Tag: tryout

4 players worked out for the Broncos on Tuesday, 1 signed

The Broncos worked out four players on Tuesday and signed tight end Johnny Lumpkin to the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos brought in four players for workouts on Tuesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

The Broncos worked out two running backs — Jason Huntley and Aaron Shampklin — and two tight ends — Thomas Greaney and Johnny Lumpkin — at their Centura Health Training Center.

Huntley (5-9, 195 pounds) entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of New Mexico State with the Detroit Lions in 2020. After being cut by the Lions, Huntley played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2020-2021, appearing in six games. He later spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts from 2022-2023.

Shampklin (5-11, 195 pounds) spent time with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Harvard in 2022. He went on to spend time with the Indianapolis Colts and the USFL’s Houston Gamblers before a stint with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Greaney (6-5, 255 pounds) signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in May. He played college football for the Albany Great Danes, an FCS program in New York.

Lumpkin (6-6, 268 pounds) signed with the New England Patriots as a college free agent out of Louisiana this spring. He later spent time with the Colts. At the time of publication, only Lumpkin has signed (to the practice squad).

The three other players are likely candidates for reserve/future contracts with the Broncos following the concussion of the 2023 season.

Saints to sign kicker Austin Seibert to their practice squad after tryout

The Saints are signing kicker Austin Seibert to their practice squad after a successful tryout on Tuesday:

Here’s the fallout from Tuesday’s group workout: NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported that the Saints are expected to sign kicker Austin Seibert to their practice squad. The Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Matthew Paras confirmed news of Seibert’s signing.

This comes after Seibert auditioned alongside other veteran specialists including longtime Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby. The Saints were already short a player on their 16-man practice squad after Jason Pierre-Paul left town for a better opportunity with the Miami Dolphins, so they won’t need to let anyone go to make room for him.

Seibert, 27, was a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2019 NFL draft out of Oklahoma. He’s spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and New York Jets in the time since, and he’s made 45 of his 56 field goal tries (80.4%) in his NFL career. He’s also hit 56 of 62 extra point attempts (90.3%).

Blake Grupe is dealing with a minor groin injury, so it’s smart to add a backup in case he’s unable to go for this Sunday’s game with the Detroit Lions. Stay tuned.

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7 players tried out for the Broncos last week

The Broncos brought in one running back, one tight end and five cornerbacks for tryouts last week.

Seven players tried out for the Denver Broncos last week.

After bringing in running back Hassan Hall and tight end John Samuel Shenker for tryouts on Tuesday, the Broncos also brought in five cornerbacks for tryouts on Friday.

Denver hosted Caleb Biggers, Zyon Gilbert, Thakarius “BoPete” Keyes, Duron Lowe, and Reese Taylor at their UCHealth Training Center on Oct. 20.

Biggers (5-10, 202 pounds) played college football at Boise State and signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent this spring. He was cut by the Browns when they set their 53-man roster this summer.

Gilbert (6-0, 193 pounds) played at Florida Atlantic before signing with the New York Giants as a college free agent in 2022. He appeared in three games last season (including one start) and totaled 14 tackles and a sack.

Keyes (6-1, 200 pounds) was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Tulane. Since then, he has spent time with eight NFL teams, marking appearances in 13 games.

Lowe (5-10, 190 pounds) played college football at Liberty and signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent last year. He more recent spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chiefs.

Taylor (5-9, 188 pounds) signed with Kansas City as a college free agent out of Purdue this spring, but he failed to make their 53-man roster in August.

At the time of publication, none of the seven players who tried out for the Broncos have been signed.

5 players tried out for Broncos on Tuesday, including 2 tight ends

The Broncos brought in five players for tryouts on Tuesday, including a pair of tight ends.

The Denver Broncos brought in five players for tryouts on Tuesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Denver hosted three wide receivers — Kevin Austin, Jalen Camp and Thyrick Pitts — and two tight ends — Noah Togiai and Jake Tonges.

The Broncos are expected to place safety Caden Sterns on season-ending injured reserve with a torn patellar tendon. Once Sterns goes on IR, Denver will have an open spot on the 53-man roster.

One candidate to be called up to the active roster is practice squad wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. If Humphrey is about to be called up to the 53-man roster, Denver might be looking at options to add another WR to the practice squad.

Meanwhile, Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich is expected to miss “multiple weeks” with a hamstring injury. That likely explains why Denver is looking for more depth options at tight end.

See a list of the team’s tryout players below.

Report: Saints work out former Giants, Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith

Report: Seeking improved defensive depth, the Saints work out former Giants and Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith

This could be an interesting move: TheScore’s Jordan Schultz reports that the New Orleans Saints brought in linebacker Jaylon Smith for a workout in the wake of Anthony Barr’s visit on Monday.

Smith, 28, has spent most of the last two years with the New York Giants after starting his career with the Dallas Cowboys back in 2016. He’s started 69 of the 87 games he’s played in the NFL, as well as four playoff games. He also had a two-game cameo with the Green Bay Packers in 2021.

Smith’s career was derailed by a catastrophic knee injury in his final college game at Notre Dame, costing him his entire rookie season and dropping him out of first-round consideration; it turned out to be one of a few incidents that ignited a wave of withdrawals by top NFL draft prospects in bowl season that continues to this day.

To his credit, Smith has gone on to put a nice career together for himself, and he’d be a good fit in New Orleans behind Demario Davis and Pete Werner. Head coach Dennis Allen recently acknowledged that he hasn’t seen anyone emerge out of the group of first- and second-year pros and journeymen special teamers to win that opportunity.

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Chiefs to sign mandatory minicamp tryout WR Kekoa Crawford

The #Chiefs are adding another wide receiver to the roster after a successful tryout at mandatory minicamp.

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The Kansas City Chiefs are signing a player to the 90-man offseason roster after a successful tryout at mandatory minicamp.

Dylan “Kekoa” Crawford is one of two known tryout players who spent time with the team during their three-day mandatory minicamp this past week. As first reported by KPRC2 NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, Crawford is set to sign with Kansas City following his tryout.

This is the second tryout that Crawford had with the Chiefs. He was one of the 51 tryout players the team hosted at rookie minicamp back in May. The team wanted to get a second look and Crawford took full advantage of his opportunity at mandatory minicamp.

Crawford entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Cal in 2022, signing with the Indianapolis Colts for a portion of that offseason. He’s yet to play in an NFL game.

The 25-year-old began his college career at Michigan before transferring to Cal, appearing in 37 career games with nearly 100 catches for over 1,300 yards and six touchdowns in his career. Crawford also spent time on special teams as a return specialist and on the coverage unit with the Golden Bears.

The Chiefs currently have a full 90 players on the offseason roster, so they’ll need to make a corresponding move to make room for Crawford.

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Darrell Henderson, Kekoa Crawford among tryout players at Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp

The #Chiefs’ tryout players at mandatory minicamp include a four-year NFL veteran at running back and a wide receiver who already tried out for the team in May.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have invited a few tryout players to attend the team’s mandatory minicamp.

A full list of players has yet to be reported, but on Tuesday we learned of two of the players in attendance. One of those players is former Cal WR Dylan “Kekoa” Crawford, who was also one of the team’s tryout players during rookie minicamp back in May. It’s clear the team wanted to get a second look at the 25-year-old wide receiver.

An undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL draft, Crawford signed with the Indianapolis Colts, but never made it to training camp. In 2021, he led the Golden Bears in receptions with 40 catches and finished second on the team with 513 receiving yards.

Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick spotted Crawford at practice on Wednesday and said he posted a strong performance.

In addition to Crawford, the Chiefs hosted a four-year NFL veteran in former Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars RB Darrell Henderson.

The Rams waived RB Darrell Henderson Jr. last season, right around the time that Clyde Edwards-Helaire landed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain. We thought the Chiefs would potentially put in a waiver claim, but Henderson was claimed by the Jaguars instead. Kansas City later opted to sign Melvin Gordon to the practice squad.

Henderson is described as a good one-cut runner, a capable pass-catcher and an above-average blocker. During his nearly 30 career starts, Henderson has amassed 396 attempts for over 1,700 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He also has 66 receptions for nearly 500 yards and four touchdowns in his NFL career.

The 25-year-old running back previously met with the Chiefs at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, so this is a player they’ve had their eye on for a while now.

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8 players trying out at Broncos minicamp, including a kicker

The Broncos invited at least five players to try out at minicamp, including kicker Randy Bullock and running back Benny Snell.

The Denver Broncos invited at least five players to try out at mandatory minicamp this week.

We previously learned earlier this month that the club invited a pair of XFL wide receivers — Jahcour Pearson and Brandon Smith — and today, KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis reported the names of three other tryout players.

In addition to Pearson and Smith, the Broncos are also taking a look at running back Benny Snell, fullback Ryan Nall and kicker Randy Bullock.

Snell (5-10, 224 pounds) played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2019-2022, rushing 275 times for 982 yards and seven touchdowns in 63 games (five starts).

Nall (6-2, 245 pounds) has spent time with the Chicago Bears (2018-2022) and Dallas Cowboys (2022). He made 33 appearances for the Bears from 2019-2021. Used primarily as a blocking fullback, Nall has rushed six times for 12 yards and totaled nine receptions for 71 yards in his career.

Bullock (33) has spent time with seven NFL teams, most recently with the Tennessee Titans from 2021-2022. He has converted 83.4% of his field goal attempts in his career with a long of 57 yards.

The Broncos signed kicker Elliott Fry after cutting Brandon McManus last month, but the team plans to continue monitoring the kicker market leading up to the regular season.

Denver’s minicamp will run from Tuesday to Thursday.

Story update: Brandon Smith is not attending minicamp. Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post shared a list of the eight players trying out at camp this week and it also includes CB Darren Evans, WR Jerreth Sterns and LB Austin Ajiake.

Broncos invite XFL WR Brandon Smith to try out at minicamp

The Broncos have invited XFL wide receiver Brandon Smith, a former Cowboy, to try out for the team at minicamp next week.

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The Denver Broncos have invited D.C. Defenders wide receiver Brandon Smith to try out for the team at mandatory minicamp next week, according to a report from KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson.

Before traveling to Denver, Smith has a workout with the Arizona Cardinals scheduled for Thursday, according to Wilson.

Smith (6-1, 218 pounds) is a 24-year-old receiver out of Iowa who has spent time on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad over the last two years. He totaled 91 receptions for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns in four seasons (29 games) with the Hawkeyes from 2017-2020.

After spending 2021-2022 with the Cowboys, Smith joined the XFL this spring and caught eight passes for 118 yards and one touchdown in seven games.

The Broncos have also invited XFL receiver Jahcour Pearson to minicamp, and the team recently signed undrafted WR Nick Williams. Denver is clearly looking to improve its bottom-of-the-roster WR depth.

The Broncos are set to hold mandatory minicamp from June 13-15.

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Broncos invite XFL star Jahcour Pearson to try out for team

The Broncos have invited Jahcour Pearson, the XFL’s leading receiver this spring, to try out for the team.

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The Denver Broncos have invited wide receiver Jahcour Pearson to try out for the team, according to the XFL’s official Twitter page.

Pearson (5-7, 178 pounds) played for the Seattle Sea Dragons this spring, leading the XFL in receptions (60) and receiving yards (670). Pearson also scored four touchdowns.

Before playing in the XFL, Pearson started his college career at Western Kentucky and he later transferred to Ole Miss. He totaled 26 receptions for 392 yards in 13 games with the Rebels in 2021.

Pearson was not selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but he was invited to rookie minicamp by the New York Jets. He also earned tryout invites from the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts this spring.

Pearson went to rookie minicamp with the San Francisco 49ers earlier this offseason and he was also recently invited to a tryout with the Seattle Seahawks.

It’s unclear if the Broncos invited the WR to try out at organized team activities this week or at minicamp next week.

Denver will hold four days of OTAs this week followed by a three-day mandatory minicamp next week.

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