Tag: rookie minicamp

Lions sign 3 players from rookie minicamp tryouts

All participated in the team’s rookie minicamp over the weekend

The Detroit Lions held on-field tryouts over the weekend for five players as part of the team’s rookie minicamp. Three of the five tryout players earned contracts with the team on Monday.

The team announced it has signed cornerback Alex Brown, safety Alijah Holder and tight end Charlie Taumoepeau off the tryouts. All three are NFL veterans who were not retained by their teams after the 2002 season.

Brown, a 170-pound slot corner, played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. He missed the 2020 season on injured reserve. He was a 2019 undrafted free agent signing by Kansas City out of South Carolina State.

Taumoepeau is in his second NFL season out of Portland State. He had stints with three different teams in 2020, never elevating above the practice squad. The 240-pounder was last with the San Francisco 49ers.

Holder’s signing with the team was previously reported by his agent. The former Broncos safety also has the potential to play some outside CB as well as on special teams.

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Dolphins rookies focused on absorbing info during minicamp experiences

Dolphins rookies focused on absorbing info during minicamp experiences

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If you thought that the Miami Dolphins’ rookie class of 2021 was going to take a collective breath and soak in the fact that they’re now professional football players, think again. The Dolphins welcomed their rookies to the team facility this past weekend for their first minicamp experiences — with several players signing on the dotted line and finalizing their contracts.

But just about every rookie who met with the South Florida media over the weekend made it abundantly clear that this wasn’t a time for nostalgia or sentiment. There’s business to take care of.

“I think it’s important to be as well-rounded as possible and absorb as much knowledge as possible,” said 2nd-round safety Jevon Holland.

“I’m just trying to get as wide a perspective as possible as a player. I’m new to the team. I’m trying to find my role, so really trying to absorb everything, like I’ve said previously, and really just help the team in any way.”

Holland is a rookie who received notable praise from Brian Flores on draft weekend, as the Dolphins’ head coach alluded to Holland’s potential as a ‘quarterback of the defense’. And while Holland is very quick to point out his need to soak in as much as he can, he’s not the only one.

“Right now, I’m just trying to learn the playbook and fit in where I can get in,” said Jaelan Phillips, the team’s No. 18 overall pick.

Miami’s top pick, Jaylen Waddle, said on Friday that learning was the group’s primary objective this weekend, too.

“We’re all just learning. It’s our first couple of days and we’re honestly just learning and trying to learn and really be in the right place and be in the right spots.”

Whether this is simply the football character that Chris Grier and Brian Flores have gravitated towards or if the team’s onboarding process handled interview etiquette, it seems a thought the common theme is well ingrained in the group — and that should further reinforce the locker room “culture” that Miami has been missing for quite some time before Flores and company came to town.

Free-agent DB tricked by person imitating Falcons DC Dean Pees

For small-school prospects, especially those who go undrafted, NFL opportunities are few and far between.

For small-school prospects, especially those who go undrafted, NFL opportunities are few and far between. They have to make the most of their chances and even then, it doesn’t work out more often than not. 

But what happens when you get a text from Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees inviting you to Atlanta’s three-day rookie minicamp, and arrive only to find out you were scammed by an impostor and there is no tryout spot for you?

That’s what happened over the weekend to defensive back Juantarius Bryant, an undrafted free agent out of Austin Peay that fell victim to a cruel prank. Bryant released the following message over Twitter explaining what happened.

“I do not know or understand why this happened, but I do know that everything happens for a reason,” wrote Bryant. “Yes, this was heartbreaking or me, but just another stepping stone that I am not afraid to admit or overcome. At the end of the day, this will not make or break me.”

Hopefully someone gives the the aspiring NFL safety a real opportunity in the near future. Things are hard enough for undrafted free agents, being cat-fished by an impostor defensive coordinator is just throwing salt in the wound. 

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Bears are signing WR Chris Lacy following rookie minicamp tryout

The Bears are signing WR Chris Lacy after his tryout at rookie minicamp, which adds even more competition at the position.

The Chicago Bears have concluded rookie minicamp, and while quarterback Justin Fields impressed during the three-day camp, he wasn’t the only one that caught the Bears’ eye.

Chicago is signing wide receiver Chris Lacy, who participated in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Lacy did enough to impress the Bears this weekend, where he’ll get another chance to do the same during organized team activities, which start May 25.

Lacy, an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2018, has spent time with the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.

In eight career games with the Lions between 2018-19, Lacy caught three passes for 60 yards. He was also a valuable special teams contributor.

Over his final two seasons at Oklahoma State, he caught 51 passes for 753 yards and three touchdowns.

Matt Nagy recently told reporters that depth at wide receiver was at its best since he’s been here. Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney are Chicago’s top receivers, and there’s set to be a ton of competition behind them with Anthony Miller, Marquise Goodwin, Damiere Byrd, rookie Dazz Newsome, Javon Wims and Riley Ridley.

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4 takeaways from Chiefs rookie minicamp Day 3

Andy Reid, Lucas Niang, Shane Buechele and Dalton Schoen spoke to the media following the Kansas City Chiefs’ final rookie minicamp practice.

The Kansas City Chiefs completed their final day of rookie minicamp practices on Sunday. Things ramped up on the final day of practices and culminated in some red-zone drills. On Sunday, Andy Reid and three players — Lucas Niang, Shane Buechele and Dalton Schoen — spoke to the media. Reid gave a great overview of what he saw at minicamp, while the players provided insight into their experiences over the course of the weekend.

The Lions sign free agent safety Alijah Holder after tryout

Holder spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos

At least one of the players who participated in the Detroit Lions rookie minicamp on a tryout basis has earned a contract with the team. Per his agent, David Canter, the Lions have signed free agent safety Alijah Holder.

The third-year pro was one of five players working out with the Lions during rookie minicamp on tryouts. Holder played for the Denver Broncos in 2020, appearing in eight games while alternating between the active roster and practice squad. He’s played primarily on special teams in his two NFL seasons, both with the Broncos. The 6-2, 188-pounder played 43 reps on defense and 177 on special teams in 2020.

Holder entered the NFL after the 2019 draft as an undrafted free agent from Stanford. He was waived by the Broncos in February.

Matt Nagy believes Justin Fields’ deep ball is one of his greatest strengths

The Bears have struggled with the deep ball. But rookie QB Justin Fields gives them a chance to finally connect on those.

Rookie quarterback Justin Fields has been impressive during his first two practices at Bears rookie minicamp, which has not gone unnoticed by his coaches and rookie teammates.

There’s a lot to love about Fields — his big arm, his athleticism, his toughness, his leadership. But there’s also something else that has impressed his new head coach.

Matt Nagy believes that one of Fields’ biggest strengths is his deep ball accuracy, which is something that Chicago struggled with immensely last season. Last year with Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles, the Bears only connected on 42 pass plays that went 20-plus yards, which was tied for the eighth-fewest in the league. They also only connected on three pass plays beyond 40 yards, which was tied for the worst in the NFL.

But with Fields, the Bears can rewrite the narrative surrounding their struggles offensively, particularly when it comes to the deep ball.

“On tape I think it’s one of his greatest strengths that he has— being able to have that accurate deep ball,” Nagy said. “He’s thrown several of them. When we went to his pro day, it was funny because we were there, standing back there with coach Day, and Kyle was back there too. It was his second pro day. He was back there and right before, Ryan had predicted— he said, ‘Watch when this next deep ball comes up right here, and what do you know he got the ball from the gun, rolled out to the right and let one go. You could just feel it. I think that’s one of his better things that he does. And that’s something that we want to be able to use as much as possible.”

This offseason, the Bears have made it a point to add more speed to their offense, which could certainly be an indication of what Nagy wants to infuse into his offense.

Receivers Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin, Damiere Byrd and rookie Dazz Newsome figure to benefit most from Fields’ deep-ball accuracy, which could help spark some life into what’s been an underwhelming offense over the last couple of seasons.

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Matt Nagy believes wide receivers room has some of the most depth for Bears

The Bears added some receivers this offseason through free agency and depth, which has Matt Nagy feeling confident in depth at the position.

Heading into the 2021 offseason, one of the biggest concerns for the Chicago Bears was at wide receiver. Aside from Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney, there were questions at the position.

Anthony Miller was rumored to be on the trade block earlier this offseason, as he hasn’t developed like the Bears had hoped, but it sounds like he’ll remain with the team through 2021. Javon Wims and Riley Ridley haven’t been reliable targets, which is why Chicago needed to add more depth at the position.

Since then, the Bears have brought in some speedy targets in Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd in free agency, which brings some much needed depth and experience at the position.

They also drafted North Carolina wideout Dazz Newsome, who will be vying for one of those coveted six roster spots at the receiver position. Matt Nagy believes that Chicago has some of the most depth at that position.

“When you talk about Dazz, you understand that that’s a position he plays where we feel like it’s probably some of the most depth that we have at a position and we feel he’s just going to add to that,” Nagy said.

Newsome is joining what’s become a crowded receivers room, where there will be just six roster spots up for grabs. That means Newsome needs to do something to stand out, which is where his special teams contributions have a chance to make him a viable option.

“My mentality is really just come in and do my job and try to get a job, honestly, and try to make sure I get on that field any way possible, whether it’s kickoff, whether it’s kick return, whether it’s punt team gunner or whether it’s punt return or receiver,” Newsome said.

Suddenly, the wide receiver battle has become one to watch heading into training camp in late July, where guys like Miller, Wims and Ridley have been put on alert.

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Dan Campbell: Coaching staff ‘giddy’ to be working with rookies in person

Campbell and his staff made their Detroit coaching debut at rookie minicamp

Lions head coach Dan Campbell got his first taste of running the team on an actual practice field during this weekend’s rookie minicamp. With 32 players at the team’s training facility in Allen Park, Campbell was the man in charge in Detroit for the beginning of their prospective NFL careers as well as the start of his own head coaching reign.

Coach Campbell was asked if he had any reflective thoughts on the experience, being the first time he’s led a minicamp.

“I haven’t thought a lot about it,” Campbell said. “It does feel good. I think more than anything, to be able to get back on the grass, it’s been exciting.”

His focus quickly turned to the coaching staff and how enthusiastic they’ve been to get back to coaching in person.

“I don’t know who was more excited, the rookies or the staff,” Campbell joked. “The staff is giddy. They look like a bunch of little kids out there, running around … they’re excited.”

With a staff loaded with former NFL players, it makes sense for the coaches to be fired up about seeing actual football in person again.

“It’s a good scene, it’s a good vibe, it’s a good feel,” Campbell concluded.

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WATCH: Highlights from second practice of Bears rookie minicamp featuring Justin Fields

Take a look at highlights from the second day of rookie minicamp, featuring Justin Fields and the rest of Chicago’s rookies.

The Chicago Bears rookies took to the practice field at Halas Hall for the second day of rookie minicamp, where they continued to put in work ahead of veteran minicamp.

Once again, the spotlight was on top draft pick quarterback Justin Fields, who had another solid day of practice. Members of the media were permitted to film him throwing, where he continues to flash his deep ball accuracy and chemistry with rookie wide receiver Dazz Newsome.

Take a look at highlights from the second day of rookie minicamp, featuring Fields and the rest of Chicago’s rookies ahead of Sunday’s final practice.

https://youtu.be/fr2pNCrQxQA

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