Tag: Workout

WATCH: Chiefs legend Tamba Hali working out with Felix Anudike-Uzomah

#Chiefs legend Tamba Hali was seen working out with Felix Anudike-Uzomah in a video posted to Twitter before the 2024 NFL Draft.

The future of the Kansas City Chiefs defense is filled with plenty of hope following the changes from this offseason. Felix Anudike-Uzomah was Kansas City’s first-round draft pick last year and is expected to take a significant jump in production after linking up with a franchise legend.

Since his retirement, Former Chiefs star Tamba Hali has garnered a reputation for training young talent in the offseason. He notably worked out with George Karlaftis and saw considerable improvement in production.

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Karlaftis finished his second season with 47 tackles, 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three passes defended, sparking high hopes for Hali’s latest project, Anudike-Uzomah.

Hali posted a video featuring the former Kansas State star working on several techniques in the trenches. The Chiefs re-signed several players from the defensive line during the offseason, hoping to build on a successful 2023 campaign. Anudike-Uzomah had 14 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 14 games as a rookie.

Saints’ Todd Grantham works out DL Braden Fiske at FSU pro day

New Orleans Saints defensive line coach Todd Grantham has been busy. After visiting Texas, he stopped by Florida State to work out Braden Fiske:

The New Orleans Saints are on the look for more defensive line talent, as they worked out defensive tackle Braden Fiske at Florida State’s pro day on Friday per Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy. Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline reports it was defensive line coach Todd Grantham assigned to check in on one of the 2024 draft’s rising stars.

Fiske dominated the Senior Bowl and then went on to have a great combine. Fiske finished with a 9.89 Relative Athletic Score after a blazing fast 4.78 40-yard dash. He’s a little light, weighing in at under 300 pounds, but makes up for that with his athleticism and skill. He had 19.5 sacks in his college career (which started with a four-year run at Western Michigan before he transferred to FSU). The Saints could use all of the pass rush help that they can get on the defensive line. A duo of Fiske and Bryan Bresee could be fun to watch in black and gold.

Grantham has been busy on the pro day circuit. He also visited the Texas Longhorns last week and was very complimentary of nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat. Both defensive tackles are projected to be picked in the middle of the second round this year, so maybe one of them winds up going to New Orleans at No. 45 overall.

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Texas RT Christian Jones gets hands-on work with Saints coach at pro day

Texas right tackle Christian Jones got some hands-on work with the Saints at his pro day. He’s a prospect on the rise, and could be a good understudy for Ryan Ramczyk:

The New Orleans Saints were busy at the Texas Longhorns pro day this week. In addition to keeping close eyes on nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat and meeting with linebacker Jaylan Ford and other prospects, the Saints were able to put right tackle Christian Jones through position drills as prospects worked out ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline reports it was a Saints coach leading Jones through drills.

Pauline doesn’t specify whether it was offensive line coach John Benton, senior assistant Rick Dennison, or assistant line coach Jahri Evans putting Jones through his paces, but either way the Saints got some good information.

Jones nails the athletic archetype the team has shown they value at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, and he moves really well for someone his size when blocking out in space or crossing the formation behind the line of scrimmage. He also had a productive week of practices at the Senior Bowl against other draft prospects and has checked almost every box through the pre-draft process.

The 23-year-old started 48 of his 61 games with Texas, lining up almost entirely on the right side (though he did start at left tackle for much of the 2021 season). Last year, he allowed just one sack on 511 snaps in pass protection, per Pro Football Focus charting.

Right now, he’s projected to be a third-round pick, though Jones could climb higher and possibly be an option for New Orleans in the second round at No. 45 overall (with the pick coming back to them from the Denver Broncos). The Saints need a long-term solution at right tackle after they asked Ryan Ramczyk to take a steep pay cut while managing his degenerative knee condition. Jones just might be the right player to take that mantle.

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Saints DL coach says T’Vondre Sweat ‘made some money today’ at Texas pro day

T’Vondre Sweat earned high praise for his performance at Texas’ pro day, particularly from Saints defensive line coach Todd Grantham:

Texas Longhorns defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat is on the New Orleans Saints’ radar, which assistant coach Todd Grantham made that very apparent at the school’s pro day this week. Scouts and position coaches are out in force on the pro day circuit as the 2024 NFL draft draws closer.

Hank South of 247Sports noted Grantham catching up with Sweat after his workout, commenting that the 22-year-old “made some money today.” Having weighed in at 6-foot-4 and 366 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, those in attendance were wowed by Sweat’s movement skills as he completed athletic drills on Wednesday.

There are areas on the defensive side of the ball the Saints are looking to improve this offseason, including their inconsistent run defense which struggled to stop mobile quarterbacks. A player like Sweat could help to remedy that issue if the Saints are to make that a priority when they’re on the clock in April.

Sweat, who largely projects as a late first-round or early second-round pick, finished out the 2023 season with 45 total tackles (18 solo), with 5 passes defended and 2.0 sacks. His stock has been ever-rising throughout the pre-draft process as he also recorded a standout performance at the combine with a 5.27-second 40-yard dash. Sweat recorded a 26-inch vertical and an 8-foot-2 broad jump in the same event.

It will be interesting to see if he carries this performance over to the Big Easy, ready to bring an instant boost to whichever NFL team ultimately picks him up.

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Wisconsin names latest ‘Dudes of the Week’

Wisconsin names latest ‘Dudes of the Week’

Welcome to the heart of the offseason. Spring practice remains a month away, while we’re weeks separated from the hectic coaching carousel and transfer portal cycle.

One thing that now comes with a Wisconsin football offseason: strength coach Brady Collins’ ‘Dudes of the Week’ awards.

This edition includes the following names:

  • DL Jamel Howard
  • S Austin Brown
  • OL Joe Huber
  • CB R.J. Delancy
  • LB Tyler Jansey
  • S Kamo’I Latu
  • DL Ernest Willor Jr.
  • OL Kerry Kodanko
  • LB Jaheim Thomas

Some that stick out are Arkansas transfer linebacker Jaheim Thomas, ascending young safety Austin Brown and young defensive linemen Jamel Howard and Ernest Willor Jr. The first two are set to play huge roles on defense this year, while the latter two are some of the program’s more promising young defenders.

Wisconsin is set to begin spring practice in late March, so expect these weekly updates for at least the next month.

Or check out our other offseason coverage as everyone tries to figure out what the new landscape of Big Ten football will look like:

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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.

Cowboys to bring back exes La’el Collins, Damien Wilson for workouts as playoffs loom

From @ToddBrock24f7: As Dallas gears up for the playoffs, they’re working out 2 former players with postseason experience at key positions.

Could a couple of old friends be coming back to Dallas to help provide postseason depth in two precariously thin position groups?

Offensive tackle La’el Collins, a key piece of the Cowboys’ offensive line for seven seasons before a March 2022 release, is coming to The Star for a workout on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Linebacker Damien Wilson is also getting a look; he played for Dallas from 2015 to 2018.

Both could be signed to the practice squad as the team looks to make final roster tweaks heading into what they hope will be a deep postseason run.

Collins was an undrafted free agent in 2015 out of LSU, a top-10 collegiate talent whose draft stock fell after word came that police wanted to talk with him about the shooting death of a pregnant woman he had been involved with. He was not a suspect, but many teams got scared, and his agents then threatened a season-long holdout if he was drafted later than the third round.

Jerry Jones famously brought him in for a dinner meeting with key members of the team and made him a Cowboy. He went on to start 71 of 74 games played for Dallas (and appeared in four postseason games), though he missed the entire 2020 season due to injury and was suspended for another five games in 2021.

The emergence of Terence Steele during those absences left the high-priced Collins suddenly expendable, and the team gave him permission to seek a trade during the 2022 offseason. He was released in free agency and quickly signed by the Cincinnati Bengals to a three-year deal. Injuries lingered throughout his 2022 season, and he began the 2023 season on the team’s Physically Unable to perform list. Collins was released by Cincinnati in September.

While the 30-year-old Collins played right tackle for most of his time in Dallas, he also has experience at left guard. Current starting left guard Tyler Smith tore his plantar fascia in Sunday’s win over Detroit, and while he’s expected back sooner rather than later, the Cowboys may want more experienced depth than they currently have in a player like T.J. Bass, who finished the Week 17 game for Smith.

Wilson was a fourth-round draft pick out of Minnesota in 2015. He has experience at all three linebacker positions as well as special teams and appeared in every game over his four seasons in Dallas.

He signed with Kansas City in 2019, winning a Super Bowl in his first year as a Chief. By 2021, he was in Jacksonville; he played 2022 with Carolina. He has been out of football for the 2023 season.

Dallas has employed a patchwork approach at linebacker ever since a neck injury cut short Leighton Vander Esch’s season. Veteran Rashaan Evans was brought in and then cut after minimal contributions. Damone Clark has seen plenty of playing time, but his production has been hit-or-miss. Tyrus Wheat, Malik Jefferson, and Buddy Johnson are the Cowboys’ other options, but none of them has a start on their NFL résumé.

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Experience matters, especially in the playoffs. Maybe with a few more guys in the locker room who’ve been there before, the team will find themselves better equipped to do some serious damage with this year’s berth.

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Broncos worked out 8 players (including 7 from the CFL) last week

The Broncos worked out eight players last week, including seven from the CFL.

The Denver Broncos worked out eight players last Friday, including seven players from the Canadian Football League.

The Broncos worked out cornerback Anthony Brown, wide receivers Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker, defensive back Evan Holm, defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson and linebackers Jonathan Jones, Darius Williams and Josh Woods.

Brown (30) has spent time with four NFL teams, most recently on the New York Jets’ practice squad this season.

Emilus (26) has played for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders since 2022, totaling 1,097 receiving yards last season.

Schaffer-Baker (25) has played for the Roughriders since 2021, hauling in 98 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 2023.

Holm (25) has played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers since 2022, recording 64 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks last season.

Johnson (24) has played for the Montreal Alouettes since 2022. He won the Grey Cup (Canada’s Super Bowl) and earned CFL East All-Star recognition in 2023.

Jones (26) has played for the Toronto Argonauts since 2022, winning the Grey Cup in his first season with the team.

Williams (25) has spent time with three CFL teams, most recently with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2022.

Woods (25) has played for the BC Lions since 2021, totaling 45 tackles and two interceptions last season.

These players are likely candidates to sign reserve/future contracts with the Broncos after the 2023 season.

Packers host workout for former Jaguars RB James Robinson

The Packers worked out former Jaguars RB James Robinson on Monday.

The Green Bay Packers hosted a workout on Monday for former Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Robinson, who played three seasons with the Jaguars before being traded to the New York Jets last year, is a free agent. The former Illinois State star and undrafted free agent rushed for 2,177 yards and 18 touchdowns and caught 89 passes over 35 games with the Jaguars between 2020 and 2022. He played in just four games and was inactive six times with New York last season.

The Jets released Robinson in March. He spent time with the New England Patriots and New York Giants during the offseason but has been without a team since final cuts in late August. He previously worked out for the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens.

Robinson, 25, tore his Achilles late in the 2021 season and hasn’t been an impact player since the injury.

In 2020, Robinson — then a rookie — rushed for over 100 yards against the Packers at Lambeau Field. He finished his first NFL season with 1,070 rushing yards, 49 catches and 10 total touchdowns.

No signing was reported as of Monday afternoon. The Packers could view Robinson as a potential veteran option to pair with Aaron Jones, who has already missed two games to injury, and A.J. Dillon, who is struggling mightily to open the 2023 season, at running back. It’s possible Robinson could be a practice squad option as well.

Per Rob Demovsky of ESPN, the Packers also worked out the following players on Monday:

RB Clint Ratkovich
LB Olakunle Fatukasi
CB Thakarius Keyes
S Christian Young

Workouts in the NFL are common on off days early in the week. The team may just be checking in on Robinson and the four other players to update their “available players” board.

Broncos host 3 free agents, including an ex-Saints wide receiver

The Broncos hosted LBs Bumper Pool and Tanner Vallejo and ex-Saints WR Tre’Quan Smith this week.

The Denver Broncos seem to be seeking more depth at linebacker and wide receiver.

The Broncos brought in two free agent linebackers — Bumper Pool and Tanner Vallejo — for workouts on Wednesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Denver is also bringing in wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith for a visit, according to multiple reports (via Saints Wire).

Pool (6-2, 232 pounds) signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas earlier this year. He totaled 441 tackles in five years (51 games) with the Razorbacks.

Vallejo (6-1, 230 pounds) has spent time with five NFL teams since entering the league as a sixth-round pick out of Boise State with the Buffalo Bills in 2017. He played under Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph last season, recording 37 tackles in 17 games (five starts).

Denver is likely looking for more depth at LB after losing Josey Jewell to a groin injury against the Miami Dolphins last week.

Smith (6-2, 210 pounds) was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft out of UCF. He played under Broncos coach Sean Payton from 2018-2021. Smith has totaled 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 18 touchdowns in 66 career games (35 starts).

Denver already has four former Saints on the 53-man roster. We’ll see if Smith joins them this week.