Former WR Jared Bernhardt To Begin Lacrosse Career
In 2021, Jared Bernhardt won the Tewaaraton Award as the country’s top collegiate lacrosse player. He turned his attention toward a professional football career afterwards, but that proved to be a short-lived effort. 
In 2022, Bernhardt joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent. He would up making a pair of regular season appearances as a rookie before landing on injured reserve in October. Those two contests proved to be the only action of Bernhardt’s NFL career, and in May 2023 he was placed on the reserve/retired list by Atlanta. One year later, the 27-year-old attended a workout with the Giants, but it did not produce a deal allowing for an NFL comeback.
With his football days over, Bernhardt will officially transition back to lacrosse. ESPN’s Field Yates recently noted the Maryland product spoke with each team in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) while aiming to immediately join a team. Earlier this week, he made his decision by signing with the Denver Outlaws (h/t Yates). As a result of that move, Bernhardt is set to make his debut tonight.
The PLL was founded in 2018 with its first season taking place one year later. The league began as a competitor to Major League Lacrosse, but the two wound up merging in 2020. As a result, the PLL – which currently has eight franchises – now operates as a rival to the decades-old National Lacrosse League (NLL). The latter’s latest season recently ended, and the 2025 PLL campaign begins tonight.
Bernhardt’s presence will be notable for the Outlaws in particular and the league in general given his pedigree dating back to his college career. Regardless of how his pro lacrosse endeavors play out, though, an attempt at an NFL return should obviously not be expected.
NFL Workouts: Giants, Bears, Titans, Grant
With NFL rookie minicamps coming to a close, we can take a look at some of the notable names that were invited for veteran tryouts during the rookies’ introduction to the NFL. The Giants were one of the teams with multiple veteran free agents in attendance, as noted by Pat Leonard of NY Daily News.
Two outside linebackers were auditioned this week in New York. Myjai Sanders worked out with the team after playing sparingly in seven games for the Texans last year. A former third-round pick for the Cardinals, Sanders had three sacks as a rookie but, after falling down the depth chart, found himself being auctioned off as a trade candidate before ultimately getting waived.
The other was Shaka Toney, a former seventh-round pick for the Commanders who was waived just before the draft. He’s only played major snaps in one game over his two years, his lone start out of 26 games played, but totes 1.5 sacks on his record.
The third veteran in attendance was wide receiver Jared Bernhardt.
Here are a few other notable minicamp auditions that took place around the league:
- The Bears also hosted three veterans, even eventually signing tight end Tommy Sweeney. Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports that cornerback Parry Nickerson and wide receiver Freddie Swain were the other two veterans in attendance this week. Nickerson entered the league as a sixth-round draft pick in 2018 for the Jets. Since then, he’s bounced around with one season each at in Jacksonville, Green Bay, Minnesota, and, most recently, Miami. Swain had a decent start to his career after two seasons in Seattle but didn’t play in 2023 after appearing in only four games in 2022 between time in Miami and Denver.
- The Titans were another team to host multiple notable veteran names, namely cornerback William Jackson III and pass rusher Shane Ray, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 and Turron Davenport of ESPN. After playing out a rookie contract in Cincinnati, Jackson earned a three-year, $40.5MM contract with the Commanders but requested a trade that landed him with the Steelers a year in a half into the deal, though he never got to play for them. He hasn’t appeared in a game since Week 5 of 2022. Ray’s absence from the NFL has been even longer. A first-round pick for the Broncos in 2015, Ray hasn’t played in the league since 2018. He joined the Bills last offseason, reuniting with his former Denver teammate Von Miller, but he was cut before the regular season.
- After attending the Eagles’ rookie minicamp, wide receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant also worked out for the Saints at their rookie minicamp, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Grant hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since the 2021 season as he’s rehabilitated a torn Achilles and a ruptured patella tendon, but the last time he played, he earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
- Lastly, the Dolphins hosted pass rusher Aaron Lynch for a tryout, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Lynch showed promise after tallying 12.5 sacks in his first two seasons with the 49ers but never managed more than three in a season over the next five years. He hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2020.
Falcons Sign WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
The Falcons have made another depth addition to their receiver room. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside has signed a deal with Atlanta, the team announced on Monday. 
Arcega-Whiteside visited the Falcons recently, and it has now resulted in a contract. This deal will give the former Eagles second-rounder another opportunity to rebuild his value, after his first three seasons in the NFL resulted in underwhelming production. Arcega-Whiteside’s best season to date came as a rookie, with 169 yards and one touchdown on 10 catches.
Since then, the 26-year-old saw his playing time drop considerably in each of the past two seasons. The Eagles experimented with moving him to tight end, but his time in Philadelphia appeared to be numbered regardless of the role he occupied. In August, he was traded to the Seahawks, a move which could have allowed him to find his footing in a new offense.
However, the Stanford product was among Seattle’s final roster cuts, and spent the beginning of the campaign on their practice squad. After failing to make any appearances in the Emerald City, he was released in November. It came as little surprise that Arcega-Whiteside was left on the market deep into the offseason, with a number of other pass-catching options available for teams via the free agent and draft routes.
In Atlanta, he will join a receiving corps which is topped by 2022 first-rounder Drake London, but which has also seen a number of moves this offseason. Atlanta has added veterans Mack Hollins, Scotty Miller and Penny Hart in 2023. They will help fill the void left by the departures of Olamide Zaccheaus and Damiere Byrd. Arcega-Whiteside will look to earn a spot near the bottom of the team’s WR depth chart, with his size (6-2, 225) and blocking ability potentially giving him a path to a role on what should be one of the league’s most run-heavy offenses.
In a corresponding move, the Falcons have placed fellow receiver Jared Bernhardt on the reserve/retired list. The 25-year-old made just two appearances with Atlanta last season after dealing with injury for much of the campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/28/22
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Pharoh Cooper, DL Manny Jones
- Placed on IR: S Budda Baker (story), DT Trysten Hill
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return: WR Jared Bernhardt
- Placed on IR: OL Chuma Edoga
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: WR Tylan Wallace
Detroit Lions
- Reverted to season-ending IR: WR Quintez Cephus
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: CB Darrell Baker Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB Isaiah Rodgers Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed to active roster: DT Jeremiah Ledbetter
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: DE Isaac Rochell, LB Harvey Langi
- Placed on IR: DE Chandler Jones, LB Denzel Perryman (story)
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Cardinals): OL Wyatt Davis
- Signed off Lions’ practice squad: LB Jarrad Davis
- Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux
- Waived: TE Chris Myarick
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return: CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return: CB Isaiah Dunn
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: RB Jonathan Ward
Washington Commanders
- Designated for return: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, TE Armani Rogers
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/28/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LS Hunter Bradley, CB Jordan Miller, CB Chris Wilcox
- Activated from practice squad IR: OL Lachavious Simmons
- Placed on practice squad IR: CB Nate Hairston
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from practice squad IR: WR Jared Bernhardt, OL Justin Shaffer
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
- Terminated: RB Tyler Badie
Chicago Bears
- Signed: CB Greg Stroman Jr.
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB David Vereen
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: C Garrison Sanborn
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DL Trent Harris
- Activated from practice squad IR: OL Vitaliy Gurman
- Released: WR Albert Wilson
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/22
Here are the league’s minor moves going into Week 7:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Cornell Armstrong
- Placed on IR: WR Jared Bernhardt
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: CB Daryl Worley
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Devon Kennard
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: C Pat Elflein
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from PUP: LB Joe Bachie
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Tyler Shelvin
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: DT Carlos Watkins
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Malik Davis, TE Sean McKeon
- Placed on IR: OL Matt Waletzko
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander
- Promoted from practice squad: K Michael Badgley, WR Brandon Zylstra
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Ethan Fernea, WR Dezmon Patmon
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/suspended by commissioner: LB Willie Gay
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Dicaprio Bootle, WR Marcus Kemp
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Javelin Guidry
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: WR Michael Bandy
- Promoted from practice squad: K Taylor Bertolet
- Placed on IR: RB Joshua Kelley
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: OL Brandon Shell
- Promoted from practice squad: S Verone McKinley III, DL Ben Stille
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: OLB Quincy Roche
- Promoted from practice squad: S Landon Collins, DE Ryder Anderson
- Placed on IR: OLB Azeez Ojulari
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Kenny Yeboah
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Dontae Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Bruce Irvin, CB Xavier Crawford
- Placed on IR: CB Isaiah Dunn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: T Josh Wells
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Anthony Chesley, S Nolan Turner
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Schobert, WR Mason Kinsey
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: FB Alex Armah, WR Kyric McGowan
Falcons Sign 13 UDFAs
The Falcons announced the signing of 13 undrafted free agents:
- Jared Bernhardt, WR (Ferris State)
- Stanley Berryhill, WR (Arizona)
- Kuony Deng, OLB (California)
- Matt Hankins, CB (Iowa)
- Brad Hawkins, S (Michigan)
- Timothy Horne, DL (Kansas State)
- Tyshaun James, WR (Central Connecticut)
- Nathan Landman, ILB (Colorado)
- Bryce Rodgers, DL (UC-Davis)
- Derrick Tangelo, DL (Penn State)
- Seth Vernon, P (Portland State)
- Tyler Vrabel, OL (Boston College)
- Leroy Watson, TE (UT-San Antonio)
“We keep talking about our scouting staff and our coaches and all the work that goes into it, and they really grind through this free agency process as well,” GM Terry Fontenot said right after the draft (via Scott Bair of the team’s website). “So I know we are going to continue to add some good football players. We’re excited.
“Once they get here, it doesn’t matter how they got here. It’s competition at every position.”
Derrick Tangelo got some significant money from the organization. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets that the defensive lineman got $55K guaranteed, including a $5K signing bonus. The rookie had 6.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in five seasons split between Duke and Penn State.