Tag: USFL

From the UFL to NFL, Dondrea Tillman is making the most of his opportunity with Broncos

Dondrea Tillman joined the Broncos after winning three titles with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. He recorded two sacks in his NFL debut.

Dondrea Tillman has had quite a football journey.

After playing college football at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Tillman spent two years out of football. He then got an opportunity to play in The Spring League in 2021.

The pass rusher’s performance in that league impressed coaches from the Birmingham Stallions, who used a third-round pick to select Tillman in the 2022 USFL draft. Tillman went on to win three straight titles with the Stallions (two in the USFL and one in the UFL this spring).

Tillman dominated spring football and the Denver Broncos signed him following the conclusion of the UFL’s 2024 season. After the Broncos lost Baron Browning to a foot injury, Tillman was promoted to the 53-man roster ahead of the team’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.

Making his NFL debut on Sunday, Tillman became the first Denver player since at least 1970 to record two sacks in his debut.

https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1838247470415155682

“We weren’t going to just let the other three play 60 snaps or 50 snaps,” coach Sean Payton said of the outside linebacker rotation. “A guy like that was coming up, he’s got to be playing in the kicking game and then getting snaps on defense. I was pleased with his effort.

“He’s strong. I’ve mentioned earlier in the week, we’ve seen a lot from him. I was excited to see him take advantage of the opportunity.”

The Broncos’ defense dominated from start to finish with seven sacks and two takeaways in a 26-7 victory. Tillman finished the day with three total tackles and his two sacks resulted in the loss of 18 yards for Tampa Bay.

https://twitter.com/mikeklis9news/status/1837950675134677318

“It feels great,” Tillman said after the game, via the Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel. “It’s been a lot of time. I’ve been waiting for this. It’s a dream come true. It’s really a blessing.”

After impressing in his first NFL game, the 26-year-old Tillman figures to remain a part of Denver’s pass rush rotation going forward.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos promote FB to 53-man roster, officially sign WR to practice squad

The Broncos promoted FB Michael Burton to the 53-man roster and officially signed WR Kaden Davis to the practice squad on Wednesday.

The Denver Broncos have promoted fullback Michael Burton from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Denver had room for Burton on the active roster after placing rookie running back Audric Estime (ankle) on injured reserve. Estime will now miss at least four games.

To fill Burton’s former spot on the practice squad, the Broncos officially signed wide receiver Kaden Davis before Wednesday’s practice.

Davis (6-1, 190 pounds) has spent time with the Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State in 2022, but he is yet to appear in a regular season game.

While playing for the Michigan Panthers in 2023, Davis hauled in eight receptions for 83 yards. He also totaled 22 yards on punt returns and 311 yards on kickoff returns, giving him 416 all-purpose yards in the USFL.

Denver’s 17-player practice and 53-man roster are now both full.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Report: Chargers signing LB Frank Ginda

The Chargers are adding to the linebacker room.

The Chargers are signing linebacker Frank Ginda, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

Ginda spent the past three seasons in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers. He was named the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. That year, he had 115 tackles, three interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles, six passes defended and six tackles for loss.

Ginda, an undrafted free agent out of San Jose State, signed with the Cardinals as a rookie in 2018 but was waived before training camp. The Dolphins then signed him. He totaled 12 tackles and two for loss during the preseason. He was on Miami’s practice squad.

In 2019, Ginda spent the preseason with the Saints. In 2023, he was with the Falcons and spent some time on their practice squad.

During his career, Ginda also made stops in the AAF and XFL, where he played with the San Diego Fleet and New York Guardians.

Panthers claim former fourth overall pick of USFL draft

The Panthers have claimed G Mason Brooks, who was the fourth overall selection of the 2023 USFL draft.

The Carolina Panthers added another first-round selection to their roster on Thursday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has claimed guard Mason Brooks off waivers from the Washington Commanders. Prior to finding his way into the NFL last spring, the 6-foot-6, 315-pounder was taken with the fourth overall pick of the 2023 USFL draft by the Memphis Showboats.

A Cedar Park, Texas native, Brooks began his collegiate career at Western Kentucky University in 2018. He’d play four seasons there, ending his tenure as a First-team All-Conference USA honoree in 2021.

His final year of eligibility was taken up at the University of Mississippi. He appeared in all 13 games for the Rebels in 2022, seeing most of his work as a reserve lineman and on special teams.

Brooks then signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2023, spending the year as a member of the team’s practice squad. The Commanders released Brooks on Wednesday.

To make room for the claim, the Panthers waived/injured second-year guard Nash Jensen.

[lawrence-related id=701781,701790,701779]

Former Texans DC Wade Phillips clinches spot in UFL Championship

Wade Phillips is finally headed to a championship game after previous stints with the Houston Texans and Houston Roughnecks.

Wade Phillips is finally headed to the title game as a head coach.

Phillips, who spent two seasons as the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator under Gary Kubiak, will take center stage on Saturday afternoon as his San Antonio Brahmas take on the Birmingham Stallions in the 2024 UFL Championship Game at 4 p.m. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. CT at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis and will televised on FOX.

Phillips previously coached in the XFL for the Houston Roughnecks before taking over in San Antonio when the league merged with the UFL last offseason. Last Sunday, the Bahamas defeated the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL Championship.

It’s been a long time coming for the Houston product in his coaching career. The son of legendary Oilers coach Bum Phillips, Wade has coached in prominent games over his illustrious four-decade career.

He ended the Dallas Cowboys’ playoff losing streak while coaching between 2007-2010, posing a 34-22 record. He also helped Kubiak and Peyton Manning win Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator during the 2015 season.

Phillips, 76, also took over for Kubiak as the Texans’ interim coach following his firing in 2013. He finished 0-3, leading to Houston securing the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

After Kubiak retired in 2016, Phillips joined Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams and the team’s defensive coordinator in 2017. His contract was not renewed after the 2019 season after Los Angeles finished 9-7.

In his lone season with the Roughnecks, Phillips went 7-3, guiding the Houston franchise to the XFL South Championship. He’ll now look to defeat Skip Holtz, who previously won back-to-back USFL titles with the Stallions in 2022 and 2023.

Commanders sign kicker Ramiz Ahmed

Ahmed spent the spring with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions.

The Washington Commanders returned for their final week of Offseason Training Activities on Tuesday without a kicker. General manager Adam Peters rectified that by signing Ramiz Ahmed, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

Ahmed, 28, spent much of this spring with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. Ahmed appeared in six games for Birmingham, making 10 of 13 field-goal attempts. Ahmed was perfect 40 yards out or less and four of seven from everything over 40 yards.

Ahmed played collegiately at Nevada and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He was waived that summer. In 2022, Ahmed signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL where he kicked a 61-yard field goal, which was the longest in that league’s history at the time.

Ahmed received another chance at the NFL with the Packers in the summer of 2022. He was back and forth between the active roster and practice squad. He appeared in one game, where he handled kickoffs. Three of his six kicks went for touchbacks. Ahmed is known for his strong leg.

Even after signing Ahmed, the Commanders will likely add another kicker sometime before training camp. Could Washington turn back to the UFL and sign Jake Bates? Bates is unable to sign because his team is in the playoffs.

Ahmed replaces Brandon McManus on the roster. McManus was released Sunday after being accused of sexual assault.

 

10 former Ravens are signed to UFL teams

With the NFL season now in the rearview and the UFL set to debut, we’re looking at 10 former Baltimore Ravens who are participating in the spring league

With the NFL season now complete and the offseason underway, Baltimore has one of the most extended lists of players who are getting another shot in the new eight-team UFL, which kicks off season kicks off on Saturday, March 30, 2024, with the battle of the 2023 champions: Arlington Renegades vs Birmingham Stallions.

A combination agreement (the “UFL”) is the premier spring football league that resulted from the merger of the XFL and USFL.

Russ Brandon, former President and CEO of the XFL, will lead the UFL as President and CEO. Former USFL President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston will lead football operations.

Founded in 2001, the XFL was a collaboration between NBC and WWF (WWE), spearheaded by Vince McMahon. After a hot start, poor ratings ultimately led to the league’s lasting just one season. The league returned in 2020, with McMahon again leading the reboot, but it had to close its doors again after COVID-19 shut things down after just five weeks.

The league filed for bankruptcy and was forced to sell.

A group headed by Dany Garcia, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, bought the league out of bankruptcy for $15 million, eyeing 2023 as its return season.

The UFL has eight teams in Arlington (TX), Birmingham (AL), Detroit (MI), Houston (TX), San Antonio (TX), Memphis (TN), St. Louis (MO), and Washington D.C.

With action to begin this weekend, we’re looking at 10 former Ravens on UFLrosters.

15 former Eagles are signed to United Football League teams

With the NFL season now in the rearview and the UFL set to debut, we’re looking at 15 former Philadelphia Eagles who are participating in the spring league

With the NFL season now complete and the offseason underway, Philadelphia has one of the most extended lists of players who are getting another shot in the new eight-team UFL, which kicks off season kicks off on Saturday, March 30, 2024, with the battle of the 2023 champions: Arlington Renegades vs Birmingham Stallions.

A combination agreement (the “UFL”) is the premier spring football league that resulted from the merger of the XFL and USFL.

Russ Brandon, former President and CEO of the XFL, will lead the UFL as President and CEO. Former USFL President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston will lead football operations.

Founded in 2001, the XFL was a collaboration between NBC and WWF (WWE), spearheaded by Vince McMahon. After a hot start, poor ratings ultimately led to the league’s lasting just one season. The league returned in 2020, with McMahon again leading the reboot, but it had to close its doors again after COVID-19 shut things down after just five weeks.

The league filed for bankruptcy and was forced to sell.

A group headed by Dany Garcia, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, bought the league out of bankruptcy for $15 million, eyeing 2023 as its return season.

The UFL has eight teams in Arlington (TX), Birmingham (AL), Detroit (MI), Houston (TX), San Antonio (TX), Memphis (TN), St. Louis (MO), and Washington D.C.

With action to begin this weekend, we’re looking at 15 former Eagles on UFL rosters.

Ex-Broncos backup QB named starter for UFL’s Houston Roughnecks

Remember Jarrett Guarantano? He had a brief stint with the Broncos in 2022. He’s now set to start in the UFL this spring.

A former Denver Broncos (backup) quarterback has been named a starter in the United Football League (a new spring league formed by the merger of the XFL and USFL).

The Houston Roughnecks will start Jarrett Guarantano in their season opener next weekend, coach Curtis Johnson announced Wednesday.

Guarantano, 26, played college football at Tennessee and Washington State before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. After the Cardinals released Guarantano from their practice squad midway through his rookie season, he tried out for Denver. Two weeks later, the Broncos signed Guarantano to their practice squad.

He was elevated to the game-day roster in Week 15 to serve as a backup behind Brett Rypien (Russell Wilson was out with a concussion). Guarantano was fully promoted to the 53-man roster the next week. Denver cut the QB last summer and he signed with the UFL last December.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmaOL49Oizv/?img_index=1

Guarantano isn’t the only QB who had a cup of coffee with the Broncos set to play in the UFL this spring.

Case Cookus, who lasted three days in Denver during the 2021 offseason, has had quite a journeyman career. After his brief stint with the Broncos, Cookus went on to spend time with three NFL teams, one CFL team and one USFL team. He is now set to play for the Memphis Showboats in 2024.

Two other ex-Denver quarterbacks — Paxton Lynch and Kyle Sloter — were backups in the XFL last spring but are now free agents.

Also of note: former Broncos coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will serve as the head coach of the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

29 ex-Broncos players set to play in UFL this spring

The XFL and USFL merged to form the UFL. The new league will feature 29 former Broncos players, including Super Bowl champion Cody Latimer.

Two more former Denver Broncos were added to the UFL this week when the Memphis Showboats picked wide receiver Damion Willis and the Birmingham Stallions picked safety Alijah Holder in the 2024 dispersal draft. (Update: Holder was later traded to the San Antonio Brahmas.)

More players could be added through free agency, but as of today, there are 29 former Broncos players set to play in the spring league. The UFL was formed in late December when the XFL and USFL merged to create a new combined league.

The most notable ex-Denver player set to suit up in the UFL is Cody Latimer, a former Broncos wide receiver who won Super Bowl 50 in 2016. He has spent time with two other NFL teams and earned All-XFL honors with the Orlando Guardians last spring. Latimer is now a tight end with the San Antonio Brahmas.

Other names that Denver fans might recognize include punter Marquette King and 2022 preseason fan favorite running back Max Borghi. Here’s the full list of ex-Broncos signed up to play in the UFL this spring. The 2024 season will begin in March.