Tag: tryouts

Former Eagles RB Jordan Howard among latest Saints free agent tryouts

Former Eagles RB Jordan Howard, USFL Defensive Player of the Year Chris Odom among latest Saints free agent tryouts:

The start of New Orleans Saints training camp is here, so it makes sense for the team to fly in a handful of free agents for tryouts now that they’re getting a better grasp on their roster. Putting players through their paces in practice each day and checking in on various injury situations helps inform the Saints on where they still need help, and that’s reflected in their latest tryouts.

We know running back is a priority for them, so it’s good to see WWLTV’s Brooke Kirchhofer report that former Philadelphia Eagles backup Jordan Howard will be trying out soon. New Orleans could use an upgrade in the backfield behind Alvin Kamara regardless of his status, and Howard brings some value as a runner who has averaged 50-plus rushing yards per game in three of the last four seasons. He’ll be a good comparison for the Saints to work out alongside Darius Victor, the USFL’s Offensive Player of the Year who will be trying out soon.

Additionally, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that the Saints will work out defensive end Chris Odom — a playmaking pass rusher who just won recognition as USFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Houston Gamblers. Odom bagged 12.5 sacks (leading the spring league), 8 tackles for loss, and 6 forced fumbles while blocking 4 kicks. The Saints run deep at defensive end but it’s still worth giving him a look, especially with Marcus Davenport starting camp on the PUP list. You can never have enough pass rushers.

It’s likely that the Saints are hosting other free agents, too, but we won’t know for sure until it’s reported or declared by the team to the NFL daily transactions wire. We’ll be keeping an eye out to see if any of this activity results in a contract or two.

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Former Saints OL Senio Kelemete among 4 tryout free agents at minicamp

Senio Kelemete has started games at left guard, right guard, right tackle, and left tackle for the Saints. And he’s among 4 tryout free agents at minicamp this week:

It’s not unusual for NFL teams to bring in veteran free agents for tryouts during their late-spring minicamp practice sessions, but it’s cool to see a familiar face on the New Orleans Saints practice field. Former Saints offensive lineman Senio Kelemete was one of four tryout players in attendance for Tuesday’s minicamp practice, finally making his return to the team where his NFL career took off. Of course he hasn’t signed back with New Orleans (none of these four free agents have, yet) but he’d be a welcome addition to the offensive line.

Let’s recap where Kelemete’s career has taken him, and run through the list of other players New Orleans brought in for a look this week:

5 players trying out for Broncos at mandatory minicamp

Max Borghi is among five players trying out for the Broncos this week.

The Denver Broncos kicked off mandatory minicamp on Monday with five extra players on the practice field.

The Broncos are trying out five players at camp this week, according to Aric DiLalla of the team’s official website. Here’s a quick look at each of the five tryout players.

Broncos tryout 8 players, sign QB to practice squad

The Broncos added QB Anthony Gordon to the practice squad and made several other roster moves Tuesday.

The Denver Broncos hosted eight players for tryouts on Tuesday and made several roster moves, including adding a quarterback. Here’s a quick recap of the team’s transactions.

Saints bring in 4 free agent linemen for tryouts

Saints bring in four free agent linemen for tryouts, including training camp right tackle Kyle Murphy

The New Orleans Saints auditioned four free agents for tryouts on Monday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire, all of them linemen — two on offense and two on defense. It makes sense to restock the trenches given the injuries and losses New Orleans has sustained, having recently lost backup defensive tackle Josiah Bronson on waivers with starting offensive tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk missing multiple weeks with injuries.

While none of them have been signed just yet, here’s what you need to know about the four tryout players:

Jalen McCleskey among multiple free agent receivers at Saints tryouts

The Saints tried out several free agent wide receivers, a kicker, and QB Clayton Thorson, a former Eagles draft pick, on Tuesday:

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It’s pretty obvious that the New Orleans Saints need improvement at wide receiver and place kicker, so it’s good to see them show some initiative in addressing those concerns. They brought in five free agents for tryouts on Tuesday — an off day for rostered players, when coaches and personnel scouts have time to evaluate them — and some might be more familiar than others. Here is who auditioned on Tuesday, Nov. 16:

Raiders sign ex-Saints cornerback Desmond Trufant

The Raiders signed ex-Saints corner Desmond Trufant, while Brian Poole is trying out for the Patriots. A position that was once a weakness has turned into a strength for New Orleans:

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One former New Orleans Saints player is landing on his feet: cornerback Desmond Trufant signed with the Las Vegas Raiders after the Saints released him last week, his agent Doug Hendrickson announced. Trufant joined the Saints in training camp and played well enough to make the opening-day roster, starting Week 2’s game with the Carolina Panthers after an injury sidelined Marshon Lattimore.

He held his own as a backup — totaling 57 snaps in two games, only allowing 2 of 4 passes thrown into his coverage to be completed for 19 yards. Bradley Roby’s arrival pushed him down the depth chart as a healthy inactive on game days, and with Ken Crawley expected to return from injured reserve in the next few weeks, the Saints granted his release so he could pursue opportunities like this one with the Raiders.

Interestingly, Las Vegas tried out a couple of other notable free agent cornerbacks in D.J. Hayden and Darqueze Dennard after signing Trufant, so they’re obviously looking for help at the position.

And Trufant isn’t the only former Saints corner to earn a shot with another team this week. Brian Poole was also released a week ago (from injured reserve) and has scheduled a tryout with the New England Patriots on Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. On Tuesday, second-year pro Keith Washington (who spent his rookie 2020 season on the Saints practice squad) worked out for the Indianapolis Colts.

A position that was once a serious vulnerability for the Saints is now so strong that players who couldn’t catch on with them are getting looks around the league. That speaks really well to how New Orleans has built its depth chart and what’s in store for them as the season continues.

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Raiders try out three former first-round picks including CB DJ Hayden

Raiders try out three former first-round picks including CB DJ Hayden

It was a day for former highly regarded players to visit Las Vegas. The Raiders tried out four players on Tuesday, three of whom were former first-round picks. One of whom was their own former first-round pick. Two are even named DJ.

The former Raiders player who paid the Raiders a visit was former 12th overall pick DJ Hayden. He was selected by the Raiders out of Houston in 2013 despite having had life-saving heart surgery just months before. He ended up spending just four seasons with the Raiders and the team didn’t pick up his fifth-year option. He then spent a season in Detroit and the past three seasons in Jacksonville.

As it happens, the other DJ the Raiders hosted today was taken with the pick just before the Hayden pick in the 2013 draft.

The Chargers selected DJ Fluker with the 11th overall pick and has started 96 games over eight seasons at tackle and guard. He started eight games at right tackle for the Ravens last season. He spent the first six games of this season on suspension for an undisclosed violation and was officially reinstated today.

Also visiting was CB Daqueze Dennard who was the 24th overall pick in the 2014 draft. He spent the first six years of his career in Cincinnati before playing in Atlanta last season. The 30-year-old has four career interceptions.

The fourth player the Raiders hosted was DL Chris Slayton who was a seventh-round pick by the Giants in the 2019 draft. He has never appeared in an NFL game.

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First day as Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia holds slew of player tryouts

Raiders interim HC Rich Bisaccia had a busy first day holding a slew of player tryouts

With a new head coach in charge comes changes. Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia got a good look at good many free agent players Tuesday. The team hosted some 11 players, most of whom trying out for the team.

Those players were as follows:

WR Omar Bayless
WR Austin Mack
TE Hakeem Butler
TE Dax Raymond
T Dan Skipper
G Earl Watford
LB Sutton Smith
DB Tony Brown
DB Bradley McDougald
DB Kevin Toliver (visit)
DB Ken Webster

The Raiders have lost two straight after starting the season 3-0. They have also seen a few players go down with injuries and few slated to return soon.

Being that it’s the middle of the season, the fix is not as simple as changing up schemes. And there’s only so much improvement that can be had by rearranging the players they currently have. After that it’s either about trying to uncover a player others missed or make a trade to acquire one.

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[lawrence-newsletter]

Browns tryout five players on Friday

Browns GM Andrew Berry continues to scour the earth looking for talent. Today, the team worked out 3 offensive linemen and two defensive backs:

The Cleveland Browns continue to look to upgrade their roster for the best fits for the short and long-term. The team made a number of changes this week including releasing LB Elijah Lee to make room for the returning Anthony Walker at the same position. The Browns also placed Nick Harris on injured reserve and signed Hjalte Froholdt, both on the offensive line.

Lee returned to the Cleveland practice squad for a day then was re-signed to the active roster to fill the spot available after the Browns waived DE Joe Jackson.

Today, the Browns have five players in for workouts:

  • OT Coy Cronk – Iowa
  • OT Evin Ksiezarczyk – Buffalo
  • OT Elijah Nkansah – Toledo
  • DB Luther Kirk – Illinois State
  • DB Nate Meadors – UCLA

Cronk was an undrafted free agent that was signed by the Green Bay Packers after this year’s draft. Ksiezarczyk was with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason after training camp with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Nkahsah has bounced around with a number of teams since being undrafted in 2018 including playing one game for Seattle that year.

Kirk was with the Vikings in 2020 and 2021 but was waived in early September of this year. Meadors has also been with the Vikings with three games played there between 2019 and 2020. Since then, he has been signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles with no games played.

None of the five were signed today but the team could make that move on Saturday or wait until Monday of Week 6.

For now, general manager Andrew Berry and his staff continue to turn over every stone looking for the best players for their team.