Tag: Matt Orzech

Packers activate DL from injured reserve, release long snapper

The Green Bay Packers released long snapper Matt Orzech from the 53-man roster to make room for defensive lineman Jonathan Ford, who was activated from injured reserve on Monday. 

The Green Bay Packers released long snapper Matt Orzech from the 53-man roster to make room for defensive lineman Jonathan Ford, who was activated from injured reserve on Monday.

The move appears procedural and not indicative of the team’s plans at long snapper. Ford, who began the season on injured reserve after injuring his calf in the preseason, needed to be activated before his 21-day window expired. By releasing Orzech, the Packers opened up a roster spot and set in motion expected moves to come.

More than likely, Ford will be released from the roster and signed back to the practice squad. At that point, Orzech will be expected to return and continue on as the team’s long snapper.

The Packers already have five active defensive linemen, and Devonte Wyatt is nearing a return from an ankle injury. Ford, a 2022 seventh-round pick who has never appeared in a regular season game, makes more sense as a developmental option on the practice squad.

However, Orzech has been inconsistent as a snapper. He had a low snap to Daniel Whelan on a punt and a low snap on the game’s winning field goal on Sunday against the Texans. The Packers signed Orzech as a free agent ahead of the 2023 season, and he’s been the team’s long snapper in all 24 games over the last two seasons.

Video shows a Saints player hilariously tried to block a Packers field goal using the long-snapper’s towel

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

On Sunday, the NFL had several “Are you kidding me?” type of moments, and the New Orleans Saints hilariously attempted to block a Green Bay Packers field goal with a long snapper’s towel so they wouldn’t be left out.

The Saints were in firm control of the game. Tight end Jimmy Graham scored an early touchdown, followed by a Rashid Shaheed 76-yard punt return. They even added a field goal from their rookie, Blake Grupe, to go up 17-0 at halftime. Life was grand.

Then, the Packers put together a drive that wasn’t enough for a touchdown, but they could get something positive out of it. Kicker Anders Carlson lined up for the attempt and followed through.

It was a routine scoring play until a unique viewpoint captured an object flying in the air, attempting to block the kick.

Video replay shows that the object in question was a towel. New Orleans Defensive Tackle Brian Bresee snatched it off the hip of Green Bay long snapper Matt Orzech and promptly threw it into the air to stop Carlson’s kick.

Wild.

Bresee gets an “A” for innovation and effort. I can’t say I would have thought that quickly at the moment to do that.

Packers give new long snapper Matt Orzech $300K signing bonus

Some contract details for new Packers long snapper Matt Orzech.

If money talks, Matt Orzech will be the new long snapper for the Green Bay Packers in 2023 and beyond.

According to Aaron Wilson, Orzech’s three-year deal with the Packers includes a $300,000 signing bonus and veteran minimum salaries in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The $300,000 will be prorated across three years on the cap, giving him a cap number of $1,180,000 in 2023 (assuming no void years were used).

Orzech brings three years and 50 games of past experience as an NFL long snapper to Green Bay. He snapped for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 and the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 and 2022.

Orzech joins Jack Coco – the Packers’ long snapper last season – as the two players at the position on the current offseason roster, suggesting a competition will be staged across the offseason workout program and training camp. But Orzech’s new deal certainly gives him the financial lead right away.

Coco had a cap number of $705,000 last year. It will bump up to $870,000 in 2023.

Over the Cap has more on Orzech’s contract structure here.

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Packers signing former Rams long snapper Matt Orzech

The Packers signed a new long snapper, agreeing to a deal with former Rams snapper Matt Orzech on Wednesday.

The Green Bay Packers are signing long snapper Matt Orzech to a three-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Orzech, 27, spent the last two seasons as the long snapper of the Los Angeles Rams. He also snapped for 16 games as a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.

While with the Rams in 2021, Orzech won a Super Bowl title.

In Green Bay, Orzech will be expected to take over for Jack Coco, who snapped in all 17 games as a rookie for the Packers last season. At the very least, Orzech and Coco will take part in an open competition this summer.

Orzech has played in 50 NFL games and been on the field for 414 special teams snaps.

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Tennessee Titans waive 3 players in Monday roster moves

The Titans made a trio of minor moves on Monday.

The Tennessee Titans made three roster moves on Monday, waiving tight end Parker Hesse, long snapper Matt Orzech and defensive end Nate Orchard, all of whom spent time with the team either on the practice squad or active roster during the 2020 campaign.

Orzech was originally signed off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad last season as an insurance policy at long snapper.

Orchard was signed by Tennessee in January to provide some depth on the practice squad. While he didn’t see any action in Nashville, Orchard did see three games with Washington earlier in the season.

Hesse was one of several tight ends on Tennessee’s current roster and figured to have a chance to compete for a spot on the 53-man squad but was always a long shot to due his limitations in the passing game.

All three players figured to be long shots to make the roster, so none of these moves are particularly surprising.

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Titans add LS Matt Orzech to roster, DB Greg Mabin to practice squad

The Titans now have two long snappers, one of which is on the practice squad.

The Tennessee Titans have officially added long snapper Matt Orzech to the active roster after he passed COVID-19 protocols following the team signing him from the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad on November 5.

Along with that move, the Titans are bringing back cornerback Greg Mabin, who was signed to the team’s practice squad for a second time this season.

You might remember Mabin as one of the several players on the team who tested positive for COVID-19, although Mabin’s positive came in before the flood that was the Titans’ outbreak.

With Orzech, the Titans now have two long snappers, one of which is on the practice squad in Matt Overton, who made his Tennessee debut in Week 9 after the team parted ways with Beau Brinkley after Week 8.

Overton did have a bad snap on a punt attempt but was fine overall. Orzech will likely get his shot to show he can do better in Week 10.

Titans sign LS Matt Orzech from Dolphins’ practice squad

The Titans also have Matt Overton on the practice squad.

The Tennessee Titans have added a new long snapper to their roster after signing Matt Orzech off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, per the league’s transaction wire.

Orzech spent the 2019 campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, playing in all 16 games. The Dolphins signed him to their practice squad back in September and he was protected six times throughout this season.

While Orzech will go to the active roster, he won’t be available for this week, as he’ll have to go through six days of COVID-19 testing before he can join the team, which means the earliest he can get in the building will be Tuesday.

Clearly the Titans are exploring their options in the wake of releasing Beau Brinkley. Tennessee also has Matt Overton on the practice squad and he figures to get the nod in Week 9 versus the Chicago Bears.

Tennessee and Chicago will meet on Sunday at noon CT at Nissan Stadium.