Joseph Fauria

Joseph Fauria Attempting Comeback

Tight end Joseph Fauria would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the recent league decision to liberalize rules governing post-touchdown celebrations. The problem is that he’s unemployed and has not appeared in an NFL game since 2014.

Fauria signed with Detroit as a UDFA in 2013, and the 6-7 UCLA product hauled in 18 catches that year, seven of which went for touchdowns. He punctuated his scores with various dances and antics, which turned him into something of a brief Internet sensation. Unfortunately, he followed up his surprisingly productive rookie campaign with a disappointing and injury-shortened 2014 that saw him catch just six passes for 74 yards (though one of them was a touchdown reception).

His size, athleticism, and unexpected agility were not appealing enough for an NFL team to put him on the field in 2015. He was cut by Detroit prior to the start of the regular season that year, and while he had stints with the Patriots’ and Cardinals’ taxi squads in the subsequent months, he never suited up for either club. He then sat out all of 2016.

Now, as Alex Marvez of SportingNews.com writes, Fauria is attempting to make a comeback. Fauria, 27, says, “I’m trying my best. Last year didn’t go as planned. I didn’t get any tryouts, but I have my head on straight now. I’m in good shape. I’m ready to go. I just want one more chance.” Fauria also admits that, while former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz ultimately warmed up to his touchdown celebrations, Schwartz’s successor, Jim Caldwell, did not, and team ownership was also unhappy about Fauria’s demonstrations. It’s difficult to say whether that displeasure contributed to the end of Fauria’s tenure with the Lions, but it certainly didn’t help.

NFC West Notes: Hayne, Brown, Fauria

The 49ers and Rams don’t have much to play for other than pride during the last two weeks of the NFL season, but both teams still have plenty to learn about their roster before the offseason. Here are a few players that could have a lot riding on Week 16 and 17 for the bottom two teams in the division.

  • With Shaun Draughn set to miss this Sunday’s action with injury, America’s favorite former rugby star Jarryd Hayne could be on track to get promoted from the practice squad back to the 49ers active roster, writes Cam Inman of MercuryNews.com. He would be the third running back, but getting called up depends if he would be one of the 46 players to dress for the game.
  • 49ers rookie offensive tackle Trent Brown saw his first significant action last week, playing the fourth quarter at right tackle after guard Marcus Martin suffered a concussion. Erik Pears had been filling in for Anthony Davis at right tackle, but slid over with the injury opening up room for Brown to play. He did a good job against Carlos Dunlap, and is set to start this Sunday, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. More importantly, at close to 6’9″ and nearly 350 pounds, the physical specimen could potentially go from undrafted free agent to the future at right tackle in San Francisco if his work ethic can catch up to his natural gifts.
  • Tight end Joseph Fauria visited with the Rams, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). Fauria most recently was on the Patriots’ practice squad, but is best remembered for his 2013 season, when he caught 18 passes but seven of them went for scores with Matthew Stafford and the Lions.

Workout Notes: 12/16/15

It’s been a busy last couple of days around the NFL, with teams still looking to fill up their squads for the rest of the season. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweeted a whole bunch of workout notes this afternoon, which we’ve compiled for you below…

Arizona Cardinals

  • CB Mitchell White (link)

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Read more

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/8/15

Here are today’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the league:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: WR Jamel Johnson (Twitter link via Rob Demovksy of ESPN.com), RB Ross Scheuerman (Twitter link via the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson)
  • Cut: DB Kyle Sebetic

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

  • To be signed: WR Antwan Goodley (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
  • Cut: WR DeShon Foxx (Twitter link via The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta)

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/18/15

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts, with any additional moves added to the list throughout the day:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: CB Terrance Mitchell (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of ESPN.com)

Dallas Cowboys

New England Patriots

New York Giants

  • Signed: WR Ben Edwards, C Shane McDermott (link via Jordan Raanan of NJ.com)

San Diego Chargers

Seattle Seahawks

St. Louis Rams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Workout Notes: Seahawks, Colts, Bears

The Kendall Hunter tour continues. On Tuesday, the Seahawks tried out the running back, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Hunter, who has seen his NFL career derailed by injuries in recent years, was removed from Sam Francisco’s injured reserve list in September with a settlement, making him a free agent. Last week, he tried out for the Jaguars, but that audition did not immediately lead to a deal.

Here’s a roundup of Tuesday’s notable workouts from around the NFL:

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/13/15

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

St. Louis Rams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/15

Here are Friday’s practice squad signings and cuts from across the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

San Diego Chargers

St. Louis Rams

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/23/15

Here are the latest practice squad signings and cuts from across the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: DE Efe Obada (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com)

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: WR/KR Kaelin Clay (link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press)
  • Cut: WR Kendrick Ings

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: TE Sean McGrath (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle), CB Eric Patterson (via Mike Chappell of FOX59 on Twitter)
  • Cut: OL David Arkin

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: TE Connor Hamlett (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune)

Tennessee Titans

Cardinals Cut Joseph Fauria

After signing him less than 10 days ago, the Cardinals cut Joseph Fauria to make room for practice-squadder Kerwynn Williams‘ promotion, ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss reports (on Twitter).

This move comes after Andre Ellington‘s injury created a void at running back. Williams, a seventh-round pick by the Colts in 2013, played five games for the Cards last season. Chris Johnson will start, with David Johnson spelling him, notes Kevin Patra of NFL.com.

A former undrafted free agent out of UCLA and known for his seven-touchdown rookie season in 2013, the 25-year-old Fauria did not play in Arizona’s Week 1 contest.

The Lions waived Fauria, who saw injuries restrict him to just six catches and one score last season, when they trimmed their roster down to 53 players two weeks ago.