Tag: International Player Pathway

Saints are keeping Charlie Smyth on the practice squad

Well that’s a relief. Irish kicker Charlie Smyth has cleared waivers, and has returned to the Saints’ practice squad:

The New Orleans Saints were able to retain one of their own high-priority practice squad players, after waiving Charlie Smyth he has cleared waivers and been signed to the Saints practice squad, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. This comes after the Saints kept second-year kicker Blake Grupe and waived Smyth, presumably in hopes that he would clear waivers and they could retain him long-term.

Smyth did not have a significant chance to play in the preseason, missing time due to a minor injury later on but also losing most reps due to Grupe getting the first look. His most notable moment however was his first NFL kick, which was a 37-yard game-winner in the first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. It was a big moment for the rookie kicker from Ireland, who the Saints are retaining with an International Player Pathway roster exemption.

He has been routinely hitting 60-plus yard field goals in training camp according to multiple reporters, including a 65 yarder in their practice at Yulman Stadium (which may have been good from further distance, by the looks of it). It will be nice to have depth at the kicker position, in the event that Grupe begins to struggle, there are options to be had this time.

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Chiefs cuts: Kansas City parts with Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit

According to a report, the Kansas City #Chiefs decided to release promising ex-rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on Tuesday.

Among the players cut by the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday was Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who was among the team’s most heavily publicized players during training camp.

Signed as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program in the 2024 offseason, Rees-Zammit showed promise in all three of Kansas City’s preseason games, but his inexperience showed.

Despite the Chiefs’ decision to move on from him, Rees-Zammit is still a prospect who should be on the radars of football fans around the country, who only got a first glimpse of what he is capable of over the last few weeks.

Though his time in Kansas City has come to an end for now, Rees-Zammit is likely to be a candidate to sign with the Chiefs’ practice squad if he isn’t offered a deal on another team’s 53-man roster in the next few days.

Stay tuned to see where Rees-Zammit lands after his release on Tuesday.

Saints waive rookie kicker Charlie Smyth, an International Player Pathway standout

The Saints have waived rookie kicker Charlie Smyth, ending the battle with Blake Grupe — for now. The International Player Pathway program standout could return:

The New Orleans Saints kicker battle has come to a close for now, with rookie Charlie Smyth being sent to waivers per Nola.com’s Luke Johnson, and confirmed by NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett. This is an intriguing one, as it clearly indicates Blake Grupe winning the starting kicking spot at this point in time, and subjects Smyth to waivers even as an IPP player. But the rookie from  Ireland could still return.

If Smyth were to make it through waivers, he would most likely end up on the practice squad for the Saints, and in the event of Grupe struggling at some point, could be utilized. However, his making it through waivers is no guarantee, as other teams will have seen his game-winner against the Arizona Cardinals, as well as his potential with a strong leg, and consider making the move if they need a kicker.

This unfortunately leaves the Saints in somewhat of a limbo, as they have to sit and wait to see if he will clear waivers before doing anything to get him back, but regardless, hopefully he will end up back with the Saints.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Charlie Smyth is the Saints Player of Day 39

We continue our daily countdown of days remaining to the Saints Week 1 kickoff and the corresponding jersey numbers with No. 39, kicker Charlie Smyth.

The 2024 NFL season is getting closer to being a reality for fans, as we have only 39 days left until the New Orleans Saints Week 1 bout against the Carolina Panthers. As we continue to count down the days until this first matchup for the Saints, we will look at the corresponding jersey number to the remaining days, which today is kicker Charlie Smyth, who comes to the Saints from Northern Ireland.

Smyth takes over the number from Lou Hedley who held it last season, and the number has a relatively long history, with it’s most notable wearer being former defensive back Brett Maxie, a quality player for the Saints back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

With that said, let’s take a look at Smyth’s background up to this point, as well as what we should or can expect from him this upcoming season.

  • Name (Age): Charlie Smyth (22)
  • Position: Kicker
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: N/A
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $795,000
  • College: St Colman’s College & St Mary’s University College
  • Drafted: Signed via NFL International Pathway Program
  • NFL experience: Rookie

Charlie Smyth is one of the more intriguing players on the Saints roster this upcoming season, as he was signed to the team this offseason through the International Pathway Program. He signed a three-year contract with the Saints in March after competing at the NFL Scouting Combine where he hit 12 of 16 field goal tries, and made 8 of 10 at his pro day with one connecting from 60 yards out.

He previously played Gaelic football for the Down County team, as well as the Down’s Ulster Under-20 championship team. Gaelic football is somewhat of a cross between American football and rugby, but Smyth’s skillset there as a goalkeeper led to him hoping to get an NFL tryout as early as July 2019. He will be competing with last year’s placekicker Blake Grupe, who certainly had his struggles as a rookie. We will see where the position battle takes us, but as of right now, Smyth has a phenomenal opportunity to win a starting job in the NFL.

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Lions add a new International player to the roster

Lions add DL David Bada from the NFL’s International Player Pathway

There is a new international flavor in Allen Park after the latest roster move by the Detroit Lions. The team has signed free agent defensive lineman David Bada following the second training camp session.

Bada is a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. As such, he does not count against the team’s 90-man camp roster.

A 29-year-old native of Germany, Bada has been with the Washington Commanders since the 2020 season, primarily on the practice squad. Bada missed the 2023 season after tearing a triceps in Washington’s training camp last summer.

The Lions had offensive lineman Max Pircher, from Italy, in 2022 and 2023 as part of the IPP. The 293-pound Bada takes his place.

Ex-rugby player Thomas Yassmin ‘fits right in’ with Broncos

Former rugby player Thomas Yassmin does not count against Broncos’ roster limit this summer as part of NFL’s International Player Pathway.

NFL teams are allowed to carry 90 players on their rosters during the offseason. If they have a player from the league’s International Player Pathway program, clubs are granted an extra 91st spot on the roster.

The Broncos are utilizing that extra spot this summer by rostering international tight end Thomas Yassmin. The Australian-born rookie played rugby growing up in Sydney before switching to American football in college. Yassmin (6-5, 251 pounds) spent five years at Utah as a tight end.

Denver coach Sean Payton was asked how Yassmin looked during spring practices last month.

“Not bad,” Payton said on June 12. “I have to get used to the Aussie accent. You are expecting a punter or kicker, and he’s a tight end. I think he did a pretty good job. He belongs.”

Yassmin’s best season with the Utes came in 2022 when he hauled in 13 receptions for 301 yards and six touchdowns. With 47 college games on his resume, the tight end joins the Broncos with more experience than a typical IPP player.

“These international players come to you in different ways,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said last month. “Some guys were rugby players, some guys just have traits. He has big-time college experience, so he’s a little further along maybe than your average international player. He fits right in.”

Yassmin will be a longshot to make Denver’s 53-man roster, but teams can carry an extra intentional player on the practice squad during the regular season. That will definitely help Yassmin’s chances of making the practice squad in 2024, and he’ll be an intriguing player to watch at training camp this summer.

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Broncos might fill their international roster spot with an ex-rugby player

Australian-born ex-rugby player Thomas Yassmin could be a candidate to fill the Broncos’ international roster spot this summer.

As the Denver Broncos fill out their 90-man offseason roster by signing undrafted free agents, they’ll have the opportunity to add an extra player if they choose to do so.

As part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, teams can carry an international player who does not count against the offseason roster. Clubs will also have an extra spot on the practice squad for an international player in 2024.

One candidate to fill that spot for the Broncos is Utah tight end Thomas Yassmin, who is one of 13 undrafted free agents who have agreed to sign with Denver.

Yassmin (6-5, 251 pounds) was born in Sydney, Australia. He grew up playing rugby and played for The Scots College in New South Wales. He then went to Utah for college and began playing American football for the first time.

In his final two seasons with the Utes, Yassmin totaled 21 receptions for 390 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 18 games. The player’s agent, Ryan Hays, told the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson that he’s eligible for the IPP program.

Earlier this offseason, the Broncos worked out Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, but he opted to instead sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. Last year, Denver was allocated defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi as part of the IPP program, but the Broncos did not re-sign him this spring.

Yassim might be a candidate to fill the international spot in 2024. We are tracking all of Denver’s UDFA signings on Broncos Wire.

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Ex-Broncos DL Haggai Ndubuisi signs with Commanders

Former Broncos DL Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi has joined the Commanders. Denver still has an open spot on the roster for an international player.

The Washington Commanders have signed former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

Ndubuisi (6-7, 323 pounds) is a Nigerian player who participated in Osi Umenyiora’s UpRise Academy program in Africa before being invited to an international NFL combine in London in 2021.

Ndubuisi joined the league’s IPP program in 2022 and he was allocated to the Arizona Cardinals. After spending preseason in Arizona that year, Ndubuisi was later allocated to the Broncos in 2023.

After practicing as an offensive lineman in Arizona, Ndubuisi switched to the defensive line in Denver. He spent all of the 2023 campaign on the Broncos’ practice squad, but Ndubuisi was not signed to a reserve/future contract at the end of the season.

Ndubuisi had a brief stint with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in February before joining the Commanders earlier this week. He will continue playing as a defensive lineman.

The NFL has given each team an extra spot on the offseason roster for international players and an extra spot on each practice squad for an international player this season. Denver worked out Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit last month, but he opted to join the Kansas City Chiefs instead.

With Ndubuisi moving on, the Broncos have an open spot for an international player in 2024.

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New Orleans Saints sign international kicker Charlie Smyth from Northern Ireland

The New Orleans Saints are signing international kicker Charlie Smyth from Northern Ireland. He’ll have a great opportunity in black and gold:

Here’s some competition for Blake Grupe. The Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler reports that the New Orleans Saints are signing rookie kicker Charlie Smyth as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program. Smyth hails from Northern Ireland and previously worked as a goalkeeper for County Down’s Gaelic football team.

He’s only been kicking an NFL football since August, but the 22-year-old is already good from distances of 60 yards in practice. He’ll have a chance to develop with a respected special teams coaching staff and possibly push Grupe. We’ll see if he can perform in a new environment over the summer.

The Saints haven’t shied away from adding international players before. Their punter Lou Hedley is Australian, and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi values the different skill sets that players from foreign backgrounds can offer.

Because Smyth is joining the Saints as an IPP player, he will not count towards the 90-man offseason roster limit for training camp. Odds are stronger for him to hang on with the team’s practice squad after roster cuts in September than to unseat Grupe altogether, but you never know. Stranger things have happened in the NFL.

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Lions sign OL Max Pircher as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program

Pircher is from Italy and spent the last two years with the Rams as part of the program

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The Detroit Lions have added another player to the offensive line depth chart. This one won’t count against the 90-man roster limit, however.

The team announced on Monday it has signed Max Pircher, who is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Originally from Italy, Pircher played for the Los Angeles Rams in the last two seasons after joining them via the same program.

Pircher joins tight end Patrick Murtaugh as international players on the Lions roster entering minicamp. Murtaugh, from Australia, signed earlier this offseason via the International Player Pathway program as well. Players in the IPP are able to practice with the team but do not count against the 90-man active roster limit until the regular season starts. If they are signed to the active roster, they do then count.

Murtaugh will not be with the Lions after an injury.

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