Tag: Taylor Bertolet

Four Vikings you might see more of on Sunday

Here are four Minnesota Vikings players who might see a bigger role in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

The Minnesota Vikings are in a strange predicament at the moment.

With nothing to play for, Minnesota will head to Detroit to play the Lions in Week 17. There is a compelling case for the team to rest its starters this week. Regardless of whether the team does that, it will be without some key players.

That leaves the opportunity for younger, more inexperienced players to step up and earn more reps. Minnesota is 6-9 overall, but it has a chance to get better for 2021.

Here are four Vikings players who may get a bigger role than usual against the Lions on Sunday.

Vikings sign kicker Taylor Bertolet to practice squad

The Minnesota Vikings have signed a kicker: Taylor Bertolet

Heading into the year, Minnesota retained one of the more accurate kickers in NFL history: Dan Bailey.

But recently, Bailey has not looked like a kicker even capable of being average. He missed three field goals and an extra point against the Buccaneers last game.

The game before that, he went 1-3 on extra points and missed a potential game-winning kick in regulation vs. the Jaguars. Though to be fair, he hit the game-winner in overtime.

With their kicker struggling, the Vikings have reported two tryouts this week with players at that position. Then, they ended up signing one of those players.

Minnesota announced that the team has signed kicker Taylor Bertolet to the practice squad. The Vikings also announced Saturday that CB Cordrea Tankersley has been elevated to the team’s active roster for the Bears game.

The Vikings have a tryout with a kicker

The Vikings have a kicking problem and the team reported a tryout with Taylor Bertolet.

Whether you’re an expert or just a casual fan, it was not very hard to see that the Vikings struggled in the kick game on Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Minnesota K Dan Bailey, a very consistent kicker historically speaking, has struggled throughout the 2020 NFL season. In Week 14, he kept his team out of the game, missing three field goals and one extra point.

For the Vikings, losing out on 10 points could lead to a defeat against many teams, let alone one as good as the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay did not look convincing in the victory, but Minnesota gave it the win and special teams is at least somewhat to blame.

Based on Bailey’s season, it would make sense for the Vikings to look for a different kicker. Here is Minnesota’s tryout, per the daily NFL transactions wire:

Panthers coach Matt Rhule says he’s ‘comfortable’ with K Joey Slye

Despite appearances, head coach Matt Rhule told the media today via Zoom that he’s “comfortable” with Joey Slye.

The Carolina Panthers brought in three free agent kickers for visits during their bye week. That list included Louie Zervos, Lirim Hajrullahu and Chandler Catanzaro, who spent some time with the 2018 team.

Despite appearances, head coach Matt Rhule told the media today via Zoom that he’s “comfortable” with Joey Slye.

Slye missed a 54-yard kick late against the Vikings, dropping his field goal rate to 77.4% and his record on 50+ yard kicks to just 1/6 in 2020.

The stats don’t sound great, but they also don’t tell the full story. It’s not like Slye has been lining up from 51-53 yards each time. In fact, he’s been asked to kick multiple times from 65 or more yards.

Fans may be impatient for a change, but that might not be the best idea. Remember, Slye is still only 24 years old and has demonstrated excellent range. Just last season, Slye was 8/11 on attempts of 50 or more yards.

[lawrence-related id=631532]

[vertical-gallery id=631392]

Panthers hosted Chandler Catanzaro, 2 other free agent kickers for visits

Yesterday, the team brought in three free agent kickers for visits. Here is a look at who came in.

Kickers are nothing if not streaky. At the moment, Joey Slye seems to be in a bit of a rut. In Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, the Panthers’ kicker missed what would have been a game-winning 54-yard field goal, bringing his percentage for the season down to 77.4%. That’s lower than his rookie year.

Yesterday, the team brought in three free agent kickers for visits. Here is a look at who came in.

Chandler Catanzaro

The big name and the only real potential threat to Slye is Catanzaro, who  has played 77 games in the NFL, including four with the Panthers back in 2018. He made all five of his field goal attempts and seven of eight extra points during that run. For his career, he’s 83.8% on field goals and 92.9% on XPs.

Lirim Hajrullahu

The next candidate comes via the CFL. Hajrullahu spent the last two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after two years with the Toronto Argonauts. In 72 games, he’s connected on 91.7% of his field goals, including 14 of 16 from 50 yards or more. He’s 134/143 on extra points (93.7%).

Louie Zervos

Last but not least, Zervos is a product of Ohio, where he put together an impressive college career. Zervos made 73 of 90 field goal attempts (81.1%) and 218 of 224 extra points (97.3%).

Most likely the idea isn’t for any of them to replace Slye. Instead, they could be in the running for the emergency kicker spot that has changed hands a few times this season. Lately, it’s been Taylor Bertolet, who was released again a few days ago.

[lawrence-related id=631459]

[vertical-gallery id=631392]

Panthers rule out Christian McCaffrey, Donte Jackson for Week 12 vs. Vikings

The Panthers also placed wide receiver Ishmael Hyman on the practice squad injured reserve list.

The Carolina Panthers have made some announcements and roster moves ahead of tomorrow’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

First, running back Christian McCaffrey will not be traveling with the team. He was listed as questionable but it always seemed like a long shot that he would return this week. As expected, Mike Davis has been named the starting running back again.

Cornerback Donte Jackson has also been ruled out. No replacement has been named as of yet but last week rookies Troy Pride Jr. and Stantley Thomas-Oliver split his reps outside opposite Rasul Douglas.

Carolina also has elevated practice squad defensive back Natrell Jamerson to the active roster as a COVID-19 exemption. So far, he’s played in two games this year, putting in 12 snaps on special teams and one on defense. Unless there’s a couple of injuries to the DBs ahead of him on the depth chart, Jamerson will most likely rarely see the field in Minnesota.

The Panthers also placed wide receiver Ishmael Hyman on the practice squad injured reserve list.

Emergency kicker Taylor Bertolet was also re-signed to the practice squad.

[lawrence-related id=631272]

[vertical-gallery id=631240]

Panthers make practice squad, roster changes ahead of Week 11 game

The Panthers have just announced a series of roster/practice squad moves ahead of tomorrow’s game with the Lions.

The Panthers have just announced a series of roster/practice squad moves ahead of tomorrow’s game with the Lions.

Here is a quick review of the team’s Saturday transactions.

LB Chris Orr signed to active roster

First, Carolina’s undrafted rookie linebacker Chris Orr has been signed to the active roster. This will be his second straight game on the official 53. He played 20 special teams snaps against the Buccaneers Week 10. Orr posted 15 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss during his time at Wisconsin.

LB/S Sean Chandler waived

In a corresponding move, the team waived former Giants linebacker Sean Chandler, who was picked up after Juston Burris suffered his rib injury back in Week 6. Instead of starting Chandler, the team looked to rookie Sam Franklin to take Burris’ place in the lineup. Chandler wound up not playing a single snap for the Panthers.

DB Natrell Jamerson activated (COVID-19)

DB Natrell Jamerson has also been activated from the practice squad. He has a COVID-19 designation so he won’t count against the roster. He’s appeared in 18 live games since since the Saints picked him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft, all on special teams.

K Taylor Bertolet re-signed to practice squad

Former Texas A&M kicker Taylor Bertolet has been on and off the practice squad these last few weeks. He serves as an emergency kicker option for the team in the event that Joey Slye either gets injured or tests positive for COVID-19 and can’t be cleared in time to play.

LB Daniel Bituli signed to practice squad

Bituli has also been hovering around the edges of the practice squad for a couple weeks. This is the first time he’s been signed, though. He played his college ball at Tennessee and provides depth at linebacker/special teams following veteran Adarius Taylor being placed on injured reserve.

In related news, the team waived former Eagles wide receiver Shelton Gibson from the practice squad on Friday.

[lawrence-related id=631063]

[vertical-gallery id=631027]

Panthers host rookie QB/TE Tommy Stevens, 2 others for visits

It’s been a busy day for the Carolina Panthers, who hosted a trio of free agents for visits.

It’s been a busy day for the Carolina Panthers, who hosted a trio of free agents for visits.

Here is a review of who came in and how they might fit in.

QB/TE Tommy Stevens (6-foot-5, 235 pounds)

Quarterback turned tight end Tommy Stevens was the subject of some NFL draft intrigue this year, with reports that the Panthers and the New Orleans Saints both wanted him. Carolina apparently had plans to sign Stevens as an undrafted free agent, but New Orleans traded back in and picked him in the seventh round. Stevens was released by the Saints on Tuesday, though.

Stevens had been playing tight end for New Orleans. The Panthers aren’t really in need of a fourth-string quarterback, so it’s likely they see him as a Taysom Hill-type playmaker tight end rather than a QB. He has experience with offensive coordinator Joe Brady from their time together at Penn State. Stevens played his Senior season at Mississippi State, where he completed just 60.2% of his passes and threw 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

LB Daniel Bituli (6-foot-3, 252 pounds)

The Panthers are a little lighter in their linebacker room today after Adarius Taylor was placed on the injured reserve list. He had been mostly getting snaps with the special teams unit. Bituli played his college ball at Tennessee, where he posted four sacks, 14.5 tackles for a loss, five pass breakups and one interception in 38 games. If he signs, Bituli will add more depth but likely won’t see much playing time.

K Taylor Bertolet (5-foot-9, 174 pounds)

Bertolet has been on and off the team’s practice squad for the last few weeks. He’s the third emergency kicker they have kept around this season. He’ll need to go through the COVID-19 protocols again in order to sign.

As it happens, there are three open spots on Carolina’s practice squad right now. That’s likely where these three are headed.

[lawrence-related id=630770]

[vertical-gallery id=630746]

Panthers activate 2 from practice squad, re-sign 2 others

To fill those two spots vacated by Hector and Michel, the Panthers brought back two familiar faces.

The Carolina Panthers made several moves this morning, including activating both running back Christian McCaffrey and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos from the injured reserve list. The team also made some changes to their practice squad.

Specifically, two former Philadelphia Eagles have been activated from the practice squad to the active roster: wide receiver Marken Michel and defensive tackle Bruce Hector. Michel and Hector were two of the team’s protected players from being signed by other teams this week. The others were tight end Giovanni Ricci and offensive tackle Matt Kaskey.

Michel was active last Thursday night against the Falcons but only played seven snaps, all on special teams – which was the first live game action of his career. As for Hector, if he’s in the lineup against the Chiefs on Sunday it will be his 12th game in the NFL. So far he’s totaled half a sack and one quarterback hit in limited action. If starting defensive tackle Zach Kerr is ruled out, there’s a chance Hector will backup rookie Bravvion Roy.

To fill those two spots vacated by Hector and Michel, the Panthers brought back two familiar faces. Kicker Taylor Bertolet and offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg have been re-signed to the squad.

[lawrence-related id=630597]

[vertical-gallery id=630566]

Panthers activate CB Rasul Douglas from COVID-19 list, sign WR to practice squad

The Carolina Panthers have activated cornerback Rasul Douglas from the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Carolina Panthers have activated cornerback Rasul Douglas from the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

Douglas has been the team’s top corner this season, but he missed the last two games, both divisional losses. In six games, Douglas has posted 27 combined tackles and six pass breakups. In coverage, he has allowed only 5.9 yards per target and a 76.8 passer rating. Getting Douglas back in the lineup will be critical for the Panthers this week as they face the Kansas City Chiefs, owners of the most-stacked wide receiver corps in the NFL.

The team also signed former Eagles wide receiver Shelton Gibson to their practice squad. Kicker Taylor Bertolet was released to make room for him.

Offensive linemen Tyler Larsen and Michael Schofield are still on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

In related news, coach Matt Rhule says running back Christian McCaffrey will practice this week. The hope is he will be able to play Sunday.

[lawrence-related id=630498]

[vertical-gallery id=630482]