NFL Workout Updates: 8/7/22
Here’s a look at some of the notable workouts from around the league this weekend:
- The Colts auditioned four linebackers this weekend, bringing in Aaron Hansford, Justin Hilliard, Dorian O’Daniel, and Kadofi Wright, according to Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star. This is likely a search for camp bodies and shouldn’t say much as to Darius Leonard‘s availability for the regular season.
- The Ravens worked out defensive backs Ken Crawley, Darryl Roberts, and Daryl Worley this weekend, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Worley actually spent the end of last season on Baltimore’s practice squad, so he has some familiarity with the system. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Ravens bring in some bodies to play more snaps in the preseason after watching multiple players go down with season-ending injuries before the season even began last year.
- The Dolphins spent their weekend trying out centers Cohl Cabral, Jake Lacina, and Cole Toner, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Miami has been adamant about bringing in center competition for last year’s starter, Michael Deiter, but has ended up shifting former Cowboys tackle Connor Williams to the position. Even with Williams taking the starting role, Deiter is still dealing with a foot injury. The Dolphins may be looking to add some depth to shoulder the load for the rest of the preseason.
- The Chiefs, who recently signed former USFL wide receiver Devin Gray, also worked out receivers Matt Cole and Damion Willis., according to Wilson. Willis was an undrafted free agent in 2019 who started for the Bengals in Week 1 of his rookie season in place of an injured A.J. Green. He finished that season with 9 catches for 82 yards and has been bouncing around practice squads ever since.
Broncos Bring Back RT Cameron Fleming
The Broncos brought in two new candidates to vie for their right tackle position, a job that has seen numerous players cycle through during a 10-year period of instability. But the team circled back to one of its 2021 right tackles Wednesday.
Cameron Fleming is re-signing with the Broncos, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Fleming, one of the two post-Ja’Wuan James veterans the team added during the 2021 offseason, will be part of the team’s right tackle competition. To make room on their 90-man roster, the Broncos waived linebacker Kadofi Wright.
Fleming lost last summer’s right tackle competition to Bobby Massie but ended up starting four games at the position. Massie is not on Denver’s 90-man roster, and the longtime Bears blocker has not caught on with another team this year. Fleming, 29, joins Tom Compton and Billy Turner as veterans vying for the 2022 right-edge gig. Multiyear Broncos backup Calvin Anderson is also in the mix for the position, though Compton’s experience and Turner’s familiarity with Nathaniel Hackett‘s scheme make them likelier candidates to end up with the gig.
The Broncos placed Turner on their active/PUP list to start camp, complicating their situation. Denver has used a different Week 1 right tackle in each of the past nine seasons. Unless Massie re-emerges, that streak will run to 10. Fleming could inject some rare continuity into this situation, but this is likely an insurance move.
Almost all of Turner’s one-year, $2.5MM deal is guaranteed. Compton signed for one year and $2.25MM; $1.5MM of that is guaranteed. Neither of these sums would be too onerous, dead money-wise, to jettison before Week 1. This would be Fleming’s ninth NFL season. He worked as a starter or swing backup with the Patriots, Cowboys and Giants from 2014-20.
Broncos Sign 13 Undrafted Free Agents
The Broncos have been busy signing their draft picks in recent days, but that didn’t stop the front office from adding 13 undrafted free agents to their roster:
- OLB Christopher Allen, Alabama
- CB Cortez Davis, Hawaii
- WR Kaden Davis, Northwest Missouri
- OT Sebastian Gutierrez, Minot State
- WR Brandon Johnson, UCF
- ILB Kana’i Mauga, USC
- RB Tyreik McAllister, Charleston
- CB Ja’Quan McMillian, East Carolina
- G Michael Niese, Temple
- TE Dylan Parham, NC State
- WR Jalen Virgil, Appalachian State
- TE Rodney Williams, Tennessee-Martin
- ILB Kadofi Wright, Buffalo
Allen got a chunk of money to join Denver, earning $180K in guaranteed money (per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com on Twitter). The linebacker had a productive collegiate career, earning two National Championships during his time at Alabama. He also earned a second-team All-SEC nod in 2020 after finishing with 24 tackles and six sacks. He missed his entire rookie season after suffering a broken foot, leading to him going undrafted.
Meanwhile, Mike Klis of 9News in Denver tweets that McMillian got $75K, while Mauga got $60K guaranteed (Twitter link).