Tag: troy apke

Commanders sign former Titans S Joshua Kalu

Washington also worked out a punter as Tress Way is dealing with tightness in his back.

As the Washington Commanders began the third week of training camp on Sunday, they were dealing with some nagging injuries.

On Monday, the Commanders worked out multiple players, eventually signing veteran safety Joshua Kalu, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, per Justin Melo of The Draft Network.

In a corresponding move, the Commanders placed defensive back Troy Apke on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

Kalu, 27, played collegiately at Nebraska and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Titans in 2018. He spent three seasons in Tennessee and signed with the New York Giants ahead of the 2021 season. He tore his pectoral muscle in the first preseason game and missed the entire season.

He re-signed with the Titans in 2022, where he played 15 games, recording 16 tackles and a forced fumble. Pro Football Focus gave Kalu a run-stopping grade of 93.5 in 2022 in just under 500 defensive snaps.

Washington also worked out a punter Monday. The Commanders, of course, have Pro Bowl punter Tress Way, but he’s dealing with some tightness in his lower back, and Washington was being cautious.

Head coach Ron Rivera expects Way to be ready for Friday’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Every NFL draft pick coached by James Franklin

Zac Stacy, Jordan Matthews, Saquon Barkley, Micah Parsons, and every other NFL draft pick who played for James Franklin.

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] got his first head coaching opportunity with Vanderbilt after the 2010 season despite previously being the head coach-in-waiting at Maryland. The Commodores are not necessarily known for producing a tremendous amount of NFL talent, but Vanderbilt managed to send a few players off to the next level by way of the NFL draft under the guidance of Franklin, who has experience as an assistant coach in the NFL.

In the years Franklin was the head coach at Vanderbilt, from 2011 through 2013, Vanderbilt had seven players drafted. And a few more who would go on to be drafted later on out of Vanderbilt were brought into the program initially by Franklin and his staff. The seven players drafted from Vanderbilt from Franklin’s three seasons with the program is the most draft picks from Vanderbilt in a three-year span in school history since 1957-1969 saw 11 players selected by NFL teams, in the days of a draft lasting at least 20 rounds.

Since arriving at Penn State in 2014, Franklin has seen a growing number of his players go on to be drafted by NFL franchises, including an offensive rookie of the year in running back [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag] in 2018 and a defensive rookie of the year in linebacker [autotag]Micah Parsons[/autotag] in 2021.

Here is a look at every player drafted by an NFL team that had James Franklin as a head coach in their last game before being drafted, beginning with Franklin’s time at Vanderbilt.

And once you are done checking out this list, here is a list of every Penn State player drafted in the first round of the NFL draft since Penn State joined the Big Ten.

Joey Porter Jr. heads to NFC East in this mock draft

This mock draft has Joey Porter Jr. heading to the NFC East.

It’s mock draft Monday, and that means more features with Nittany Lions in the first round. Many of the mock drafts we have seen have featured [autotag]Joey Porter Jr.[/autotag] in the first round, and it’s easy to see why. He has all the tools and skillset to be a productive and elite cornerback in the NFL.

This week, we feature Porter Jr. yet again by an outlet that we have discussed before. That’s right, The Draft Network.

This week, they have Porter Jr. headed to the NFC East with the Washington Commanders with the 16th overall pick.

Let’s break this one down.

First, Washington has defensive talent. They just need to spice up some areas. One of those areas is their cornerback room.

The Commanders do have Kendall Fuller. But he is up for a new contract in 2024. On top of that, they also have a lot of unproven talent in their cornerback room. They youth is there, but neither of them have really shown much.

Oh yeah, another point worth noting. The Commanders also have not one, but TWO former Nittany Lions in their cornerback room in [autotag]Troy Apke[/autotag] and [autotag]Tariq Castro-Fields[/autotag].

The Commanders need an identity in their cornerback room, and Porter Jr. would provide just that for them. They don’t really have a true CB1 on their roster. By drafting Porter Jr., Ron Rivera would finally get his guy, and THREE former Nittany Lions in his cornerback room.

Porter Jr. has improved every year he has stepped on the field at Penn State. His production at State College has proved how capable he is of being an extremely productive corner at the next level.

As mentioned, the Commanders are a good team with some key holes to fill on their defense. The quarterback competition should be an exciting one, especially with the offensive weapons like Terry McLaurin and former Nittany Lion Jahan Dotson.

So, with the amount of offensive talent the Commanders have, much of their key holes to fill are on their defense.

Plus, if the Commanders do decide to move on from Fuller after next season, Porter Jr. would be a perfect replacement for them.

One of their other notable corners, Danny Johnson, is also set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Another corner, Christian Holmes, is under contract with Washington until 2026. However, neither of them have really shown they can be a true CB1. That is where Porter Jr. comes in for Washington.

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Commanders sign 9 players to reserve/future contracts

Troy Apke was among those signed to a reserve/future contract.

As is customary when the NFL season ends, teams sign players to reserve/future contracts before heading into the offseason.

The Washington Commanders signed nine players Monday to reserve/future contracts, including cornerback Troy Apke, quarterback Jake Fromm and wide receiver Alex Erickson.

Here is the complete list:

  • CB Troy Apke
  • DE William Bradley-King
  • WR Alex Erickson
  • CB DaMarcus Fields
  • QB Jake Fromm
  • G Nolan Laufenberg
  • WR Kyric McGowan
  • T Aaron Monteiro
  • G Keaton Sutherland

Apke may have set the team record for the most transactions in one season in 2022. However, the former fourth-round pick in 2018 will get another offseason with Washington to try and earn a roster spot.

Apke isn’t the only former Washington draft pick signed to a reserve/future contract. Defensive end William Bradley-King, a seventh-round pick in 2021, was also added.

Many of the others spent time on Washington’s practice squad this season, including the veteran Erickson, who was called up to return punts in Week 13.

What exactly is a reserve/future contract?

A reserve/future contract secures the player to an NFL roster for the offseason. When the new league year begins in March, the player will then be added to the 90-man offseason roster, and the player cannot negotiate with other teams while on a reserve/future contract.

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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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Commanders rule out St-Juste and Milne vs. Falcons

Losing Benjamin St-Juste and Dax Milne for Sunday creates two big openings for the Commanders. How will they replace them?

Friday was a not a good news day for the Washington Commanders.

The team ruled out both Benjamin St-Juste and Dax Milne for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

Naturally, the first thought that comes to mind is the size of Falcons receiver Drake London. St-Juste certainly has the most size and best range of any of the Commanders defensive backs. The loss of St-Juste against the Falcons should not be minimized.

Of note, the team elevated corner Danny Johnson from the practice squad on Oct. 24 and Johnson has seen action in each game from Weeks 8-11. Johnson only played two defensive snaps against the Colts and none against the Eagles. However, he was in on 50 defensive snaps against the Vikings and 11 last week in Houston. So, Johnson is the likely candidate to see more action against the Falcons.

Corner Rachad Wildgoose has not seen action on defense since the Colts game and rookie corner Christian Holmes has seen only special teams action this year, with the lone exception being six snaps on defense against the Eagles in Week 3.

Washington does have three other defensive backs on their practice squad, were they to determine to elevate one up to the roster this week. Corn Elder has seen regular season action with the Panthers (2018-20) and last season with Washington. Texas Tech rookie Damarcus Fields saw action for the Saints on special teams in two games earlier this season and was signed to the Commanders’ practice squad on Oct. 26.

Troy Apke was released from the practice squad, but brought back to the squad this season and has the most regular-season game experience of those available to be elevated to the roster.

With Milne being out Sunday, possibly rookie Jahan Dotson will be called upon to return punts. Dotson started out quite well, with four receiving touchdowns in the first four games, but pulled a hamstring and missed the next five consecutive games.

The Commanders did receive some good news Friday. Defensive end James Smith-Williams who is producing his finest year thus far in 2022, had been out of practice with an illness, but he returned Friday and is expected to play against the Falcons.

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Commanders release Troy Apke

Commanders release Troy Apke from practice squad, officially ending his time in Washington.

2018 fourth-round draft choice and NFL Combine phenomenon Troy Apke, was released by the Commanders Wednesday.

Apke who actually was not overly productive at Penn State turned heads at the 2018 Combine when he ran a 4.34 40. Hall of Famer and former NFL corner back Deion Sanders audibly marveled at the speed of Apke.

What also caused the stock of Apke to suddenly rise was the fact he brought size with his speed, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 198 pounds. Apke then went out and recorded a 41-inch vertical, 4.03 Shuttle, 6.56 3 Cone and 131-inch broad jump.

The then-Redskins brass could not resist, selecting Apke in the fourth round, No. 109 overall. Apke immediately showed promise on special teams because of his athleticism, but injury reduced him to only 2 games and 22 special team snaps his rookie season.

In 2019, Apke shined on special teams in kickoff and punt coverage. Yet he was only able to break into 20 percent of the defensive snaps.

With the Ron Rivera era launching in 2020, Apke became a starter at free safety. But after seven games, the former Nittany Lion lost his starting job and was again reduced to special teams for the remainder of the season and all of 2021.

Released on August 16 during the 2022 preseason, he went unsigned by any other NFL franchise until Washington signed him to their practice squad on Sept. 1.

Every Penn State player on an NFL opening day roster in 2022

Here is every former Penn State plater on an NFL roster to start the new NFL season in 2022.

The start of a new season in the National Football League is here and there will be a good amount of Penn State flavor throughout the league this season. Penn State will have the eighth most players on an NFL opening day roster this season with 34 players appearing on an NFL team’s 53-man roster to start the season (plus two additional players on injured reserve and another on the physically unable to perform list). In all, Penn State claims 44 players are on NFL rosters to start the year with the inclusion of practice squad players.

That includes nine players who were on the Penn State roster in 2021, including wide receiver [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag], defensive end [autotag]Arnold Ebiketie[/autotag], and safety [autotag]Jaquan Brisker[/autotag]. Dotson is one of four Penn State players on the Washington Commanders, the most of any NFL franchise to start the season.

Former kicker [autotag]Robbie Gould[/autotag] continues to be the elder statesman of the Nittany Lions football family in the NFL. Gould, of the San Francisco 49ers, is entering his 19th season in the NFL.

Here is a look at every Penn State player on either an NFL team’s 53-man roster or practice squad at the start of the 2022 season.

Commanders bring back DB Troy Apke to the practice squad

Troy Apke is back.

You couldn’t get rid of him that easily.

As the Washington Commanders filled out their practice squad on Wednesday, they brought back an old face. Cornerback Troy Apke, a fourth-round pick in 2018 who spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with Washington, was re-signed to the practice squad.

Apke, who was drafted as a safety, moved to cornerback last offseason. However, Apke’s best known for his work on special teams. Head coach Ron Rivera has repeatedly praised Apke for his play on special teams.

In total, Apke has appeared in 50 games for the Commanders. He started nine games, all coming in 2019 and 2020 when Washington tried Apke as the free safety.

Apke was released in Washington’s first round of cuts two weeks ago.

Commanders Updates from Tuesday’s practice and roster Moves

Lots of news and notes from Commanders’ training camp on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s Washington Commanders news provided some raised eyebrows.

Washington head coach Ron Rivera was not pleased with some aspects of Tuesday’s practice. Per John Keim, Rivera had players take a knee on a side field, talking to them for five to six minutes. Following practice, when Keim asked Rivera about it, he would only say he was not happy with some things.

It would not be surprising to find running backs Jaret Patterson, Jonathan Williams or Brian Robinson Jr taking some reps in punt coverage as the protection back. But Antonio Gibson? That certainly grabbed everyone’s attention. Will Saturday’s fumble impact Gibson’s status?

Washington made some roster moves getting down to the NFL 85-man limit for August 16. Troy Apke a fourth-round pick in 2018 (Penn State) was limited to only special teams duty in 2021, making him expendable. Also, tight end Sammis Reyes was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.

Wes Schweitzer (guard/center) injured a hip Tuesday. Schweitzer is a strong beast and coaches would certainly like to keep him healthy along the offensive line, especially with his experience and versatility to play all three inside positions.

Rookie guard Chris Paul (Tulsa) performed well at times Saturday. Rivera even described him as “stout” following Saturday’s game. With Schweitzer going down, it was Paul who took his place Tuesday and reportedly performed admirably.

Jamin Davis pleased running backs coach Randy Jordan with his coverage against J.D. McKissic. Davis disappointed in his rookie season (2021), but Jordan liked what he saw Tuesday from Davis, verbalized it to Davis, and slapped hands as well with Davis on the play.

Citing Keim again, he stated for this defense to step up in 2022, Davis is one player who will “need to get it.” Keim reported Davis did make three consecutive plays Tuesday that were encouraging, pointing to his improvement thus far in camp.

Scott Turner called plays from the sideline Saturday, providing more effective communication with his quarterbacks, and apparently will continue the new approach this season. Offensive assistant Jim Hostler who was with Rivera and Turner in Carolina and came to Washington in 2020 moves to the booth this season.

Cornerback Danny Johnson made a stellar interception in the red zone while covering wide receiver Dax Milne. Taylor Heinicke passed toward Milne but Johnson reaching up with one arm, picked off the pass, and took off down the field.

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