Tag: Lorenz Metz

Bucs sign international player to bolster offensive line depth

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing Lorenz Metz as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added yet another offensive lineman to their roster, signing Lorenz Metz, the team announced Monday as they began their offseason program.

Originally from Germany, Metz comes to the Bucs as a member of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, and therefore will not count against the team’s 90-man roster.

Metz played his college football at the University of Cincinnati, but didn’t play American football at all until he was 18 years old, per Bucs senior writer Scott Smith.

Listed at 6-9 and 310 pounds, Metz signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears last year, and also received a tryout with the New York Giants, per Smith.

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Giants sign OL Julién Davenport, waive LB Troy Brown

The New York Giants signed OT Julién Davenport following a workout in East Rutherford on Tuesday and waived/injured LB Troy Brown.

The New York Giants rested most of their starters and had a few reserves sit out last Friday night against the Detroit Lions, but one thing was still glaringly obvious: they have depth issues along the offensive line.

Perhaps more specifically, the Giants have depth issues at offensive tackle behind Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal, who remains in concussion protocol.

In an effort to remedy that, the Giants held workouts on Tuesday in East Rutherford led by offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.

Among those in attendance were Julien Davenport and Lorenz Metz, with the former ultimately getting signed.

The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Davenport was originally a fourth-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2017. He quickly became a journeyman, spending time with the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and Arizona Cardinals in addition to the Texans.

In six seasons, the 28-year-old Davenport has appeared in 60 career games with 32 starts. His last regular season appearance came in 2021 with the Colts.

Davenport’s best analytic season came in 2020 when he earned an overall grade of 72.3 courtesy of Pro Football Focus. That same year, he posted an 87.6 pass blocking grade.

In 2021 with the Colts, Davenport earned a career-low 45.3 overall grade from PFF.

In a corresponding roster move, the Giants waived linebacker Troy Brown with an injury designation. If he clears waivers, he will revert to the reserve/injured list.

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Bears 2023 training camp preview: Offensive line

Our next Bears position preview is the offensive line, a group that will look very different than it did in 2022.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a month away, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

We’re unveiling our Bears 2023 training camp position previews, where we’re breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.

Rounding out the offensive side of the ball is the offensive line, a group that only has one projected starter playing the same position they played in 2022. Braxton Jones is back at left tackle but the rest of the line has done more shuffling than the 1985 Bears.

Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair were both prominent starters in 2022 who are now playing new positions, while newcomers Nate Davis and Darnell Wright were added to anchor the right side of the line. Meanwhile, players like Lucas Patrick and Larry Borom are now backups after entering last year’s camp as starters.

Here’s a closer look at the Bears’ offensive line heading into training camp.