Tag: Steven Wirtel

Jaguars add veteran long snapper Garrison Sanborn to practice squad

The Jaguars brought in two long snappers and two linebackers for tryouts Tuesday and signed one to the practice squad.

The Jacksonville Jaguars brought four players in for a tryout Tuesday and signed one: veteran long snapper Garrison Sanborn.

Sanborn, 37, went undrafted after playing collegiately at Florida State, but stuck with the Buffalo Bills where he was the team’s long snapper for eight seasons. He spent four of the last five years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and one season with the San Francisco 49ers.

He was released by the Buccaneers near the end of the 2021 season and hasn’t been a roster since. Sanborn was one of two long snappers who tried out for the Jaguars on Tuesday, along with Steven Wirtel, a former Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, and Green Bay Packers player.

Jacksonville also brought in former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Jordan Evans and former Rams and Denver Broncos linebacker Kenny Young for tryouts.

The Jaguars’ long snapping duties have been handled by Ross Matiscik since the beginning of the 2020 season. Matiscik is under contract through the 2026 season.

Packers release LS Steven Wirtel, waive WR Osirus Mitchell

The Packers released long snapper Steven Wirtel and waived wide receiver Osirus Mitchell with an injury. 

The Green Bay Packers made a roster move at both long snapper and wide receiver ahead of Wednesday’s training camp practice.

According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, the Packers released long snapper Steven Wirtel and waived wide receiver Osirus Mitchell with an injury.

The moves clear two spots on the 90-man roster. One spot is going to running back Dexter Williams.

Wirtel’s attempt to keep the long snapper job ended in failure after only two weeks of camp. He replaced Hunter Bradley and was the team’s long snapper in nine regular-season games and one playoff game in 2021. The Packers still have rookie Jack Coco on the roster at long snapper, and an addition could be coming – the team worked out long snappers Mitchell Fraboni and Antonio Ortiz on Tuesday.

Much is left to be decided at a key specialist spot with a month to go before the season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Mitchell, who starred in the USFL, has been dealing with a quad injury and hasn’t practiced in a week. If unclaimed on waivers, Mitchell would revert to injured reserve in Green Bay and could depart later via an injury settlement.

Mitchell’s exit leaves 11 wide receivers left on the roster, although rookie Christian Watson (knee) remains on the PUP list to start camp.

The Packers open the preseason on Friday in San Francisco.

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Rams waive LS Steven Wirtel to make room for Sony Michel

The Rams cleared a spot for Sony Michel by waiving Steven Wirtel, which means Matthew Orzech will be the long snapper.

After acquiring Sony Michel from the Patriots on Wednesday, the Rams needed to make a move in order to free up a roster spot. They made room for Michel by waiving Steven Wirtel, who was competing with Matthew Orzech to be the team’s long snapper.

With Wirtel now gone, Orzech has won that competition and will replace Jake McQuaide as the long snapper.

The Rams signed Wirtel in February before McQuaide hit free agency and eventually signed with the Cowboys. They prepared for McQuaide’s departure by adding Wirtel and Orzech, knowing the veteran might be on his way out.

Rams sign LS Steven Wirtel with Jake McQuaide set to hit free agency

The Rams seem to be preparing for Jake McQuaide to leave this offseason.

With free agency about a month and a half away, the Los Angeles Rams have begun to prepare for possible departures. On Tuesday, the team announced it has signed long snapper Steven Wirtel to a reserve/futures contract.

Wirtel is the second long snapper the Rams have signed to a reserve/futures deal, joining Colin Holba, who was added to the practice squad during the 2020 season.

These moves aren’t a coincidence with Jake McQuaide set to become a free agent in March. For a team that’s way over the salary cap right now, they need to save money wherever possible, including at long snapper.

McQuaide is as good as they come on special teams, making the Pro Bowl twice (2016 and 2017) and rarely has a bad snap. It’s an overlooked position, but McQuaide is a valuable part of the Rams’ special teams unit.

As for Wirtel, he was signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent last offseason after playing at Iowa State in college. He didn’t appear in a game.

Lions agree to terms with 7 UDFAs to 2020 roster

The Detroit Lions announced they have agreed to terms with seven undrafted free agents, bringing their roster to the maximum 90-players.

The Detroit Lions announced they have agreed to terms with seven undrafted free agents, and after releasing four players on Monday, the team’s roster sits at the maximum 90-players.

For a more detailed breakdown of all seven new Lions, be sure to check out our 2020 Lions UDFA tracker, and below is a shorter overview of the class with some fun details from the Lions.

Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington

Hunter is a move tight end who will complement the Lions tight end room. He was Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 tight end prospect in this class, the Athletic’s Dane Brugler sixth-best, and has a legitimate shot at securing the TE 3 or 4 role on the Lions roster.

Arryn Siposs, Punter, Auburn

An Australian punter who can do some amazing things with a football. After the release of Matt Wile, it appears, Siposs will compete with Jack Fox for punting duties this offseason.

Jalen Elliott, safety, Notre Dame

Elliot’s ball skills point to him potentially being a single-high safety in the Lions scheme, and if he can show more range, he will have a chance to challenge C.J. Moore for the fifth safety role.

Jeremiah Dinson, slot DB, Auburn

Dinson is a slot corner/safety tweener whose coverage and tackling skills could earn him a spot on the backend of the roster. He will likely compete with Will Harris and Jayron Kearse in the slot.

Bobby Price, JOKER, Norfolk State

From the highlights I was able to obtain and watch, Price has a very similar body type and play style to Tracy Walker and could be a developmental project at the JOKER safety position.

Luke Sellers, Fullback, South Dakota State

A pure fullback option who can contribute on special teams, he was rarely used on offense for more than blocking purposes. He will push Nick Bawden for a role on the roster.

Steven Wirtel, Long snapper, Iowa State

Wirtel was the long snapper for the Matt Patricia North squad at the Senior Bowl and was almost universally regarded as the second-best long snapper in this draft class — the first, Blake Ferguson, was drafted in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins.