Tag: Tyler Vaughns

Tyler Vaughns breaks tackle for game-winning TD grab from Steelers’ Kenny Pickett

Tyler Vaughns is trying to stick on an NFL roster. His big play for the #Steelers Saturday night certainly helped his cause. #USC

The Pittsburgh Steelers won in dramatic fashion over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night, in what was the best game in Week 1 of the NFL preseason. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett connected with former USC Trojan Tyler Vaughns on a TD pass in the final seconds of the game.

Pickett was 13-of-15 passing for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Vaughns caught 2 passes for 32 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Vaughns was an undrafted free agent in 2021, which surprised many pundits surprised. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts but was waived last season. Vaughns was then signed to the Steelers’ practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers on January 18, 2022.

Vaughns is trying to make the team, which has a deep depth chart at wide receiver: Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Chase Claypool, Anthony Miller, Miles Boykin, Cody White, and Calvin Austin III.

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Colts sign CB Marvell Tell, TE Tyler Davis to practice squad

Colts sign CB Marvell Tell, TE Tyler Davis to practice squad.

The Indianapolis Colts signed cornerback Marvell Tell III and tight end Tyler Davis to the practice squad and waived linebacker Curtis Bolton and wide receiver Tyler Vaughns as corresponding moves, the team announced Friday.

Tell, a fifth-round pick in 2019 was initially made the 53-man roster but was waived when the Colts made a pair of claims following roster cuts. He cleared waivers, and the team was able to bring him back to the practice squad.

Davis was a sixth-round pick with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL draft. He appeared in eight games during his rookie season but didn’t record any stats.

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Colts’ final roster cut decisions: Wide Receiver

Taking a look at the WR room before the Colts make their final roster cuts.

While the quarterback battle has been the main focus of the preseason, Frank Reich and Co. have some tough decisions to make when it comes to filling the final spots at wide receiver on the Indianapolis Colts roster.

Typically, teams will keep six receivers on the 53-man roster, with one of them used mainly on special teams.

There are four receivers that are locks to make the roster week one. T.Y Hilton, Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal, and Parris Campbell have proven they deserve to be in a starting role and can be difference makers any given week. The final two spots will be a battle between a group of young, talented players.

The training camp standout has been Mike Strachan. At 6’5” and roughly 225 pounds, the seventh-round pick from Charleston has shown he can be a threat in this league. He finished the preseason with 10 catches for 130 yards. A player like Strachan could really benefit Carson Wentz and provide some variety in the receiving core.

If Strachan makes the team, that leaves one spot left and it truly is a toss-up of who suits up week one. Second-year wide receiver Dezmon Patmon has looked really impressive so far and while his talent is there, it’s tough to say if he could step up in a special teams role. If he does not make the team, Patmon would likely end up on the practice squad once again, but with a much greater chance of getting called up if any significant injuries occur.

The player who will likely fill that final slot is Ashton Dulin. He signed a one-year extension back in January and thrives on special teams. He has filled in at receiver throughout his three-year career with the Colts, but would not line up on offense unless there were multiple guys hurt. Every team needs a player to fill in where they are needed, and Dulin seems to be that type for the Colts.

Honorable mentions include players like Tyler Vaughns and Tarik Black who have both made some very impressive plays this preseason. They will likely see a practice squad designation and will have the chance to prove they can crack an NFL roster.

53-man Predictions:

T.Y. Hilton

Michael Pittman Jr.

Parris Campbell

Zach Pascal

Mike Strachan

Ashton Dulin

Practice squad:

Dezmon Patmon

Tyler Vaughns

Tarik Black

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Colts sign 5 undrafted rookie free agents

Colts add 5 UDFAs.

The Indianapolis Colts signed five undrafted rookie free agents following the 2021 NFL draft and waived cornerback Will Sunderland, the team announced Thursday.

Those undrafted rookie free agents include:

  • LB Anthony Butler, Liberty
  • LB Isaiah Kaufusi, BYU
  • RB Deon Jackson, Duke
  • WR Tarik Black, Texas
  • WR Tyler Vaughns, USC

The Colts typically have more undrafted rookie free agents to bring in. However, there simply aren’t as many spots on the roster this offseason.

Two of the undrafted rookie received hefty signing bonuses, which shows how much the Colt prioritized them. Jackson, the running back from Duke, got a $45,000 signing bonus, which is potentially the highest Chris Ballard has ever given out. Vaughns, the wide receiver out of USC, received a $22,000 signing bonus as well.

The Colts have a long streak of 21 seasons with an undrafted rookie making the Week 1 roster. It will be interesting to see if that streak is extended with one of these five players.

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Report: Colts give UDFA WR Tyler Vaughns 22K signing bonus

Colts wanted Vaughns badly.

The Indianapolis Colts have concluded their 2021 NFL draft class with seven selections and now will be looking to sign a number of undrafted rookie free agents over the next few days.

You can keep up to date with our tracker, and one of the bigger signings for Colts appears to be wide receiver Tyler Vaughns out of USC. They reportedly gave him a $22,000 signing bonus, per Joel A. Erickson of Indy Star, which is a strong commitment for an undrafted rookie.

Vaughns was a productive wide receiver at USC and even posted some solid numbers alongside Michael Pittman Jr. during the 2019 season, which wound up being the former’s final full year in college. In that season, Vaughns recorded 74 reception for 912 yards and six touchdowns.

He did test poorly at USC’s pro day so the Colts must see something that goes beyond his measurables. Vaughns posted a measly 1.34 RAS.

(Courtesy of Kent Lee Platte)

The Colts have Pittman Jr. and T.Y Hilton, who re-signed this offseason, leading the wide receiver room. They are hoping to get Parris Campbell back from another lost season due to injuries while Zach Pascal is as steady as they come.

The Colts also drafted Michael Strachan in the seventh round and he’s expected to compete with Dezmon Patmon for the final spot in the wide receiver room.

But it seems Vaughns will get a solid shot as well, considering the financial commitment the Colts have made to him relative to other undrafted rookie free agents.

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2 USC wide receivers named to Biletnikoff Award watch list

Trojans Tyler Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown were named to the preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list, awarded to the nation’s best receiver.

The USC Trojans are continuing to stuff the preseason award watch lists. Following in the footsteps of quarterback Kedon Slovis (Davey O’Brien) and running backs Stephen Carr and Vavae Malepeai (Doak Walker), USC receivers Tyler Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown were each added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list.

The Biletnikoff Award is given each year to the nation’s best wide receiver.

Vaughns has had an outstanding collegiate career with the Trojans, racking up 189 receptions for 2,395 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 189 receptions is ninth in school history, while the 2,395 yards is 14th.

A strong season in 2020, with every game played, could easily land Vaughns among the top-3 in school history in both categories.

St. Brown is entering his junior year coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign, where he racked up 77 receptions for 1,042 yards and six touchdowns. He will look to follow in the footsteps of Michael Pittman, Jr. by heading to the NFL after his junior season.

The Biletnikoff Award has been won by a USC receiver just once: Marqise Lee back in 2012.

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