Tag: Ryquell Armstead

XFL at the midway point: How are ex-Giants faring?

A look at how several former members of the New York Giants are faring in the XFL as the league hits the midway point of its season.

The XFL returned for its third iteration this year and is now being run by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The season is officially through five weeks — their midway point — and there has been some solid action and interesting moments, many of which have a distinct New York Giants flavor.

Nearly 25 former Giants are playing in the league (several others coaching) and they have made their presence felt. In fact, several of the current league leaders are ex-Giants.

Here’s a look at how some of those players are faring.

Jaguars 2022 training camp preview: Running backs

One of the biggest question marks for the Jags roster is the running back position, where their top-2 players are coming off major injuries.

With training camp just nine days away, it’s time to start previewing every position on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster. We started with the quarterback position earlier this week, and now it’s time to move on to another important position on the offense when it comes to scoring: running back.

The Jags currently have six rushers listed on their roster. Their top player at the position, James Robinson, is one of the best players in the league at his position but is coming off a serious injury. As a result, it’s important to know what the Jags have behind him.

Here is a preview of the Jags’ full running backs group as we close in on camp:

Jacksonville Jaguars running backs: What to expect in fantasy football

Will one back emerge as the primary weapon in Duval County?

Coming off yet another unmitigated disaster of a season, the Jacksonville Jaguars at least head into 2022 with the appearance of stability after Urban Meyer’s embarrassing tenure. To replace Meyer, the Jags tabbed Doug Pederson as their head coach; Pederson compiled a 42-37-1 record in five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and led the team to a Super Bowl title in 2017.

While this is a breakdown of the Jaguars running back situation, it’s important to note the presence of Pederson because of what his Eagles tenure tells us about how he likes to use his backs. During those five years in Philly, Pederson never had an running back top 180 carries or 900 yards in a single season. As such, we should expect a committee approach in Jacksonville. Now the questions become who will lead that committee? And what type of fantasy value should we anticipate?

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Jags reunite with RB Ryquell Armstead by signing him off Packers’ practice squad

With Carlos Hyde now on IR, the Jags turned to a familiar face for running back depth.

The Jacksonville Jaguars made multiple transactions on Wednesday and among them was the signing of running back Ryquell Armstead off the Green Bay Packers practice squad.

The signing marks a reunion for the Jags who drafted Armstead in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Armstead played in all 16 games with the Jags and started in one. He was able to accumulate 35 carries for 108 yards in the process.

Armstead, unfortunately, missed last season after battling COVID-19. He had to be hospitalized twice in the process and battled “significant respiratory issues” per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, he’s back and has recovered and spent time on the practice squads of the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and the Packers this season.

The Jags’ decision to bring back Armstead comes after the team placed Carlos Hyde on injured reserve Wednesday with a concussion. It was an injury he sustained two Sundays ago against Tennessee after taking a big hit from linebacker Derick Roberson in the second half. He missed Week 15’s game against Houston as a result and the Jags decided to shut him down for the season.

Packers lose practice squad RB to Jacksonville Jaguars

The Packers are losing RB Ryquell Armstead to the Jaguars active roster.

The Jacksonville Jaguars reunited with a familiar face by raiding the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers for help at running back.

The Packers will lose running back Ryquell Armstead, who was a fifth-round pick of the Jaguars in 2019. He had been with the Packers on the practice squad since early last month.

The Jaguars signed Armstead to the active roster. The move terminates his contract with the Packers.

Green Bay first signed Armstead on Nov. 3 as depth help when injuries hit the running back position. He was never elevated to the gameday roster.

General manager Brian Gutekunst will have a practice squad spot to fill at some point this week if he wishes. It’s possible he’ll sign another running back. The Packers have only three on the roster and practice squad: Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon and Patrick Taylor, who are all on the 53-man roster. Rookie Kylin Hill is out for the year with a torn ACL.

Recently-waived Saints RB Devine Ozigbo claimed by Jaguars

Devine Ozigbo, recently waived by the Saints, was claimed by the Jaguars, while Ryquell Armstead tried out for the Packers:

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Mark Ingram’s return to the New Orleans Saints sent a couple of other players out of town. Backup running back Devine Ozigbo was waived by the Saints to open a roster spot after Ingram’s arrival, and the Jacksonville Jaguars hurried to claim him off the waiver wire. That makes sense considering the Saints first signed him from Jacksonville’s practice squad following an injury to Tony Jones Jr.

But Ozigbo isn’t the only former Saints running back getting looks around the NFL. Ryquell Armstead was released from the Saints practice squad last week and participated in a group tryout for the Green Bay Packers on Monday; Green Bay lost rookie draft pick Kylin Hill to a season-ending knee injury, so there are snaps available behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.

Additionally, the Saints could be seeing a familiar face in just a few weeks. The Tennessee Titans signed Adrian Peterson to replace the injured Derrick Henry, so there’s a very good chance that all three of New Orleans’ top running backs from the 2017 season-opener will be on the field between Peterson, Ingram, and Alvin Kamara. The fact that so many former Saints players are still catching on with other teams after being let go speaks to how strong the depth chart has become in New Orleans.

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Ryquell Armstead signed to Saints practice squad, Tony Jones Jr. to I.R.

Ryquell Armstead signed to Saints practice squad, Tony Jones Jr. to I.R.

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Wednesday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire confirmed some movement at the running back position, with promising second-year pro Tony Jones Jr. going to injured reserve to open a roster spot for his fill-in Devine Ozigbo, who the New Orleans Saints are signing from the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. Jones will be first eligible to return after Week 7’s game with the Seattle Seahawks but he could miss more time. The Saints have taken an

But there’s another ex-Jaguars running back joining the team too: Ryquell Armstead, a fifth round pick by Jacksonville who has signed with the team’s practice squad. Armstead was part of a group tryout alongside other free agents Ito Smith, Brian Hill, Duke Johnson, and Lamar Miller, so he must have looked the best of the bunch (or been most agreeable to a spot on the practice squad rather than the 53-man roster).

Now 24 years old, Armstead had a bit part in the Jaguars backfield with 35 carries and 14 receptions for a combined 252 scrimmage yards (108 rushing, 144 receiving) in his brief NFL career. For the curious analytics enthusiasts, he posted a respectable 7.74 Relative Athletic Score coming out of Temple, which lines up with the Saints’ own in-house preferences. Still, he’s probably only here as another layer of depth behind Alvin Kamara, Dwayne Washington, and Ozigbo on the active roster.

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Giants claim former Jaguars RB Ryquell Armstead

New York claimed Jacksonville’s fifth-round pick in 2019 after he was waived by the Jaguars on Monday.

After just two days on waivers after Jacksonville let him go on Monday, Ryquell Armstead has found a new home. The New York Giants claimed the third-year running back off waivers on Wednesday, waiving quarterback Joe Webb to make room for him.

Armstead was originally a fifth-round pick for the Jaguars out of Temple in 2019, and though his production on the ground was limited to just 108 yards on 35 carries, he made a much bigger impact in the passing game. Though he only had 14 catches that season, he had 144 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Unfortunately, those positive strides were put on pause in 2020. Armstead was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list on Aug. 2 and returned to it on Sep. 4. After not appearing in any games, it was announced on Oct. 25 that Armstead would miss the remainder of the season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he had dealt with serious respiratory issues as a result of the virus and had to be hospitalized twice.

This offseason, Jacksonville largely carried out its plans at running back without considering Armstead’s place. It added Carlos Hyde in free agency and Travis Etienne in the draft, so the decision to waive him was far from a surprise.

Armstead may have an uphill battle to make the Giants’ roster considering it already has starter Saquon Barkley and backups Devonta Booker and Corey Clement, but Armstead will hope his unique skill set is enough to set himself apart and claim a spot on the depth chart.

Giants claim RB Ryquell Armstead, waive QB Joe Webb

The New York Giants have claimed RB Ryquell Armstead off of waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars and waived QB Joe Webb.

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The New York Giants continued working on their running back depth on Tuesday, claiming Ryquell Armstead off of waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Armstead, 24, was a fifth-round pick of the Jaguars in the 2019 NFL draft. He appeared in 16 games (one start) that season, gaining 252 yards from scrimmage (108 rushing, 144 receiving) and scoring one touchdown.

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Unfortunately for Armstead, his early career growth would come to grinding halt in 2020.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Armstead was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in August of last year, activated nearly three weeks later and then placed back on the list in September. He was hospitalized twice throughout the season with “significant respiratory issues” as a result of his coronavirus battle.

Although he was waived in Jacksonville, Armstead’s agent says he’s returned to full health and no longer has any COVID-19-related symptoms.

“He has a 100% clean bill of health from multiple doctors,” Jeremy Appledorf, Armstead’s agent at EMG Sports, told the New York Daily News. “He’s been cleared of any COVID-related symptoms. He’s ready to get to work with the Giants.”

Although Armstead is currently listed at 200 pounds, he is working his way back up to a playing weight of around 220 pounds.

In order to make room for Armstead on their 90-man roster, the Giants also announced that the contract of quarterback Joe Webb had been terminated.

Jaguars waive RB Ryquell Armstead

After spending the 2020 season on COVID-19/reserve, the Jags have waived RB Ryquell Armstead.

The Jacksonville Jaguars waived running back Ryquell Armstead the team announced on Monday. The decision came after Armstead missed the 2020 regular season battling with COVID-19.

Armstead, 24, was drafted out of Temple by the Jags in the fifth round of the 2019 draft by former general manager Dave Caldwell. During that season, he was able to register 35 carries for 108 yards and two touchdown receptions. 

Armstead was placed on the Jags’ COVID-19/ reserve list last August and had to be placed on their again weeks later. Late in October, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that Armstead had a rough year battling COVID-19, which caused him to be hospitalized twice as he dealt with “significant respiratory issues.” Schefter also stated that Armstead was expected to make a full recovery. 

The Jags’ decision comes after they were extremely busy this offseason at the running back position. With James Robinson needing some help, the team signed Carlos Hyde in free agency and added a slash weapon in running back Travis Etienne. That gave the Jags seven players at the position, which is a significant number for a 90-man roster.

With Armstead being waived, the Jags’ roster sits at 89 players. Many have speculated that the Jags’ one remaining roster spot would be used on Tim Tebow, who the Jags have been tied to a worked out as a tight end. During rookie mini-camp, coach Urban Meyer said a decision would be made on Tebow this weekend, so they may have agreed to bring him in as a staff. 

“I’ve leaned on my staff for that, and I imagine a decision is going to be soon, ” Meyer said.” We wanted to have them, because I have a new tight end coach as well, watch a guy like Luke [Farrell] and just get a feel for it because they’re the ones who put him through a tryout a couple times and see if he can help us win.

“We have not had that — I imagine Sunday, we’ll come in — all our focus is on the guys right now, and then we’ll have a chat Sunday.”