Saints invite 3 XFL players to upcoming rookie minicamp tryouts

The New Orleans Saints invited several XFL players to their upcoming rookie minicamp tryouts:

The New Orleans Saints invited several XFL players to their upcoming rookie minicamp tryouts, including one familiar face who spent time with them last year. The spring-league’s rules dictate that players may not sign an NFL contract until at least May 15, which happens to fall right after the Saints close rookie minicamp (which runs from May 12-14). So there’s a good chance one of these players could earn a contract if they do well.

Here’s who has been invited to participate along with dozens of other rookies and tryout free agents:

Browns host 3 for tryouts on Thursday including DB Troy Apke

The Browns hosted three for tryouts yesterday.

The Cleveland Browns have frequently hosted tryouts throughout the season as they follow their own guardrail of churning the bottom of their roster. They have even signed a few players straight from tryouts to their practice squad, including safety Mike Brown who is set to make his third gameday appearance as a practice squad elevation. This week is no different, as the Browns tried out three players, including former starting defensive back of the Washington Commanders, Troy Apke.

Here we take a look at those three players and give their college and NFL background, and their athletic testing numbers. Could the Browns add one of these guys to the practice squad as well with five weeks to go in the 2022 season?

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Saints lose backup LT Sage Doxtater to injury, re-sign OL Derek Schweiger

The Saints shuffled their offensive line depth chart, losing backup left tackle Sage Doxtater to injury and signing rookie free agent Derek Schweiger:

The hits keep coming for the New Orleans Saints offensive line, which lost rookie left tackle Sage Doxtater for the season to what ESPN’s Mike Triplett reports is an elbow injury. Doxtater, 23, initially signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico State and was in line to play a lot of snaps in Friday night’s preseason game with the Green Bay Packers. Instead, it looks like he’ll be taking a medical redshirt.

It’s the latest injury to the depth chart at offensive tackle, with veteran starter James Hurst leaving practice this week due to a foot issue. His rookie backup Trevor Penning was also in and out of practice but appears to be fine. Still, there have been plenty of moving parts along the line — the Saints brought back Derrick Kelly as a waiver wire claim, reuniting with one of their former reserves, who has played both tackle and guard in New Orleans.

Additionally, the Saints re-signed rookie lineman Derek Schweiger as a corresponding move to Doxtater being placed on injured reserve. Schweiger was another undrafted signing (out of Iowa State) earlier this year who was let go during a wave of roster moves at the start of training camp, but now he’s got an opportunity to compete for a roster spot. Schweiger started games at both guard and tackle for the Cyclones, so like Kelly he brings some versatility. They’ll need it to help make a positive impression on the coaching staff.

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