Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
8 former New Orleans Saints players are getting a second shot with USFL teams, including the New Orleans Breakers:
The 2023 XFL season is drawing to a close, but the upstart USFL is just getting started. With multiple spring leagues up and running, many former New Orleans Saints players are getting another opportunity to keep pursuing their pro football careers.
We’ve already discussed the dozens of former Saints players making a go of it with the XFL. Now let’s shift focus to the USFL, where at least eight former members of the black and gold are getting a second shot:
The Houston Texans have signed QB Jeff Driskel to the active roster as part of four total transactions on Wednesday.
The Houston Texans are giving Jeff Driskel a promotion.
The Texans signed the quarterback off the practice squad and added him to the active roster on Wednesday. The move comes after the former San Francisco 49ers 2016 sixth-round pick went 4-6 for 38 yards and a touchdown while carrying seven times for 36 yards in the 27-23 close loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.
The Texans also signed wideout D.J. Montgomery to the practice squad. The former Cleveland Browns 2019 undrafted free agent has not been with an organization since the Indianapolis Colts cut him on Aug. 22, the second wave of preseason cuts.
Houston also placed receiver Jalen Camp on the practice squad/injured list.
The Texans put offensive lineman Jordan Steckler on the practice squad/designated to return list.
The Houston Texans make 18 roster moves ahead of their Week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Houston Texans are going to play the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.
Albeit the Texans will be without a swath of players, they are getting some back from injured reserve and will also get some players off the practice squad.
Defensive coordinator Lovie Smith is confident in the Texans and the coaching staff to be able to get players ready to go against the Chargers.
“As far as football, being able to go and this is why we teach the offense as opposed to coming in and being able to memorize plays,” Smith told reporters on Dec. 22. “In a situation like this where Sunday we may be down a few people, I’m not quite sure yet. Guys are able to step in and able to go and function at a high level. Our guys and our coaching staff have done a great job preparing everyone on the roster for whatever their role may be and right now we are trying to figure out who we are going to have available and what spots we are going to be able to put them in to put us in the best spot to win a football game.”
Here are the 18 roster moves the Texans made.
The Houston Texans have seven players total as COVID-19 replacements against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15.
The Houston Texans are elevating seven players total from their practice squad to ease through the COVID-19 outbreak that has hit their roster ahead of their Week 15 rematch with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As previously reported, the Texans elevated receiver Jordan Veasy, linebacker Connor Strachan, and defensive back Grayland Arnold.
The Texans also elevated tight end Paul Quessenberry, linebacker Chris Smith, and tackle Jordan Steckler.
Houston already declared quarterback Deshaun Watson (not injury related), safety Justin Reid (concussion), and cornerback Jimmy Moreland (illness) out for the Jaguars game.
The Jaguars are elevating one player from the practice squad in running back Nathan Cottrell, who is a standard elevation.
The Houston Texans have signed offensive linemen Jake Eldrenkamp, Jordan Steckler to the practice squad.
The Houston Texans have added offensive line depth to their practice squad.
The team announced Tuesday they have signed guard Jake Eldrenkamp and tackle Jordan Steckler to the practice squad.
Steckler was a part of the Texans’ training camp and preseason roster, and gives the Texans a familiar face as they evaluate their depth along the edge of the offensive line.
Eldrenkamp is a career practice-squadder who started out as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. Eldrenkamp was waived at the end of the 2018 preseason, and then caught on with the Cleveland Browns practice squad in the 2018 season. At the end of the year, he signed a reserve/future contract with the New England Patriots, but didn’t make it out offseason workouts in 2019.
In 2019, Eldrenkamp played with the Indianapolis Colts through 2021 preseason. In his time with Indianapolis, the former Washington product was active for two games in the 2020 season.
In late September, Eldrenkamp was signed to the Patriots practice squad, but didn’t even spend a week with the team.
The Houston Texans added to their offensive line depth with former New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots G-T Jordan Steckler.
The Houston Texans have made their first roster move under new general manager Nick Caserio.
The Texans signed former Northern Illinois guard-tackle Jordan Steckler to a one-year contract, according to his agent Brett Tessler.
Steckler signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Although he didn’t make the team by the end of preseason, the New England Patriots signed Steckler to their practice squad on Oct. 27. At that time, Caserio was the Patriots’ director of player personnel.
The move allows the Texans to add depth to the offensive line while evaluating where they want to go with the position, especially given the underwhelming play of Zach Fulton last year combined with the alleged lack of progress from second-year guard Max Scharping, who was a teammate of Steckler’s at Northern Illinois.
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