleans’ 2023 team to depart thus far. Let’s break it down:

  • Michael Thomas will enter free agency on Wednesday after being released from his contract
  • Marquez Callaway signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after his practice squad deal expired
  • Shaquan Davis chose to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles in similar circumstances
  • Kirk Merritt is playing for the UFL’s Houston Roughnecks
  • Jontre Kirklin is with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas as well
  • Keith Kirkwood will be an unrestricted free agent, too
  • If you’re curious, the Detroit Lions signed Tre’Quan Smith

Which leaves Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry as the only receivers returning for the 2024 season (so far). It’s possible Kirkwood and Bowden return at some point but Kubiak has a big opportunity to retool this depth chart. Stay tuned to learn what his plan for accomplishing that is.

Update: Fowler corrected his report, clarifying that Bowden was a restricted free agent (RFA), not an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA). So that confusion can be chalked up to a typo. Maybe the NFL can workshop some abbreviations which aren’t so easy to mistake for one another?

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Tiyon Evans to play for Houston in 2024

Former Vol Tiyon Evans to play for Houston in 2024.

Former Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans will play for the Houston Roughnecks in the United Football League during the 2024 season.

Evans played for the Vols in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel.

He totaled 81 rushing attempts for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 2021 at Tennessee before transferring to Louisville.

In his debut for the Vols, Evans recorded 120 rushing yards and one touchdown against Bowling Green.

The 2024 season is the first for the UFL. The UFL formed after the United States Football League and XFL merged in Nov. 2023.

UFL’s 2024 season begins March 30 as Birmingham (2023 USFL champion) plays Arlington (2023 XFL champion).

The UFL has eight teams in 2024, featuring 40 regular-season games and three postseason contests.

ABC, ESPN, Fox and FS1 are the league’s televisions partners.

Marcus Tatum to play for Houston in 2024

Former Vol Marcus Tatum to play for Houston in 2024.

Former Tennessee offensive tackle Marcus Tatum will play for the Houston Roughnecks in the United Football League in 2024.

Tatum played for the Vols from 2016-19 under head coaches Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt.

During his final season at Tennessee, he made seven consecutive starts on the offensive line. Tatum appeared in 12 games, including five starts, for the Vols in 2018.

He started against Kentucky in the Vols, 24-7, victory. Tennessee totaled 215 rushing yards and 412 total yards against the Wildcats.

In 2017, Tatum appeared in four games, including two starts.

The 2024 season is the first for the UFL. The UFL formed after the United States Football League and XFL merged in Nov. 2023.

UFL’s 2024 season will kick off on March 30 between Birmingham (2023 USFL champion) and Arlington (2023 XFL champion). The season will feature eight teams, 40 regular-season games and three postseason contests.

ABC, ESPN, Fox and FS1 are UFL’s television partners.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Two former Dolphins sign with XFL teams on Thursday

Some former Dolphins find homes in the XFL.

Around the NFL, there are only 2,208 roster and practice squad spots for players to make a name for themselves. So, if a player can’t find a place to play with one of the 32 teams, they have the option to go to another league.

That’s exactly what two former Miami Dolphins did on Thursday, as offensive lineman Larnel Coleman and defensive back Keidron Smith have signed with the Houston Roughnecks and Orlando Guardians, respectively, of the XFL.

Coleman, 25, was a seventh-round pick of the Dolphins in 2021 after a collegiate career at UMass. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve and was on Miami’s practice squad in 2022 when he was signed by the Carolina Panthers. He’s only played in one NFL game.

Smith, 24, was an undrafted free agent signed by the Dolphins after this year’s draft following his time with Kentucky. However, he was waived during roster cuts. He spent some time with the Washington Commanders practice squad.

The XFL season is planned to begin in late March 2024.

Saints backups Niko Lalos, Jack Heflin benefiting from XFL experience

Saints backup defensive linemen Niko Lalos and Jack Heflin are using the benefits of XFL experience in pursuit of coveted roster spots:

The rejuvenated XFL has sold itself as a spring league where players on the fringe of NFL rosters can hone their craft and develop themselves for future pro opportunities, and it’s tough to argue with the results that New Orleans Saints defensive linemen Niko Lalos and Jack Heflin have found.

Both young players had starring roles in the XFL last season — Lalos with the Seattle Sea Dragons, Heflin on the Houston Roughnecks — and now they’re making compelling cases as the Saints look ahead to roster cuts on Aug. 29. Saints head coach Dennis Allen was very complimentary of the growth he’s seen from Lalos in particular when asked about his progress.

“He’s a guy that’s worked extremely hard, he was on the practice squad last year,” Allen recounted. “He went and played in the XFL this year. I think that was good experience for him to get out there and play. He’s been putting some good stuff on tape. It’s a position that we’re pretty deep at so there’s a lot of competition there. We’ll evaluate where that tape was, but he did do some good things tonight.”

Lalos just bagged 3 sacks and a few other pressures against the Los Angeles Chargers. Heflin has consistently generated pressure in both of their preseason games. Their arrows are trending up. So how can they make the roster?

It’s going to be very difficult for Lalos to unseat anyone at defensive end, but he’s done everything possible to try it. Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, Payton Turner, and Isaiah Foskey are locks for the roster, barring an unforeseen injury or trade. Tanoh Kpassagnon signed an extension earlier this offseason. He may have some trade value but it’s not likely any of the top five players will be moved. The Saints typically keep five defensive ends on the active roster and often one of them is a healthy scratch on game days. Lalos needs to make Kpassagnon look expendable. It’s too soon to say whether he’s accomplished that.

What about Heflin? His chief competition is Malcolm Roach, a longtime Saints backup who has steadily developed and climbed the depth chart. Nathan Shepherd, Khalen Saunders, and Bryan Bresee are roster locks. The team rarely keeps more than four of them on the 53-man lineup at a time with another interior lineman or two stashed on the practice squad. Roach has had a productive summer too, so Heflin needs to keep it up while pushing him.

Odds are good that both guys will end up on the practice squad. We tend to overrate players we watch every day and each week compared to others around the league, and all 32 teams have players like Lalos and Heflin they’re hoping to sneak through the waiver wire so they can return to the practice squad. It’s always possible one or both of them gets claimed. At the same time, one or both of them could clear waivers and stay in New Orleans.

But it would be easier if they won roster spots outright. Continuing to fight off competition like Kyle Phillips, Prince Emili, and Jerron Cage while pressuring Roach and Kpassagnon will do a lot of good. Iron sharpens iron, and the Saints have a nice competition brewing at the bottom of their depth chart. Maybe that energy can continue to rise to the top.

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Former LSU wide receiver, special teams ace Jontre Kirklin signs with Saints

Former LSU wide receiver, defensive back, special teams ace, and bowl-game quarterback Jontre Kirklin has signed with the Saints | @DillySanders

Here’s an interesting move: NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported that the New Orleans Saints signed former LSU Tigers playmaker Jontre Kirklin after a successful tryout. One of the most versatile football players in school history, Kirklin did everything at LSU.

Nominally listed as a wide receiver (though he totaled just 313 receiving yards and 3 touchdown catches in four years), Kirklin covered punts and kickoffs while also returning them and sometimes lining up in the backfield. He even played defensive back earlier in his career. But his most impressive feat came in his final game as a Tiger, when Kirklin was a surprise starter at quarterback against Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, where he went 8-of-12 for 151 passing yards, scoring 3 touchdown passes against a pair of interceptions.

“He’s a god,” gushed Dylan Sanders, our own contributor here at Saints Wire who also covers LSU athletics for 247 Sports. “I’m joking, but he was like one of those guys that was around forever and never really broke out but was an amazing locker room guy and super consistent depth piece.”

Kirklin weighs in at 5-foot-11 and just 184 pounds, so he’s not likely to see a Taysom Hill-style role offensively (Hill maintains a playing-weight at around 230 pounds0. He’s an intriguing athlete, though, with a passable 6.08 Relative Athletic Score and very impressive numbers in the jumps — leaping 42 inches vertically and 11-foot-6 broad. After initially signing with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Kirklin played for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks.

We’ve seen special teamers catch on with the Saints before. Backup free safety J.T. Gray has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition in that role while rarely playing many minutes on defense. Other reserves like running back Dwayne Washington, linebacker Andrew Dowell (who was recently lost for the season with a torn ACL), cornerback Justin Hardee Sr., and defensive back Chris Banjo have also earned roster spots for their work in the kicking game. So keep a close eye on Kirklin when he gets his shot at Saints training camp. He’ll be wearing jersey No. 85.

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Chiefs to host Houston Roughnecks WR Michael Bandy for tryout

The #Chiefs are set to host a former NFL and now-XFL wide receiver for a tryout.

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The Kansas City Chiefs continue to take a look at the XFL talent pool as they form their 90-man offseason roster.

Their latest foray into the XFL comes on the offensive side of the ball, with the team reportedly set to host Houston Roughnecks WR Michael Bandy on a tryout. Bandy appeared in just two games for Houston, recording five receptions for 35 yards. Two of his receptions convereted first downs. Only one player on the Roughnecks who caught a pass had less receiving production.

Bandy got his start with the Spring League before earning an opportunity in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers. He played collegiately at San Diego and went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft. He appeared in 11 games with the Chargers over the past two seasons, registering two starts in 2022. He had 10 receptions on 21 targets for 89 yards. He also plays special teams, both coverage and kick return, with 4 kicks returned for 88 yards with Los Angeles back in 2021.

The Chiefs have already hosted their rookie minicamp, so this will either be an individual tryout taking place or he’ll be invited to work with the team at the onset of organized team activities. OTAs begin for the Chiefs on Monday, May 22.

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Dolphins invite XFL OL to 2023 rookie minicamp

He’s the second XFL player to receive an invite.

The Miami Dolphins added four players to the roster in the 2023 NFL draft, and the team also added over 20 undrafted free agents as well.

With the three-day event in the rearview, Miami has shifted their attention to their rookie minicamp, which will take place May 12-14, as the NFL announced last week.

Rookies, both drafted and undrafted, will have an opportunity to start working on the practice field with their new coaches, but they’re not the only ones.

Teams are also permitted to invite players on a try-out basis, and while they can be rookies, they don’t have to be.

Harvard running back Aidan BorguetWyoming offensive lineman Eric Abojei, Duke cornerback Datrone Young, Marshall quarterback Henry Colombi and St. Louis Battlehawk (XFL) defensive end Freedom Akinmoladun are among the names that have received invites.

A second XFL player has received one as well, as the league announced that Houston Roughnecks guard Jack Snyder has been invited to both the Dolphins’ and Ravens’ minicamps.

Snyder was the first overall in the offensive line portion of the 2022 XFL draft after a collegiate career at San Jose State and a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent.

During his time with the Spartans, he set a school record for most starts, with a majority coming at left tackle. He earned First-Team All-Mountain West honors in 2020 and Second-Team honors in 2021.

Snyder has experience playing guard and tackle, so there’s a chance that his versatility earns him a contract after a few days of work with the coaches, especially considering Miami’s weakness and injury history at the positions.

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Below-.500 Renegades stun Roughnecks to gain XFL championship game

The Arlington Renegades upset the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL South Division championship game

A team whose record is South of .500 is the South Division champion in the XFL.

The Arlington Renegades came into Saturday’s playoff game with the Houston Roughnecks at 4-6 and losers of 4 of 5.

They had lost to the Roughnecks twice in the regular season.

In this third version of the XFL, the third time proved to be the charm for Bob Stoops and his Renegades.

Led by quarterback Luis Perez, the Renegades downed Houston 26-11 and will face the winner of Sunday’s North Division title clash between the Seattle Sea Dragons and D.C. Defenders.

The Renegades scored a season-high in points in the victory and held Houston to fewer points than any team Arlington had faced in the 2022 season.

Perez, who went to Arlington from Las Vegas during the season in the league’s first trade, was 19-of-27 for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns.

JaVonta Payton had 5 catches for 121 yards and a pair of scores for the Renegades.

De’Veon Smith rushed 24 times for 94 yards.

Houston started 4-0, lost three straight, and then won its final three games to capture the South regular-season title.

It didn’t matter in the South title game as Arlington was the better team and will be the division’s representative on May 13 in the championship clash at the Alamodome.