Tag: Travis Vokolek

Who got to wear the Pat Tillman jersey this week in practice for the Cardinals?

The Cardinals’ fourth-string tight was honored with the Tillman jersey after defensive players got tow for three straight weeks.

After defensive players won the Pat Tillman Scout Team Player of the Week Award for three consecutive weeks, Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek got it back for the offense for his work prior to the Week 15 game against the Patriots.

That enabled Vokolek to wear the special No. 40 jersey in practice this past week for Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

“Pat Tillman is obviously a legacy around here,” Vokolek said. “And to get that jersey is a privilege and an honor. I’m out there proudly representing it.”

The Vokolek came to the Cardinals in 2023 after being signed off the Ravens practice squad on Dec. 20. He was born in June of 1998, a little more than a month after Tillman was selected by the Cardinals in the seventh round of the draft.

He said, “I knew about him a little bit growing up. I was obviously a football fan. I’m from a football family. My dad (DJ) is a football coach. Growing up watching the NFL and you obviously hear stories about different individuals and in the NFL and Pat Tillman is a very unique story. So I got here and you see pictures everywhere. He’s got his own locker out there, so he’s a big deal.”

The recurring theme talking to players each week that won the award is the motivation to have a chance at it.

“Competition is obviously part of our job description,” Vokolek said. “You gotta go out there and you gotta earn it. I’m gonna try and get it again. I just always go out there and try to put my best stuff on film and try to help this team win whether I’m playing or on the scout team. Whatever I’m doing, I just try and go out and help the team accomplish our goal of going 1-0 every week.”

Asked if he had a sense of standing out in the week of practice for which he was recognized, Vokolek said, “There are definitely plays out there where you think there’s a chance, but during practice you gotta go out there and do what you’re supposed to do and do your job.”

It’s certainly an important moment when head coach Jonathan Gannon announces the winner each week on Saturday.

Vokolek concluded, “It’s a big deal and something I’m super proud of.”

2024 Pat Tillman Scout-Team Award Winners

Week 1: RB Michael Carter (practice squad)

Week 2: LB Markus Bailey (practice squad)

Week 3: WR Andre Baccellia (practice squad)

Week 4: OL Jon Gaines II

Week 5: WR Xavier Weaver

Week 6: DL P.J. Mustipher (practice squad)

Week 7: S Joey Blount

Week 8: WR Chris Moore (practice squad)

Week 9: OLB Ronnie Perkins (practice squad)

Week 10: QB Clayton Tune

Week 12: LB Milo Eifler (practice squad)

Week 13: CB Kei’Trel Clark

Week 14: S Joey Blount

Week 15: TE Travis Vokolek

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals have many late-season additions signed for 2024

The Cardinals made sure many of their in-season and late-season additions were signed through 2024.

The Arizona Cardinals went through a lot of different players on the roster in 2023. They made some late-season acquisitions with waiver claims, free agent signings and even signings from off their own practice squad.

In many cases, the Cardinals kept a slightly longer-term perspective. Many of these players were signed through 2024 rather than for just the remainder of the 2023 season.

It appears to be a smart move, giving the players some offseason stability and allowing the Cardinals to have players with a bit of a head start on what they will do next season.

These are the late-season additions to the roster who are signed through this next season.

Ravens lose promising practice squad TE to Cardinals

The Ravens lost a promising practice squad tight end to the Arizona Cardinals

The Baltimore Ravens have had many promising players walk through their doors throughout history. They have been known to have one of the better player development departments in the NFL, which has led to a steady diet of talent contributing on the field for the club.

One player with plenty of potential for Baltimore was undrafted rookie tight end Travis Vokolek. The University of Nebraska product was one of the stars of the Ravens’ 2023 preseason, but will now have an opportunity to play somewhere else after the Arizona Cardinals signed the rookie from the team’s practice squad.

Vokolek had spent the entire season on Baltimore’s practice squad, yet to log an NFL snap.

He’ll join Arizona’s active roster with the team moving Geoff Swaim (calf) to injured reserve Wednesday.

Vokolek isn’t likely to see many offensive opportunities, given Trey McBride’s recent emergence as one of the league’s top pass-catching tight ends.

Ravens sign tight end Scotty Washington to practice squad

The Baltimore Ravens announced on Tuesday that they have signed tight end Scotty Washington to the practice squad following a workout with the team.

The Baltimore Ravens announced on Tuesday that they have signed tight end Scotty Washington to the practice squad following a workout with the team.

Unsurprisingly, the Ravens wanted to add another tight end to the mix after Mark Andrews suffered a potentially season-ending ankle injury in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11.

While there is an “outside chance” for Andrews to return at some point this season, according to Head Coach John Harbaugh, Baltimore will have to forge ahead without the Pro Bowl playmaker for the time being.

Washington signed with the Bengals practice squad after going undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2020. After spending the first two seasons of his NFL career on Cincinnati’s practice squad, Washington was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad in 2022. His most recent stint was on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad during the 2023 season.

The Ravens will primarily rely on second-year tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar alongside fullback Patrick Ricard to fill the substantial void left by Andrews. Baltimore also has undrafted tight end Travis Vokolek on the practice squad. Vokolek had an impressive training camp and preseason with the team.

Another option for the Ravens’ offense is to lean more into their wide receivers, which offensive coordinator Todd Monken has already done more of in his first season with the team compared to previous offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

Ravens updated 15-man practice squad after adding Melvin Gordon and Daryl Worley

The Baltimore #Ravens have added Melvin Gordon and Daryl Worley to the practice squad ahead of the 2023 regular season opener vs. the Houston Texans via @Thacover2NFL

The Ravens initially signed 13 players to their practice squad for the 2023 season, including two veterans and several training camp standouts.

John Harbaugh just added two more players to group, bringing back Melvin Gordon and Daryl Worley.

As we previously reported, NFL teams can have a maximum of 16 players on the squad, and Baltimore could still fill the remaining three.

There can be up to 10 players with as many as two years of accrued service, and a max of six players with unlimited accrued time.

Practice squad players can be elevated up to three times for gamedays.

Ravens announce 13 players to the initial practice squad for 2023

The Baltimore #Ravens have added 13 players to the practice squad ahead of the 2023 regular season opener vs. the Houston Texans via @Thacover2NFL

The Ravens have signed 13 players to their initial practice squad for the 2023 season, including two veterans and several training camp standouts.

As we previously reported, NFL teams can have a maximum of 16 players on the squad, and Baltimore could still fill the remaining three.

There can be up to 10 players with as many as two years of accrued service, and a max of six players with unlimited accrued time.

Practice squad players can be elevated up to three times for gamedays.

Former Husker tight end has big game for Ravens

A former Nebraska tight end had a big day in his second preseason game.

A former Nebraska tight end had a big day in his second preseason game. Travis Vokolek had three catches for 28 yards and two touchdowns in the Baltimore Ravens’ 29-28 loss to the Washington Commanders.

The tight end had 20 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. He spent three years at Nebraska after previously transferring from Rutgers.

The 6-7 260-pound Vokolek signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft. In two preseason games, he has five receptions for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Ravens’ roster bubble: Each undrafted free agents chances of making 53-man roster

Baltimore #Ravens roster bubble: We’re looking at each undrafted free agents chances of making 53-man roster via @Thacover2NFL

After April’s NFL draft, Baltimore added 18 undrafted free agents to the roster.

With one week of the preseason remaining, the Ravens currently have 14 undrafted free agents on the roster, with three or four who’ve made highlight plays, and have a solid chance to make the 53-man roster.

After two joint practices earlier last week, the Ravens and Commanders will close out the second week of the NFL preseason with an intriguing matchup at FedEx Field.

Monday night’s contest could be a physical, hard-hitting affair after the practice sessions were marred by Washington rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and Baltimore wide receiver Tylan Wallace exchanging punches.

With kickoff now five hours away, we’re looking at which undrafted free agents have the best shot at making the 53-man roster.

Updated depth chart projection for Ravens offense

We’re updating our Baltimore #Ravens projected offensive depth chart after a slew of roster moves and ahead of preseason matchup vs. Commanders via @Thacover2NFL

The Ravens are just 48-hours away from their second preseason matchup of the summer when they travel to face the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field on Monday at 8 p.m. ET, and you can watch on ESPN.

Baltimore is favored in a game where most of their starters will sit, while several key rookies and veterans will compete for final remaining roster spots.

With cutdown day fast approaching, we’re providing an updated regular season depth chart prediction ahead of Monday night.

Ravens stock watch: Who’s up, who’s down heading into preseason matchup with Commanders?

We’re looking who’s seen their stock rise and stock fall ahead of the Baltimore #Ravens preseason matchup against the Washington Commanders via @thacover2NFL

The Ravens are starting to form their 53-man depth chart and as the team prepares for a preseason tilt against the Commanders, several stock portfolio’s are starting to take shape.

Baltimore has a loaded roster, with more players on the roster bubble, than available slots on the depth chart.

With the team wrapping up a morning session ahead of Monday’s national television appearance, we’re looking at who’s stock is up, and who’s stock is declining.

The hype about Zay Flowers is real and he’s excluded from the list because his stock pprtfolio is obviously high.