UFL Stars Try Out For NFL Teams
The United Football League’s 2026 season wrapped last Friday with the DC Defenders’ United Bowl win over the Louisville Kings.
Now, many UFL players are looking to make the jump to the NFL, including former Buccaneers and Rams linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi. He worked out for the Cowboys on Monday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Fatukasi, 27, logged 23 tackles (three for loss) and two sacks in seven games for the Birmingham Stallions this year. His first NFL experience came in Tampa Bay, where he made the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2022. He carved out a special teams role for the first 13 games of the season but was waived in December. Fatukasi then spent time with the Broncos, Patriots, and Chiefs before making another regular season appearance for the Rams at the end of the 2023 season. The veteran linebacker was waived by Los Angeles in 2024 and spent the last two years in the UFL.
Another former NFLer seeking a return to the league is Orlando Banks edge rusher Keshawn Banks, who auditioned for the Falcons on Monday, Wilson reports. Banks ranked among the UFL’s top 10 defenders with five sacks and 11 tackles for loss this year with previous stints with the Packers, Patriots, and Cardinals. His only regular season action in the NFL came in New England in 2023, when he played 61 special teams snaps in three elevations from the practice squad.
The Texans stayed local for their tryouts with Houston Gamblers running back Marcus Yarns and linebager Eugene Asante, per Wilson. Yarns, who spent training camp with the Saints in 2025, posted 345 rushing yards in the UFL this year, the fifth-most in the league. His 5.7 yards per carry also ranked second among all players with at least 25 carries. Asante, who had brief stints on the Browns’ and Falcons’ practice squads last season, made 40 tackles (three for loss) across his nine games with the Gamblers.
Another Gambler, wide receiver/returner Jalen Moreno-Cropper, worked out at the Saints’ mandatory minicamp (via Wilson). The former Fresno State standout signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and spent his rookie year on the practice squad. He made one regular season appearance in 2024 and three in 2025, all via practice squad elevations, with a total of just 45 snaps. In 2026, Moreno-Cropper ranked 11th in the UFL with 41.6 yards per game and ninth with 72.0 all-purpose yards per game.
NFL teams often use this spring workouts to determine their options should injuries pop up between now and training camp. They are also preparing to fill roster spots vacated by players set to go on injured lists. For example, Cowboys offensive lineman Matt Hennessy is likely to open training camp on the physically unable to perform list after recently undergoing neck surgery.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/23/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Eugene Asante
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB M.J. Devonshire
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Michael Reid
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Thomas Gordon
Denver Broncos
- Placed on practice squad/injured: S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Royce Freeman
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Jack Henderson
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Elijah Mitchell, WR Brandon Smith
- Released: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Tyler Hall
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Nick Jackson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/2/25
Twenty-one different teams made practice squad transactions on Tuesday. Here are the latest updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: RB Montrell Johnson, RB Sincere McCormick
- Signed: LB Eku Leota
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB William Kwenkeu, RB Jonathan Ward
- Placed on practice squad IR: LB Chandler Martin
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Andre Jones
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Jalen Kimber
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Simeon Barrow, G Jack Conley, RB Ahmani Marshall, LB Mark Robinson
- Placed on practice squad IR: DE Julian Okwara
- Released: LB Eugene Asante
Denver Broncos
- Released: WR Kyrese Rowan
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Shemar Bartholomew
- Released: CB Tyron Herring, WR Michael Woods
Houston Texans
- Signed: OLB Xavier Thomas
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: K Greg Joseph
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: C Josh Kaltenberger, OT Foster Sarell
- Released: WR Luke Grimm, OT David Sharpe
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: OL Wyatt Bowles
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Kion Smith
- Released: OL Braeden Daniels
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: QB Desmond Ridder
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Beanie Bishop
- Released: RB Ian Wheeler
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Samuel Womack
- Released: WR Brandon Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: DB Parry Nickerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Daequan Hardy
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OLB Ja’Markis Weston
- Released: C Doug Kramer, WR Brenden Rice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Owen Wright
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Kristian Wilkerson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Robbie Chosen
- Released: LS Zach Triner
With J.J. McCarthy close to a return from his concussion, the Vikings parted ways with Ridder. He was signed last week after McCarthy entered concussion protocol, but was not elevated to back up Max Brosmer in Week 13. That responsibility instead went to John Wolford, who remains in Minnesota.
Bishop was released by the Steelers at the beginning of November. After appearing all 17 games last year with a 50% snap share, he did not make the 53-man roster this season and remained on the practice squad. He will now join the Saints in the hopes of making his 2025 debut in New Orleans.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/14/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: NT Josh Tupou
Buffalo Bills
- Released: CB Jalen Kimber
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Eugene Asante, DL Simeon Barrow
- Released: OT Joshua Miles
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G Karsen Barnhart, LB Garrett Nelson
Green Bay Packers
- Released: K Mark McNamee
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Bayron Matos, QB Brett Rypien
- Released: OT Marcellus Johnson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: G McClendon Curtis
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Jaret Patterson
- Released: LB Clelin Ferrell
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE Marshall Lang
- Released: DB Tyron Herring, TE Gee Scott Jr.
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: WR Javon Baker, RB Audric Estime
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Isaac Alarcon, DL Robert Beal Jr.
- Released: OL Bruce Hector
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Michael Wiley
- Released: TE Caden Prieskorn
Washington Commanders
- Released: G Tyler Cooper
With Anthony Richardson heading to injured reserve with an eye injury, the Colts are set to add some QB depth in veteran Brett Rypien, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The 29-year-old brings four games of starting experience to Indy, with his most recent start coming with the Rams in 2023. In total, Rypien has completed 58.3 percent of his career passes for 950 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Riley Leonard will temporarily be the QB2 behind Daniel Jones, but there’s a chance Rypien eventually works his way up to the active roster.
The Chargers moved on from a notable edge defender today in Clelin Ferrell. The former Raiders first-round pick started all 17 games for the 49ers just two years ago, with the edge rusher finishing that campaign with 3.5 sacks and 13 QB hits. He started 10 of his 14 appearances with the Commanders in 2024, adding another 3.5 sacks to his resume. After being among Washington’s final preseason cuts, Ferrell caught on with the Chargers practice squad and ended up getting into one game with the big-league club.
The Eagles moved on from a pair of skill players today. Audric Estime was a fifth-round pick by the Broncos last year, with the running back compiling 337 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 81 touches. He was waived by Denver back in August and landed on Philly’s practice squad. Javon Baker was a fourth-round pick by the Patriots in last year’s draft, but he was limited to a single catch in 11 games.
Dolphins Set 53-Man Roster, Begin Search For Kicker
The Dolphins got their roster down to 53 players this afternoon and, in the process, officially placed kicker Jason Sanders on IR. Here are the rest of the team’s moves:
Released:
- CB Cornell Armstrong
- LB Quinton Bell
- RB Mike Boone
- TE Pharaoh Brown
- T Jackson Carman
- CB Cameron Dantzler
- DT Matt Dickerson
- CB Mike Hilton
- TE Chris Myarick
- CB Kendall Sheffield
Waived:
- CB BJ Adams
- WR Andrew Armstrong
- T Mason Brooks
- T Braeden Daniels
- WR Erik Ezukanma
- T Ryan Hayes
- WR AJ Henning
- DT Alex Huntley
- LB Dequan Jackson
- LB Mohamed Kamara
- T Jalen McKenzie
- LB Derrick McLendon
- S Patrick McMorris
- LB Grayson Murphy
- G Josh Priebe
- CB Ethan Robinson
- TE Hayden Rucci
- S John Saunders Jr.
- RB Aaron Shampklin
- DT Ben Stille
- LB Channing Tindall
- WR Theo Wease Jr.
- G Addison West
Waived/injured:
Waived (with injury settlement):
Placed on IR (designated for return):
Placed on reserve/PUP:
In four seasons with the team, Eichenberg has started at every position on the offensive line. The Dolphins will miss his versatility while he’s out, but head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed recently that Eichenberg’s injury is not a season-ending one.
Sanders’ hip injury landed him on injured reserve, meaning Miami will be without him for at least the first month of the season. To deal with his absence, the Dolphins hosted four veteran kickers — Zane Gonzalez, Greg Joseph, Riley Patterson, and Eddy Pineiro — for tryouts today, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Besides that, there weren’t many surprises in the cuts today. Tindall had been a core special teamer for each of his first three years in Miami but may have to find his way to the field through the practice squad. According to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, Murphy had a really strong summer with the team and should be back on the practice squad, as long as he clears waivers.
Dolphins Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents
After making eight picks during the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dolphins have added another 15 undrafted rookies to their roster. Here are Miami’s UDFA signings:
- Andrew Armstrong, WR (Arkansas)
- John Saunders Jr., S (Mississippi)
- Nate Noel, RB (Missouri)
- BJ Adams, CB (UCF)
- Ethan Robinson, CB (Minnesota)
- Jalin Conyers, TE (Texas Tech)
- Monaray Baldwin, WR (Baylor)
- Eugene Asante, LB (Auburn)
- Tedi Kushi, OL (Western Michigan)
- Addison West, OL (Western Michigan)
- Josh Priebe, OL (Michigan)
- Theo Wease Jr., WR (Missouri)
- AJ Henning, WR (Northwestern)
- Tre’vonn Rybka, DT (Kentucky)
- Alex Huntley, DT (South Carolina)
Armstrong broke out as a sophomore at East Texas A&M in 2022 with 62 catches for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns, albeit against FCS competition. He transferred to Arkansas, but took a step back in 2023 as he adjusted to SEC play before bouncing back in 2024 with a conference-high 1,140 receiving yards. He has NFL potential as a possession receiver with a 6-foot-4 frame, strong hands, and the know-how to use those traits to win at the catch point. The 24-year-old had solid speed and agility testing at the Combine and his pro day, but lack burst and quickness as a route-runner. Armstrong brings some size that the Dolphins’ receiver room currently lacks outside of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but he’ll have to improve his play in the red zone (just one touchdown in 2024) and on special teams to make the roster.
Wease also offers appealing size with a 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame, but he didn’t reach 1,000 receiving yards in any of his six seasons (four at Oklahoma, two at Missouri). He’s a middling athlete who doesn’t play with the physicality his size would suggest, but he’s a solid route runner whose length shows up at the catch point. Wease’s deal with the Dolphins includes $249k in guaranteed money, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
The Dolphins are undermanned at cornerback, especially if they follow through on their plan to trade Jalen Ramsey. They waited until the fifth round to draft one, so Adams and Robinson should have a chance to make the roster. Adams has good height and length that he deploys in press coverage at the line of scrimmage, but that didn’t translate into much ball production at UCF (13 passes defended, two interceptions in 29 career starts). He’ll need to develop his unrefined coverage technique to make up for his lack of elite movement skills, but his frame and special teams experience make him a developmental 53-man roster candidate. Robinson spent his first three years at Bucknell before transferring to Minnesota. He made a smooth transition from FCS with an honorable mention All-Big 10 selection in 2024. He has a natural feel as a playmaker in coverage (24 passes defended and six interceptions in last two years), but his below-average athletic profile will be more challenging to overcome in the NFL.
Conyers is a former multi-sport athlete who thrived as a basketball player in high school. He brings that background to the TE position with short-area quickness, lateral agility, and an ability to make tough, contested catches. He wasn’t especially productive at Arizona State or Texas Tech, but his size and toughness showed up as a blocker, which will be appreciated in the NFL. Conyers’ Combine performance also showed that he has plenty of athleticism to develop as a pass-catcher. The 23-year-old received a $15k signing bonus and $100k in guaranteed salary, per Wilson.