Tag: Simi Fehoko

Chargers sign WR Simi Fehoko to active roster

The Chargers moved quickly to add another wide receiver in the wake of the Mike Williams injury.

Los Angeles moved quickly to add another wide receiver in the wake of the Mike Williams injury.

Hours after the team reported that Williams tore his ACL during Sunday’s game against the Vikings, ending his season, reports surfaced that the Chargers would be adding former Stanford receiver Simi Fehoko from Pittsburgh’s practice squad as his replacement.

Fehoko confirmed the rumors in a video posted to his personal Instagram on Monday night.

On Tuesday, the Chargers officially announced the signing of Fehoko. In correspondence, Williams was placed on the injured reserve list.

Fehoko originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick of the Cowboys in 2021 and spent his first two seasons playing for Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in Dallas. After Moore left for Los Angeles this offseason, Fehoko slipped down the depth chart and was released by the Cowboys during final roster cuts and joined the Steelers practice squad, where he spent the first three weeks of the season.

The 25-year-old receiver has three catches for 24 yards in his pro career after racking up 62 receptions for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons in Palo Alto, CA at Stanford. At nearly 6’4” and 220 lbs, Fehoko ran a 4.44 40-yard dash and finished with a 9.17 RAS, signifying that he’s one of the better athletes at the position.

Fehoko is also the cousin of former Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko, who he joined on the Steelers this season.

Fehoko was used as both a downfield stretcher and screen player in college, making him a good fit for the role Williams is vacating. But it’s more likely that rookie first-round pick Quentin Johnston will take the bulk of those snaps, with Fehoko stepping in as WR5 as Joshua Palmer, Johnston, and Derius Davis all move up one position on the depth chart. Once Jalen Guyton returns from the PUP list as he recovers from a torn ACL of his own, the Chargers will likely carry six wide receivers.

Former Cowboys WR Simi Fehoko signs with Chargers; will meet in Week 6

From @ToddBrock24f7: The fifth-round draft pick had been on Pittsburgh’s practice squad this season; he’ll join L.A.’s 53-man roster under OC Kellen Moore.

Add another familiar face to the list of ex-teammates the Cowboys will see on opposing sidelines in 2023.

Just as the Cowboys are gearing up to face Ezekiel Elliott as a New England Patriot, the team has also learned that they’ll get a reunion with former wide receiver Simi Fehoko in a couple weeks.

Fehoko announced via social media that he has been signed to the Los Angeles Chargers’ 53-man roster following the ACL injury suffered by Mike Williams last weekend.

The Stanford product gets bonus cool points for breaking the news using the Kevin James meme that is suddenly making the rounds over the last few days.

Fehoko had been on the Steelers practice squad since being cut by Dallas on Aug. 29, but he had not made it into a game for Pittsburgh. The move to L.A. will pair him once again with former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who now serves in the same capacity for the Chargers.

The 25-year-old Fehoko was a fifth-round draft choice of the Cowboys in 2021. The 6-foot-4-inch receiver offered a tantalizing physical presence and quickly garnered a following among Dallas fans, but he was never able to make much of an impact on the field.

He has three total receptions on four targets for 24 yards over 10 game appearances in 2021 and 2022.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

The Chargers got off to a rough start in Moore’s first season as OC, losing a 2-point affair to Miami in Week 1 and following it up with a 3-point loss in Tennessee. They beat Minnesota 28-24 to claim their first victory of the season in Week 3.

Fehoko joins a WR room for the Bolts that includes Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnson, Joshua Palmer, and Derius Davis. Jalen Guyton is currently injured  but can rejoin the team after Week 4.

The Cowboys will visit SoFi Stadium to face Moore and Fehoko for a Monday Night Football showdown on Oct. 16 to close out the league’s slate of Week 6 games.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hb54hxybr1c9w06ezx playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hb54hxybr1c9w06ezx/01hb54hxybr1c9w06ezx-36e5b8d757a7ece3b06944625d41d7c8.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

3 Cowboys storylines as preseason winds down

With just one contest left, the preseason games have laid the groundwork for these three storylines that will soon play out. | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys were shown the difference between a true preseason loss and one on the scoreboard Saturday night; suffering major injuries to two young players who were having a great camp. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and tight end John Stephens Jr., saw their 2023 storylines end that night.

The team, however, has one more game against the Las Vegas Raiders before cut downs and the roster is still loaded with talent. Injuries hurt, but the team has to stay focused on the best way to put a championship roster together. Here are some of the roster-based storylines coming off of the Cowboys second preseason game.

Building blocks among 3 things to watch for in Cowboys-Seahawks

What can fans look for the Cowboys to expand on in Game 2 of the preseason? | From @cdpiglet

Winning and losing take on different meanings in the preseason as compared to the regular season. In the regular season, the point total is what determines a successful outing, but exhibition-game success is measured differently. The Dallas Cowboys “lost” to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their first preseason game of 2023, but in reality, Dallas left that game feeling like they won overall.

The Cowboys’ second-team defense handled the Jaguars’ first-team offense with a forced turnover and a three-and-out, and had a bunch of guys on the bubble show up and look like potential contributors. Most importantly, they left the game with no serious injury concerns.

Now the team turns to a road game against the Seattle Seahawks and looks to continue to improve on the work they have done all training camp, but especially what they saw in real game reps last week. Here are some things fans should keep an eye on in this game that could help tell the story about the 53-man rosters and the success of the team going forward.

Can Cowboys WR Simi Fehoko take over Noah Brown’s role?

Simi Fehoko has the size and skillset to be a plus-blocker for the Cowboys, replacing Noah Brown and filling a vital role. | From @ReidDHanson

Simi Fehoko, the Cowboys soon-to-be third year receiver from Stanford, has had a tough time getting on the field in Dallas. Since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, he’s logged just a combined 43 offensive snaps and based on the WR room heading into 2023, the outlook ahead for the 25-year-old WR doesn’t look much brighter.

Sometimes the road less traveled is also the path of least resistance. In this way, Fekoko’s best path to the Cowboys active roster may be the same untraditional route Noah Brown took in locking down his spot in Dallas five years ago.

Prior to 2022, Brown served a fairly specialized role on the Cowboys. In a position group headlined by multiple pedigreed and accomplished pass-catchers, Brown was cast into a complementary role.

Rarely a target in the passing game, Brown was used primarily as a blocker, both at the line of scrimmage and downfield.  Lining up inside, outside and even blocking on-the-move, Brown was the blue collar worker of the of the Cowboys’ flashiest unit.

Clearly, that all changed in 2022, when Dallas began the season disturbingly understaffed at WR and was essentially forced to elevate Brown into a WR2 role. Statistically, it resulted in Brown’s best season as a pass-catcher but it left a void in his previously held role on the org chart.

With Brown off to Houston cashing in on his career season, the role he held for the 4+ campaigns prior to last, sits unfilled. Kellen Moore certainly missed Brown in that role in 2022; does Mike McCarthy share the same feelings? A blue-collar receiver could be exactly what the Cowboys need to reinstall an efficient running game as a complement to his west coast offense.

If that’s the case, Dallas may have an internal candidate who could be well-suited for Brown’s old role.

Cowboys open 21-day window for Fehoko, Harper; add CB to practice squad

The WR and LB had been on injured reserve since October and can now practice with the team. Sheldrick Redwine has been signed as a DB. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Even if they keep winning playoff games, the Cowboys are running out of days in what will constitute their 2022 season. But a trio of young players is looking to make the most of the late opportunity, perhaps even getting into some postseason action.

The Cowboys on Thursday opened the 21-day practice windows for wide receiver Simi Fehoko and linebacker Devin Harper, allowing them to return to work with the team and possibly be added to the 53-man roster within the next three weeks.

Fehoko, in his second year out of Stanford, recorded three catches in five game appearances this season before suffering a shoulder injury in practice just before the Week 6 contest at Philadelphia. He’s been on injured reserve since then.

Harper is in his rookie campaign, a sixth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State. He saw special teams snaps over the Cowboys’ first three games of 2022 as he tried to work his way into the team’s talented linebacker corps. He was placed on IR in late October after dealing with an Achilles issue.

The Cowboys also welcomed a new man to the practice squad, signing defensive back Sheldrick Redwine on Thursday. A fourth-round pick of the Browns in the 2019 draft, the former safety out of the University of Miami then had stints with the Jets, Panthers, Dolphins, and Colts, mostly on those clubs’ practice squads.

He has eight NFL starts over 33 games, with an interception recorded in 2020.

To make room for Redwine, cornerback Mackensie Alexander was moved to the practice squad’s injured list. The veteran had been signed in December and saw just a handful of defensive snaps against the Eagles in Week 16.

[listicle id=709126]

[listicle id=709129]

[listicle id=709169]

[lawrence-newsletter]

WATCH: Wright’s timely INT leads to Grier-Fehoko TD strike for Cowboys

The Cowboys 2nd forced turnover led to a late first-half TD that narrowed the gap in the preseason finale. | From @CDBurnett7

This preseason hasn’t been a friendly one to cornerback Nahshon Wright but he finally got some redemption late in the first half against the Seahawks. The Cowboys 2021 third-round pick has been picked on at times in the preseason but found himself on the other end of an errant throw from Seattle’s Drew Lock. The Seahawks were beginning their two-minute drill but Wright stopped the momentum right after a 22-yard gain put them near midfield.

Wright’s interception is the second of the game for the Cowboys, the first being by safety Israel Mukuamu in the first quarter. Wright started the big play on the outside and read Lock’s eyes to slip down to the receiver underneath and the Seattle quarterback never saw him.

The takeaway set up the Dallas offense in strong field position at the Seahawks 31-yard line. With a 13-3 deficit, the Cowboys took the opportunity to close the gap. Quarterback Will Grier got the drive rolling with a 16-yard scramble and finished it with a strike to wide receiver Simi Fehoko, who was wide open in the back of the end zone.

The touchdown is Grier’s first of the preseason and Fehoko’s second.  Heading into halftime, the Cowboys made it a 13-10 game with plenty of time in their final preseason contest.

WATCH: DiNucci, Fehoko connect for Cowboys’ first TD of 2022 preseason

Ben DiNucci led the first touchdown drive of the 2022 preseason, capping it off with a strike to Simi Fehoko, who’s been surging in camp. | From @KDDrummondNFL

While the Cowboys preseason opener hasn’t been a strong outing, the quarterback position was one of the keys to watch. There’s zero question about the starting spot but the backup role is up for grabs. With Will Grier out, Cooper Rush started the contest and had an interception during a frustrating first outing of 2022.

Late in the second half, Ben DiNucci took over the quarterback duties for Dallas in a shutout up to that point for his offense. After his first drive ended in a missed field goal, DiNucci led the team down the field and ended it with a 12-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Simi Fehoko.

Fehoko showing success on the field is a great sign considering his positive training camp performances while DiNucci’s sidearm style gave the Cowboys their first touchdown of the young season. The backup quarterback battle continues to rage on while Dallas has likely dropped their first preseason game to Denver.

Seven young players to watch in Week 1 of the NFL preseason

Touchdown Wire’s Laurie Fitzpatrick points out seven young players to watch in the first week of the 2022 NFL preseason.

It’s officially the first weekend of full NFL preseason football! As teams begin joint practices, most starters will either be held out in this week’s games, or will play limited snaps.

This weekend’s matchups will be a good evaluation tool to see which players will make the first round of depth chart cuts (to 85 players) that take place on August 16th.

As players finally get to play full game speed, let’s take a look at a few underdogs who have been unexpectedly shining through camp; and who may surprise us all to make the final roster.s

ESPN names T.J. Vasher surprise offseason standout for Cowboys

After spending his rookie year nursing a knee, the Texas Tech product may have a leg up on the Cowboys’ WR competition heading into camp. | From @ToddBrock24f7

There’s a long way to go before the Cowboys get themselves down to a 53-man roster. But based on what he’s already seen in the offseason, one team insider is predicting a surprise in the Dallas WR room.

The Cowboys are thin on experience at the position, and even more so in the first few weeks of the season. CeeDee Lamb is the new undisputed top dog on the depth chart following Amari Cooper’s trade to Cleveland. Michael Gallup figures to be next in line, but he’s still rehabbing from an ACL tear and will likely miss the start the season. Veteran James Washington is new to the club, and Noah Brown returns for his sixth season, but both are dealing with minor injuries of their own.

That leaves the door open for a handful of others to step up, but there is a total of 12 wide receivers currently in the locker room. Common sense says several aren’t going to make it to Week 1.

Todd Archer of ESPN likes T.J. Vasher’s chances, even over 2021 draft-day darling Simi Fehoko.

Vasher, the 23-year-old out of Texas Tech, was signed last year as an undrafted free agent. He spent the entire season on the reserve/non-football injury list with a knee issue, even as Fehoko, the fifth-round selection out of Stanford made it into five games as a promising rookie.

But so far, in OTAs and minicamp, Vasher has impressed.

“He’s done good things,” head coach Mike McCarthy said recently. “I think he’s made some really big time flash plays, splash plays. He’s had some, really, particularly, in the red zone, which you can see his ability down there. He had some really good plays in scramble drills and things like that. I think like any young player, particularly in his development, is getting the details of the everyday situations.”

That was enough of an endorsement for Archer to put Vasher on his 53-man roster projection last week, citing “some eye-popping moments” over the spring workouts.

Fehoko was left out.

Quarterback Dak Prescott, however, isn’t so quick to discount the improvement that the Stanford product has made from Year One to Year Two.

“That’s a stride you have to take,” Prescott told reporters of Fehoko in mid-June. “He’s taken that in this offseason, whether it’s been times throwing, extra throwing, making sure that he’s been there, and he hasn’t missed any of those. And then you get out here in the football, 11-on-11 or whatever it is, and he’s taken strides and he will continue to take strides more. He’s a guy that’s going to be big for us.”

There is, however, a long list of young receivers who want to “be big” for Prescott and the Cowboys offense in 2022. Brandon Smith is also back for his second season. And the team brought in lots of fresh competition by taking Jalen Tolbert in this year’s third round and signing Dontario Drummond, Ty Fryfogle, Dennis Houston, and Jaquarii Robinson after the draft.

Vasher looks forward to the battle.

“Of course, I would love to be in and out the huddle with the guys and dialing up plays and scoring systems,” Vasher said, per the team website. “I think that’s why any of us want to do what we do, but honestly, I would like to contribute in whatever way possible. I love football to the truest extent. So, any way that I can get out there and play and strap my stuff up and be with my teammates.”

Vasher will be out there when the team reconvenes in Oxnard. Whether he’s still there on opening night of the regular season remains to be seen, but he’s off to a surprising start.

[listicle id=698793]

[listicle id=698723]

[listicle id=698732]

[lawrence-newsletter]