Tag: Roy Mbaeteka

Cleveland Browns sign international player who never played in high school or college

The Cleveland Browns signed a player through the International Pathway Program.

Roy Mbaeteka signed with the Cleveland Browns on Monday, despite having never played high school or college football. The addition of Mbaeteka, who is from Nigeria, comes through an NFL initiative designed to encourage global development of the game.

His name might well be familiar to NFL fans as he has spent time with the New York Giants and Chicago Bears over the past two seasons.

An offensive tackle, Mbaeteka is powerfully built at 6-foot-9 and 320 pounds. He never played American football in high school or college but he did start playing basketball as a teenager.

The International Pathway Program was created in 2017 by the NFL to help tap into global talent that can translate to American football. Prior to his arrival in the United States, Mbaeteka had never worn a pad or helmet before in his life.

The football he learned was from watching games, highlights and YouTube clips.

Mbaeteka was discovered at a football camp in Nigeria. That event was attended by Osi Umenyiora, a former Giants standout defensive end. Umenyiora was selected as an All-Pro in 2005 and made two Pro Bowls.

He too was born in Nigeria.

 

Browns sign OT Roy Mbaeteka as International Player Program representative for 2024 season

The Browns designated Roy Mbaeteka as their International Pathway Program choice and he will not count against the 90-man roster limit.

The Cleveland Browns have signed offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka, designating him as their International Pathway Program player for 2024. Mbaeteka will not count against the Browns’ 90-man roster as a part of the International Player Pathway Program. 2024 will be Mbaeteka’s third season in the NFL as a part of this program.

He is a massive player, listed at 6-foot-9 inches and 331 pounds, with great power in the run game. Mbaeteka has yet to appear in a regular-season game and saw only limited time during the 2022 preseason. It is always worth taking a chance on a player with rare physical gifts and seeing if you can develop them into something.

With the NFL draft now in the rearview, the Browns will look towards the offseason workouts and upcoming rookie minicamp. The 2024 NFL season will be here before we know it, and the Browns are poised for a big season if everything plays out the way it should on paper.

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.

Roy Mbaeteka turns down Giants contract, returns to International Pathway Program

Nigerian OL Roy Mbaeteka has turned down a reserve/futures contract from the Giants and will return to the International Pathway Program.

The New York Giants have signed 12 players to reserve/futures contracts thus far but Nigerian offensive lineman Roy Mbaeteka is not among them.

Mbaeteka, who came to the Giants by way of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, spent most of the 2022 season on the team’s practice squad. However, when presented with the option to sign a reserve/futures deal, Mbaeteka declined.

Following that decision, Mbaeteka will return to the IPP.

The 6-foot-9, 320-pound Mbaeteka was mentored by retired Giants great Osi Umenyiora in the NFL Africa initiative, which is part of the IPP.

“Once you see him, you know he’s physically imposing and in a year or two if you immerse him in football culture, he’s going to be fantastic,” Umenyiora told Giants.com at the time of Mbaeteka’s signing.

“The Giants took a chance. Not much of a chance, I think. When you see him working, you’re going to know what he’s about. . . He is big, strong, physical, extremely intelligent, very athletic. He’s built to play offensive tackle in the league. In fact, he reminds me quite a bit of Kareem McKenzie. He has the same temperament. He’s very smart, but he’s a very athletic player.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[lawrence-related id=705459,705466,705427]

[listicle id=705433]

Giants sign Jaydon Mickens after working out three returners

The New York Giants have signed WR Jaydon Mickens after working out a trio of return men on Tuesday.

The New York Giants hosted a small group of return men for a tryout on Tuesday in East Rutherford, including former sixth-round pick Kenjon Barner.

The 33-yard-old Barner was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2013. Since then, he’s become quite the journeyman, making stops with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and, most recently, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Barner has also been a part of three Super Bowl teams — the Eagles, Patriots and Buccaneers.

In 76 career games, he’s rushed for 416 yards and three touchdowns, while hauling in 28 receptions for 152 yards. He’s also returned 91 punts for 677 yards and one touchdown, and 55 kickoffs for 1,291 yards.

In addition to Barner, the Giants also worked out wide receivers Jaydon Mickens and Chester Rogers. Both were undrafted free agents in 2016 who have made a living as reserves and return men.

Of the three, Jaydon Mickens was signed to the practice squad. In order to clear room for him, offensive lineman Roy Mbaeteka had his contract terminated.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[lawrence-related id=702948,702930,702932]

[listicle id=702945]

Giants re-sign OT Roy Mbaeteka to practice squad

The New York Giants have re-signed offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka to their practice squad.

Nigerian native Roy Mbaeteka’s NFL dream isn’t dead yet. The New York Giants are bringing the 6-foot-9, 320-pound tackle back to their practice squad.

Mbaeteka spent the first few weeks of this season on the Giants’ practice squad before he was released on September 29.

Mbaeteka came to Big Blue via the NFL International Player Pathway Program after being discovered by former Giants All-Pro defensive end Osi Umenyiora at a football camp in Nigeria in 2021.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[lawrence-related id=702558,702518,702521]

[listicle id=702545]

Saints sign OL Wyatt Davis off Giants’ practice squad

The New Orleans Saints have signed OL Wyatt Davis off the New York Giants’ practice squad and to their active roster.

The New York Giants were forced to make some practice squad adjustments on Thursday after the New Orleans Saints signed guard Wyatt Davis to their active roster.

Davis, a third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021NFL draft, was signed to the team’s reserve unit last week after being waived by the Vikes as a part of final cuts. It was anticipated that he would be moved to the active roster in Week 1.

With an open spot on their practice squad, the Giants re-signed offensive lineman Roy Mbaeteka.

Mbaeteka had spent training camp and the preseason with New York after joining them by way of the NFL Africa initiative, which is part of the league’s International Player Pathway Program. He was first discovered by Giants great Osi Umenyiora.

“Once you see him, you know he’s physically imposing and in a year or two if you immerse him in football culture, he’s going to be fantastic,” Umenyiora told Giants.com in April.

“The Giants took a chance. Not much of a chance, I think. When you see him working, you’re going to know what he’s about. . . He is big, strong, physical, extremely intelligent, very athletic. He’s built to play offensive tackle in the league. In fact, he reminds me quite a bit of Kareem McKenzie. He has the same temperament. He’s very smart, but he’s a very athletic player.”

Mbaeteka remains somewhat raw but made good strides over the summer.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=none image=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=696808,696790,696787]

[listicle id=696779]

Giants make 21 transactions; host eight tryouts and one visit

The New York Giants officially made 21 transactions on Thursday and hosted a total of nine players in East Rutherford — most on tryouts.

The New York Giants made a flurry of transactions on Thursday that impacted nearly every aspect of their team — active roster, practice squad and injured reserve.

The team also had a slew of free agents in for workouts and visits with at least one being signed, and potentially more to come.

Here’s a recap of Thursday’s moves.

[the_huddle]

Giants having a glaring need at swing tackle

With Matt Gono likely being forced into retirement, the New York Giants have a glaring and concerning need at swing tackle.

The New York Giants appear set at starting offensive tackle with Andrew Thomas and rookie Evan Neal, but there are still notable issues behind them.

Veteran Matt Gono was signed this offseason to play swing tackle for the Giants, but a lingering neck injury is expected to end his career. That leaves the team with Devery Hamilton, Garrett McGhin and Roy Mbaeteka as their remaining reserves.

Hamilton went undrafted in 2021 and McGhin this past April, while Mbaeteka is an international import still very much new to NFL football.

These depth issues have been especially obvious in practice.

Shane Lemeiux, who has taken snaps at guard and center this summer, has expressed a willingness to play tackle if needed. Rookie Josh Ezeudu has also taken snaps as a swing, but the team likely prefers that he remain inside where he is their primary reserve.

Since camp opened, the Giants have held multiple tryouts including three offensive tackles on Thursday. However, the search continues as none have been signed.

This is an issue that general manager Joe Schoen will have no choice but to address, so expect more workouts and tryouts in the coming days, as well as a likely addition or two.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=none image=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=695127,695129,695121]

[listicle id=694505]

2022 Giants training camp preview: Offensive line

The New York Giants’ offensive line looks significantly better on paper but there may still be some depth issues.

One of the key areas New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen wanted to address when he took the job this offseason was the offensive line.

The Giants’ offense has been pitiful the past few seasons and the line has taken the brunt of the blame from the critics. That may be about to change.

With a new head coach (Brian Daboll), new offensive coordinator (Mike Kafka) and a new offensive line coach in Bobby Johnson, the approach alone should change things for the better.

Here’s a quick rundown of how the line shapes up heading into training camp.