Joe Callahan

Lions Sign Joe Callahan To Practice Squad

Joe Callahan has thrown just seven passes since entering the league as a 2016 UDFA, but the quarterback is now on a seventh team. The Lions’ Saturday quarterback moves included bringing Callahan onto their practice squad.

The Division III product has done well to stay on the NFL radar, having been on active rosters, practice squads and a mainstay on the workout circuit.

The Lions placed Jeff Driskel on IR and signed Kyle Sloter off the Cardinals’ practice squad. With Matthew Stafford dealing with back injuries, and seemingly an IR candidate himself, Detroit added some insurance in Callahan. Sloter and David Blough are Detroit’s only healthy passers on its active roster.

Since coming into the league as a Wesley College (Del.) product, Callahan has previously been with the Saints, Packers, Browns, Eagles, Buccaneers and Redskins. His game action came during a 2017 Packers contest, during which he completed 5 of 7 passes for 11 yards.

Lions Work Out Two QBs

The Lions’ quarterbacks are both ailing, so the team brought in a pair of signal-callers for auditions today. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that Detroit worked out Joe Callahan and Taryn Christion.

Callahan, 26, has spent time with six organizations (not including two stints with the Packers) since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2016. The Wesley (DE) product appeared in a single game for the Packers during the 2017 season, completing five of his seven pass attempts for 11 yards. Callahan was waived by the Ravens at the end of the 2019 preseason, and he was later selected by the Seattle Dragons during the XFL Draft.

Christion, an undrafted rookie out of South Dakota State, spent the preseason with the Cowboys. He actually had a solid outing during the team’s preseason finale vs. the Buccaneers, completing 11 of his 17 attempts for 142 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The 22-year-old spent time on the Steelers practice squad earlier this season.

The Lions have a short week, as the team will be playing in their annual Thanksgiving contest. It’s uncertain if Matthew Stafford will return this season from a back injury, and fill-in Jeff Driskel is currently dealing with his own hamstring injury. Otherwise, the Lions are only rostering third-stringer David Blough. We learned yesterday that the Lions were hunting for some quarterback help, as the XFL blocked the Lions from signing quarterback Josh Johnson.

XFL Assigns QBs To Teams

The XFL draft gets underway on Tuesday, but the league’s eight teams already have their starting quarterbacks penciled in. Here’s the breakdown: 

[RELATED: XFL Projects $55K Salary For Players]

The rest of the 71-man rosters will be filled by the two-day draft, which will include the selection of other quarterbacks. Interestingly, Zach Mettenberger and Joe Callahan are in the draft pool, but were not in this initial group.

The XFL season will open on February 8, 2020, shortly after the Super Bowl.

Titans Audition QBs Joe Callahan, Taylor Heinicke

Marcus Mariota is coming off one of his best starts of the season, that didn’t stop the Titans from auditioning some quarterbacks today. Veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer tweets that the Titans worked out signal-callers Joe Callahan and Taylor Heinicke.

Heinicke, a 2015 undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion, got into six games (one start) with the Panthers last season, completing 61.4-percent of his passes for 320 yards, one touchdown, and three picks. The 26-year-old also added another 31 yards (as well as a fumble) on five carries. He was released by the Panthers at the end of the preseason, and he’s since had workouts with the Bills and Lions.

Callahan, 26, has managed to put together a four-year career despite only appearing in a single NFL game. The former undrafted free agent out of Wesley (DE) has had stints with the Packers (two stints), Saints, Browns, Eagles, Buccaneers, and Ravens. He appeared in a single game with Green Bay back in 2017, completing five of his seven pass attempts for 11 yards. He joined Baltimore this past offseason before being cut in late August.

While Mariota wasn’t necessarily at risk of losing his starting job, he didn’t do much to quiet his critics during the Titans’ losses in Week 2 and Week 3. However, he bounced back in Sunday’s win over the Falcons, completing 18 of his 27 pass attempts for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 22 rushing yards on three carries. The Titans gave up some draft capital to acquire backup Ryan Tannehill, so it’s unlikely a free agent addition would be any better than third on the depth chart. However, it makes sense for the Titans to explore some options just in case they suffer a sudden injury.

NFL Workout Updates: 9/18/19

Here is Wednesday’s latest from the workout circuit:

Cleveland Browns

Miami Dolphins

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Ravens To Sign QB Joe Callahan

The Ravens are expected to sign quarterback Joe Callahan, a source tells NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). Callahan may face long odds of making the roster, but he has familiarity with offensive coordinator Greg Roman thanks to their time together at Holy Spirit High School in 2008. 

[RELATED: RG3 Suffers Injury]

With RG3 sidelined, the Ravens needed another quarterback to move them through camp. The hope is that Griffin will be ready for Week 1, but it’s possible that he’ll need extra time to recover. In either event, the Ravens will have Callahan to support Lamar Jackson and rookie Trace McSorely.

Prior to signing Callahan, veteran Josh Johnson rejected an offer from the Ravens.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/2/19

Here are Wednesday’s reserve/futures contract moves:

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

 

* = part of the NFL’s International Player Development Program

NFL Workout Updates: 12/25/18

Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Green Bay Packers

  • TE: Evan Bayliss

Houston Texans

  • LB: Cory James

San Francisco 49ers

  • DE: Damontre Moore

Seattle Seahawks

  • CB: Quinten Rollins; SS’s: Keith Tandy, Shamarko Thomas

Tennessee Titans

  • DEs: Christian LaCouture, Kendall Vickers; DT: Dee Liner

Washington Redskins

  • TE: Jace Amaro; Ts: Isaiah Battle, Cyrus Kouandjio, Darius James; DL: Kwaku Boateng (EDM CFL); QBs: Max Browne, Joe Callahan; LBs: Marquis Flowers, Hau’oli Kikaha, Corey Nelson, John Timu; WRs: Carlos Henderson, ArDarius Stewart, Tre McBride, Devin Smith.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/24/18

Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Cincinnati Bengals:

  • K’s Ty Long (BC CFL), Tristan Vizcaino

Detroit Lions:

Indianapolis Colts:

Kansas City Chiefs:

New York Giants:

  • DEs Tobi Antigha (SASK), Jake Ceresna (EDM); QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CALG); WRs Bryant Mitchell (EDM), Jordan Williams-Lambert (SASK); RB Terry Williams

Philadelphia Eagles:

  • WRs Carlton Agudosi, Marken Michel (CALG), Devin Smith; DB Mercy Maston (EDM); LBs Alex Singleton (CALG), Jameer Thurman (CALG)

Pittsburgh Steelers:

  • QB Max Browne; LB Sam Eguavoen (SASK); DE Avery Ellis (OTT); WR Dominique Rhymes (OTT

Tennessee Titans:

Washington Redskins:

This time of year, a lot of teams are auditioning guys for potential reserve/futures deals to be a part of their 90-man rosters for 2019. It’s also common to see a lot of CFL guys getting looks this time of year, because players participating in the 2018 CFL season aren’t eligible to sign NFL contracts until after the regular season is over.