Tag: Ramiz Ahmed

Packers elevate K Ramiz Ahmed, RB Tyler Goodson from practice squad to gameday roster for Week 17

The Packers elevated K Ramiz Ahmed and RB Tyler Goodson from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 17 against the Vikings.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”B0zJPGwqaT-2449439-7498″]

The Green Bay Packers elevated kicker Ramiz Ahmed and running back Tyler Goodson from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 17. The move was announced Saturday, making Ahmed and Goodson available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Sunday’s showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.

Ahmed was previously elevated to the gameday roster for Week 10 against the Cowboys. He handled kickoffs for Mason Crosby, who was battling a back injury at the time.

The idea is probably similar this time around. Ahmed is likely to be used on kickoffs, where his strong leg will provide an opportunity to get the football into the end zone and avoid returns from Kene Nwangwu of the Vikings.

Of Crosby’s 62 kickoffs this season, 50 have been returned. The weather doesn’t help. Of his last 32 kickoffs, 29 have been returned. The 38-year-old just doesn’t have the leg strength to consistently kick the ball out of range of the returner, especially in colder temps.

Ahmed played six snaps (all on kickoffs) and had one assisted tackle during the Packers’ win over the Cowboys. Three of his six kickoffs were returned.

Nwangwu is among the league leaders in kickoff return yardage and kickoff return average, and he’s the only player in the NFL with more than one kickoff return touchdown over the last two seasons.

Although the Packers have covered kicks well this season, a touchback is the safest option against a great returner.

In Goodson, the Packers will have another running back who can handle carries and possibly help in the return game as an emergency option. This is the first elevation to the gameday roster for the undrafted rookie from Iowa.

All teams are allowed to elevate up to two players from the practice squad each week. An individual player can only be elevated from the practice squad three times per season, so Ahmed now has one more elevation available this season. Goodson has two. On Monday, Ahmed and Goodson will revert back to the practice squad.

Elevations by week

Week 1: WR Juwann Winfree, S Micah Abernathy
Week 2: RB Patrick Taylor
Week 3: WR Juwann Winfree
Week 4: CB Kiondre Thomas
Week 5: None
Week 6: WR Juwann Winfree
Week 7: OLB La’Darius Hamilton
Week 8: S Innis Gaines, OLB Kobe Jones
Week 9: None
Week 10: OLB La’Darius Hamilton, K Ramiz Ahmed
Week 11: OLB La’Darius Hamilton
Week 12: RB Patrick Taylor, S Innis Gaines
Week 13: S Micah Abernathy, RB Patrick Taylor
Week 17: K Ramiz Ahmed, RB Tyler Goodson

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[listicle id=88779]

Packers elevate OLB La’Darius Hamilton, K Ramiz Ahmed from practice squad to gameday roster for Week 10

The Packers elevated OLB La’Darius Hamilton and K Ramiz Ahmed from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 10 against the Cowboys.

The Green Bay Packers elevated outside linebacker La’Darius Hamilton and kicker Ramiz Ahmed from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 10. The move was announced Saturday, making Hamilton and Ahmed available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Sunday’s showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.

Injuries likely necessitated both elevations.

Hamilton, who was previously elevated in Week 8 against the Bills, will provide depth at outside linebacker after the Packers lost Rashan Gary to a season-ending injury in Detroit. The Packers didn’t activate Tipa Galeai from injured reserve to the 53-man roster, so Hamilton could play important snaps as a top backup on Sunday.

In Buffalo, Hamilton played 14 snaps on defense and 11 more on special teams.

At kicker, veteran Mason Crosby popped up on the injury report this week with a back injury, but he wasn’t given an injury designation and is expected to play. Ahmed, who has been in Green Bay since Aug. 14, would provide insurance in case the injury flares up in-game on Sunday. It’s also possible Ahmed will handle kickoffs to lessen the kicking workload for Crosby.

The Packers did not elevate a receiver from the practice squad or sign Juwann Winfree, possibly suggesting that Amari Rodgers will be available to play. He is currently questionable after being added to the injury report with a new lower-leg injury on Friday. Romeo Doubs has already been ruled out, leaving the Packers with Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Christian Watson and Samori Toure as the team’s four healthy receivers.

All teams are allowed to elevate up to two players from the practice squad each week. An individual player can only be elevated from the practice squad three times per season, so Hamilton has only one more elevation and Ahmed has two more elevations available this season. On Monday, both will revert back to the practice squad.

Elevations by week

Week 1: WR Juwann Winfree, S Micah Abernathy
Week 2: RB Patrick Taylor
Week 3: WR Juwann Winfree
Week 4: CB Kiondre Thomas
Week 5: None
Week 6: WR Juwann Winfree
Week 7: OLB La’Darius Hamilton
Week 8: S Innis Gaines, OLB Kobe Jones
Week 9: None
Week 10: OLB La’Darius Hamilton, K Ramiz Ahmed

[listicle id=87099]

Packers to fill practice squad by signing K Ramiz Ahmed

The Packers will fill the 16th practice squad spot by signing K Ramiz Ahmed, per Bill Huber of SI.com.

The Green Bay Packers will fill their 16th and final practice squad spot by signing kicker Ramiz Ahmed, according to Bill Huber of SI.com.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst intimated that Ahmed would be back on the practice squad as insurance behind veteran kicker Mason Crosby, who came off the PUP list last week after missing all of training camp with a right knee injury.

Because Crosby was activated from the PUP list, the Packers released Ahmed during final cuts.

Ahmed signed with the Packers on Aug. 14 as an injury replacement for Gabe Brkic. He made all three of his field goals (long of 45) and all three extra points during two preseason games.

Ahmed was originally an undrafted free agent out of Nevada in 2019. He spent time with the Chicago Bears during training camp in 2020 and then played for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL. He made a league-record 61-yard field goal.

On Friday, the Packers signed safety Micah Abernathy to the practice squad and released cornerback Rico Gafford.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=none image=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Packers signing kicker Ramiz Ahmed to practice squad

In need of insurance behind veteran kicker Mason Crosby, the Green Bay Packers signed Ramiz Ahmed to the team’s 16-player practice squad.

In need of insurance behind veteran kicker Mason Crosby, the Green Bay Packers signed Ramiz Ahmed to the team’s 16-player practice squad on Wednesday, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

General manager Brian Gutekunst said the Packers expect Crosby – who was activated from the PUP list on Tuesday – to be available for Week 1, but keeping Ahmed on the practice squad represents the team’s backup plan at kicker.

If Crosby can’t go on Sept. 11 against the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers can bring up Ahmed from the practice squad to handle kicking duties. Crosby, who turns 38 next month, had surgery on his right knee before training camp.

Ahmed, 27, made all three field goal attempts (long of 45) and all three extra point attempts over two preseason games in Green Bay. He signed with the Packers on Aug. 14.

Ahmed is an undrafted free agent out of Nevada. He spent part of the 2020 season with the Chicago Bears and then played for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL this past year. He made a 61-yard field goal, the longest in the history of the USFL.

Packers sign K Ramiz Ahmed, release K Gabe Brkic

Due to an injury, the Packers had to swap kickers on the 90-man roster. Gabe Brkic was released, while Ramiz Ahmed was signed.

An injury and inconsistency forced the Green Bay Packers to make a change at kicker after Friday night’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Packers released rookie kicker Gabe Brkic and signed kicker Ramiz Ahmed on Sunday.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Brkic “tweaked” his hamstring during pre-game warmups in San Francisco on Friday night. Although Brkic made all three extra points, he was limited on kickoffs and later shanked a field goal attempt wide left.

With Mason Crosby still on the PUP list with a knee injury, the Packers had to make a move for a second kicker, so Ahmed was picked from the free-agent list to replace Brkic on the 90-man roster.

Ahmed was an undrafted free agent out of Nevada in 2020 who spent some time with the Chicago Bears as a rookie. Earlier this year, Ahmed made 14 of 22 field goals (63.6 percent) as a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL. At Nevada, Ahmed made 15 of 20 field goals.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=none image=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=83042,83039]

Colts try out 4 kickers, host CB Kevin Toliver on visit

Colts had a tryout for 4 kickers and hosted CB Kevin Toliver on a visit.

The Indianapolis Colts held a tryout for four free-agent kickers and hosted cornerback Kevin Toliver for a visit on Monday, per the league’s transaction wire.

With kicker Rodrigo Blankenship on the injured reserve list, the Colts signed Michael Badgley to the practice squad and elevated him for the Week 6 game against the Houston Texans.

However, it seems Chris Ballard is still doing his due diligence at the position. The four kickers they had try out were Ramiz Ahmed, Chris Blewitt, Austin Jones and Sam Sloman.

It isn’t clear if this is just them keeping an eye on the market and who’s available or if a move is coming. Badgley converted his only field-goal attempt from 41 yards and all four of his extra-point attempts in Week 6.

With Rock Ya-Sin re-aggravating an ankle injury on Sunday, it seems the Colts are keeping tabs on the cornerback position as well. Toliver has spent time with the Chicago Bears (2018-2019) and Denver Broncos (2020). In 29 career games, he has four passes defended.

Like Colts Wire on Facebook
Follow Colts Wire on Twitter
Follow Kevin on Twitter (@KevinHickey11)

[lawrence-related id=64029,64016,63823]

[listicle id=64020]

Lions try out 2 players, hold visit with DT Albert Huggins

Huggins was briefly with the Lions earlier this season

The Detroit Lions held official tryouts for two players on Monday, as well as a visit with DT Albert Huggins.

Detroit had PK Ramiz Ahmed and LB Gabe Sewell in for tryouts. It’s the second time in as many weeks Ahmed has auditioned for the Lions.

Huggins should sound familiar. He was on the Lions in early September after being claimed off waivers from the Houston Texans following the 53-man roster cutdowns. The Lions waived the 23-year-old Clemson product four days later. He was subsequently claimed by the Minnesota Vikings but cut last week.

Huggins has familiarity with the scheme as well. He played for Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019, his rookie season.

 

 

Chicago Bears waive kicker Ramiz Ahmed

Chicago brought in competition for K Eddy Pineiro this offseason. But it didn’t take long for him to win the starting job over Ramiz Ahmed.

The Chicago Bears brought in competition for kicker Eddy Pineiro, but it didn’t take long for him to win the job and be the lone kicker on the roster.

The Bears announced on Tuesday that they waived former Nevada kicker Ramiz Ahmed, who hasn’t played since 2018.

This offseason each team is limited to an 80-man roster and the Bears decided to use the last spot for newly signed safety Marqui Christian instead of Ahmed.

Pineiro won the kicking competition last offseason and finished the 2019 season going 23-of-28 in field goals and 27-of-29 in extra points. Now, Pineiro is set to be the Bears starter for the second straight season.

[vertical-gallery id=451917]

[lawrence-related id=452218,452202,452191,452128,452104]

Chris Tabor sees a ‘bigger, stronger’ Eddy Pineiro in Bears training camp

Bears special teams coordinator Chris Tabor was impressed how kicker Eddy Pineiro bulked up this offseason.

It’s hard to believe that the start of training camp is the first time this year that Chicago Bears players are hitting the practice fields at Halas Hall. Considering the entirely virtual offseason, it’s been seven months since these coaches last saw most of these players.

So when special teams coordinator Chris Tabor saw Eddy Pineiro kicking Monday for the first time since the season finale last December, he was pleased that Pineiro had taken the team’s advice and bulked up to 187 pounds this offseason.

“I’m going to be honest with you, the first day we went out and kicked—I hadn’t seen him kick since the Minnesota game—you’re looking at a bigger, stronger Eddy Pineiro,” Tabor told reporters Thursday. “I was very impressed.

“He has put on the weight that we asked. He actually decreased his body fat and you can tell he is much stronger. When we went out and kicked, the ball is jumping off his foot really well.”

Pineiro put together a solid rookie season in 2019, where he connected on 23-of-28 field goals (82.1%) and 27-of-29 extra points. But there were also concerns, including Pineiro’s rough stretch where he went 3-of-7 on field goals and his noted struggles in the windy conditions of Soldier Field.

Which is one of the reasons why the Bears felt the need to bring in competition for Pineiro in undrafted free agent Ramiz Ahmed, who last kicked for Nevada in 2018.

“He knows that he has to produce,” Tabor said of Pineiro. “I know that he will because he’s just that type of guy. I know he’s done it. He had an opportunity where he didn’t get it done. Those things eat at him. But the good thing is he’s been in those situations and we’ve seen him come through. Now we want to see him take the next step.

“He’s learning how to handle the wind here much better. I’m real proud of him. But we still have a lot of work to do. There’s so much more growth. This player can really take off. I’m excited to watch.”

At this point, the kicker competition feels like Pineiro’s to lose. And if he can build off his solid rookie season, perhaps the Bears can finally find Robbie Gould’s worthy successor.

[vertical-gallery id=451917]

[lawrence-related id=452024,451964,451988,451970,451949]

Top roster battles at the start of Bears training camp

There’s a lot of competition at several positions on the Bears’ roster. Let’s take a look at those battles happening in training camp.

Last year, it was the kicker competition between Eddy Pineiro and Elliott Fry that was the biggest discussion at training camp. Which was a good thing considering that there weren’t many questions outside of kicker.

But this season that’s completely changed. Well, not completely. There will be a kicker competition for the second straight training camp — albeit one that won’t be as front and center. But one of the themes for this season for general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy is the focus on competition at multiple positions. And there’s a lot of competition at several positions on the roster this season.

Let’s take a look at the seven position battles that will be happening in Bears training camp.

1. Quarterback

The most important position battle will take place at the most important position in all of sports, which isn’t exactly a comforting thought. Following Mitchell Trubisky’s struggles last season, Pace went out and brought in experienced veteran Nick Foles to not only push Trubisky but possibly replace him as the starter.

While many had Foles pegged as the clear favorite for most of this offseason, the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have quieted those beliefs if only because of the limited sample size that Nagy will have to choose his starter from. Trubisky has an advantage as far as familiarity with his teammates, especially as he’s been working with both returning and new skill position players during the offseason. The Bears will have to get creative during camp in a decision that could make or break this season.

[lawrence-related id=451847,451252,451823]

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7