Carson Wells signs NFL contract with New England Patriots

Carson Wells signed an NFL contract with the Patriots

After spending the spring in the XFL, former Colorado linebacker Carson Wells is getting another chance to prove himself in the NFL.

The New England Patriots announced on Tuesday that they signed Wells, who had a free agent tryout with his new team over the summer.

In his lone XFL season with the St. Louis Battlehawaks, Wells started in eight games, recording 45 tackles and 3.5 sacks. The Florida native was previously with the Cincinnati Bengals before getting waived last August.

At Colorado, Wells played in 40 career games over four full seasons and was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection in 2021.

The Patriots’ second preseason game comes Saturday at Green Bay.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=26]

Former Buff Mason Crosby staying ready for next NFL opportunity

Former #cubuffs kicker Mason Crosby is staying sharp as he awaits his next NFL opportunity

Former Colorado Buffaloes football star Mason Crosby has been one of the best kickers in the NFL for quite some time. However, the 38-year-old is a free agent after the Green Bay Packers decided to move on, and now he is waiting patiently for his next opportunity.

In 2022, Crosby went 25-for-29 on field goal attempts with a long of 56 yards and was 37-for-39 on extra points, so there is still plenty left in the tank for the veteran.

Crosby is doing whatever it takes and has posted a few clips on social media of him kicking field goals, including a new one of him kicking off a boat on his Instagram (h/t Christopher Kuhagen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

Here’s the video of Crosby taking a different approach to marketing himself, although he clearly shows he can be a serviceable kicker in the NFL.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvD3jvuN78h/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=e20d3078-5ef3-46f3-95be-32f08762fb92

This isn’t the only time Crosby has done something similar to this, and he wrote earlier this summer on Instagram, “Last season was a battle, working hard the whole time trying to regain leg strength after a late summer surgery.”

It’s a different feeling for Crosby being a free agent, but there should be a suitor out on the market for him at some point.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-related id=15524]

REPORT: Former Buff Ahkello Witherspoon inks deal with LA Rams

Former Buff Ahkello Witherspoon is reportedly signing with the LA Rams

As first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz of theScore.com, former Colorado cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is signing with the Los Angeles Rams.

Witherspoon, a 2017 third-round draft pick of the 49ers, spent the first four seasons of his professional career in San Francisco and the past two with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being released in May. While injuries have been an issue for him in recent years, Witherspoon joins his newest team with the opportunity to start in an otherwise young Rams secondary.

The veteran CB owns eight interceptions and 35 passes defended in 60 games played throughout his NFL career. Only 13 of those games came with the Steelers, however.

At Colorado, Witherspoon was a key member of the Buffs’ 2016 secondary that helped bring the program its lone Pac-12 Championship Game appearance.

The exact details of Witherspoon’s new contract have yet to be announced.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=26]

Former Buff Christian Gonzalez turning heads during first summer with Patriots

Forever Buff and first-round pick Christian Gonzalez is turning heads during his first summer with the Patriots

Although he transferred out of Boulder for his final college football season, Christian Gonzalez remains a forever Buff who Colorado fans should be rooting for as he begins his NFL career.

The two-year CU cornerback improved his draft stock last fall at Oregon and was selected 17th overall by the New England Patriots in April. He’s now navigating his first NFL OTAs and rookie minicamp this summer.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated’s MMQB, Gonzalez is living up to his first-round hype and was the Patriots’ “best corner during OTAs and minicamp.”

If Gonzalez can continue to impress this preseason, the rookie could very well crack a spot in the Patriots’ starting lineup come Week 1.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=26]

Carson Wells invited to free agent tryout with Patriots

Following a strong spring in the XFL, Carson Wells could make an NFL return

Former Colorado football linebacker Carson Wells is looking to use his XFL success to catapult himself back into the NFL.

The XFL announced on Friday that Wells, who had 45 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the St. Louis Battlehawks this spring, received a tryout invite from the New England Patriots.

His tryout reportedly took place on Thursday.

Wells agreed to an undrafted free-agent deal with the Cincinnati Bengals last May but was released following just one preseason game.

Other former Buffs who played in the XFL this spring include Steven Montez, Drew Lewis, Phillip Lindsay and Javier Edwards. Montez was invited to a rookie minicamp with the San Francisco 49ers last month.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=96]

LOOK: Brady Russell at Philadelphia Eagles minicamp

Take a look at Brady Russell rocking the Eagles’ colors

The NFL draft is over and while no former Buffs were selected, a few landed undrafted free agent deals, including Brady Russell with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The longtime Colorado tight end is now participating in the defending NFC champions’ rookie minicamp after signing as an undrafted free agent.

Russell compiled 78 receptions for 799 yards and three touchdowns in 49 games over five seasons for the Buffaloes and will now try to make a strong impression with the Eagles in an attempt to land on a pro roster.

Russell joins linebackers Quinn Perry, Robert Barnes, Guy Thomas, wide receiver Daniel Arias and defensive end Terrance Lang among fellow former Buffs who signed deals with NFL teams.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=26]

Brady Russell among former Buffs signing NFL deals

Brady Russell was among a few former #cubuffs who were able to sign NFL deals post-draft

The 2023 NFL draft has come to an end, and the Colorado Buffaloes were one of just seven Power Five football teams to not have a player selected in the seven-round draft. However, a few Buffs did earn undrafted free agent contracts and minicamp invites, so there is some hope that one of these players can crack a spot on a 53-man roster.

Plus, former Colorado cornerbacks Mekhi Blackmon and Christian Gonzalez were both drafted.

Tight end Brady Russell was perhaps the most notable former Buff who heard his phone ring after the draft concluded.

Here’s a quick rundown of which recent Buffs standouts were able to crack a deal with an NFL team:

Minnesota Vikings select former Colorado CB Mekhi Blackmon in third round

The Minnesota Vikings selected former Buff Mekhi Blackmon in the third round

The Pac-12 Conference has seen quite a few players get drafted so far, although none from the Colorado Buffaloes. However, former Buffs CB Mekhi Blackmon, who transferred to USC, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round (102nd overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.

Blackmon was one of a handful of players to transfer to another Pac-12 school last offseason, and he became a massive piece to the USC Trojans defense in Lincoln Riley’s first season.

He also joins former USC WR Jordan Addison on the Vikings. Blackmon spent four years in Boulder before going to USC, and he finished his career with 101 tackles and five interceptions.

Former Buffs CB Christian Gonzalez went in the first round, so at least there are some ex-Colorado players who heard their names called in the draft.

Blackmon should have no problem earning a spot on the 53-man roster, and there’s a good chance he enters the season in a key rotational role with the Vikings, who have serious playoff hopes once again.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=26]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3h5x4enxt6nsr4 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Former Buffs CB Christian Gonzalez goes in first round to Patriots

ICYMI: Former Buffs CB Christian Gonzalez went in the first round of the NFL draft

The Colorado Buffaloes haven’t had many drafted into the NFL in recent years, although that will certainly change with Deion Sanders taking over the program.

However, former Buffs CB Christian Gonzalez heard his name called in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, going 17th overall to the New England Patriots.

Gonzalez moved to the Oregon Ducks for his final collegiate season, and that transition appeared to help his draft stock. The Buffs surely missed him this past season on defense as well.

Gonzalez entered the draft as one of the top cornerbacks in the class. Jordy McElroy of Patriots Wire loves the selection of Gonzalez:

Gonzalez is a big, physical cornerback that can match up outside with the best receivers in the NFL. He finished his collegiate career with 50 tackles, four interceptions and seven pass deflections in 2022, when quarterbacks were rarely looking to throw in his direction.

Gonzalez should immediately see playing time with Bill Belichick and the Patriots, and he gets to learn from one of the best head coaches in NFL history.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=26]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3h5x4enxt6nsr4 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Isaiah Lewis gaining NFL draft buzz

Former Buffs safety Isaiah Lewis has reportedly garnered interest from several NFL teams ahead of the draft

The Colorado Buffaloes football program has been a big talking point since the spring game with players leaving Boulder following the first live-action in the Deion Sanders era.

However, with the 2023 NFL draft coming up, there is at least one former Buffs player drawing interest: safety Isaiah Lewis. NFL insider Tanner Phifer mentioned that Lewis has garnered quite a bit of interest from a number of teams, including the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, among a number of others.

Lewis played in 43 career games and had 19 starts for Colorado, and he should be a name to watch for the next week, especially with all of the undrafted free agents.

In Lewis’ time in Boulder, he totaled 132 career tackles with 3.5 sacks and three interceptions.

The Buffs’ defense had a rough few years, but Lewis had been one of the bright spots and should at least get a look at a training camp invite.

Nate Landman and Carson Wells were the two Buffs last year who left for the NFL, and maybe Lewis can catch on to a 53-man roster.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=26]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3h5x4enxt6nsr4 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]