DENVER – Brandon Cisse's welcome-to-the-NFL moment hasn't come yet on the Green Bay Packers starting defense, but there's always punt coverage.
The Packers rookie found himself on the wrong end of a Denver Broncos double-team block covering a punt late in the first quarter. Cisse said he felt "a little something" in his knee as he limped toward the sideline, eventually visiting the blue medical tent. He did not play again in the Packers' 33-13 win in their second preseason game, replaced by veteran cornerback Benjamin St-Juste.
Cisse said he does not expect to miss any time with the injury.
"I just got beat up a little bit," Cisse said. "Nothing serious at all. I was trying to go back in. Just being precautionary. I'm fine. Nothing to worry about. I wanted to go back in."
Cisse wasn't in the medical tent long. Immediately after exiting, he crouched in his defensive stance and backpedaled. He also made cuts while on the sideline, moving without ****** istance, before riding a stationary bike.

#cisse #punt #tent

DENVER – Brandon Cisse's welcome-to-the-NFL moment hasn't come yet on the Green Bay Packers starting defense, but there's always punt coverage.
The Packers rookie found himself on the wrong end of a Denver Broncos double-team block covering a punt late in the first quarter. Cisse said he felt "a little something" in his knee as he limped toward the sideline, eventually visiting the blue medical tent. He did not play again in the Packers' 33-13 win in their second preseason game, replaced by veteran cornerback Benjamin St-Juste.
Cisse said he does not expect to miss any time with the injury.
"I just got beat up a little bit," Cisse said. "Nothing serious at all. I was trying to go back in. Just being precautionary. I'm fine. Nothing to worry about. I wanted to go back in."
Cisse wasn't in the medical tent long. Immediately after exiting, he crouched in his defensive stance and backpedaled. He also made cuts while on the sideline, moving without **** istance, before riding a stationary bike.

#packers

Preseason is only the preseason. But for some players, it's a matter of life or death . . . or at least a matter of making a roster.
The Carolina Panthers' 34-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday night may have livened the cases for a number of individuals—whether they're fighting for a job or a spot on the Week 1 program.
Here are six players who improved their stock during the team's victorious stop at EverBank Stadium . . .
The preseason has been a mostly quiet affair for the Panthers' running backs, at least outside of garbage time. They finally got an exception to the rule tonight, with second-year back Trevor Etienne.
Etienne flashed as a returner, picking up 15 yards on a punt and 34 on a kickoff. He was also efficient on the ground, totaling 24 yards on five carries in the first half.

#etienne #matter #carolina #jaguars

Coming into tonight's action, the Green Bay Packers hadn't won a game since December 7th against the Chicago Bears, as their last trip to Denver started them on a five game-losing streak (six if you want to include the preseason opener) that capped off with the team being sent home by those same Bears in the Wild Card round. Tonight, they sort of got that monkey off their back, as they beat the Broncos 33-13 at elevation.
Overall, the depth of the team played well on Friday, unlike their Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when their fourth-team defense gave up a lead and allowed three touchdowns in a row to end the game. This time, the Packers' defense (and offense) held strong, despite the Broncos keeping their first- and second-team units in the game significantly longer than Green Bay.
The story of the game, and the preseason, continues to be rookie kicker Trey Smack, though. The sixth-round pick went three of three last week, not including a deep field goal that was taken off the board because the Steelers committed a penalty. How would he outdo himself in Week 2? By going four of four (and three of three on PATs), including a 59-yard field goal, one yard longer than his long the previous week.
In the kickoff game, Smack's kickoffs continue to be placed inside the 10-yard line and near the numbers, the toughest place for returners to bring the ball out from under the NFL's new "dynamic kickoff" rules. All signs are positive on the rookie in live action. Hopefully, it'll continue through the regular season.
Elsewhere on special teams, fourth-string running back Pierre Strong Jr. busted a 68-yard kickoff return, while receiver Skyy Moore had a nice 16-yard punt return himself.

#game

The San Francisco 49ers traveled south to take on the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium just days after the two teams met for a joint practice session, and Kyle Shanahan's team walked away with a 41-17 victory.
With such a lopsided victory, the 49ers got some great performances from several players on Thursday. As we continue working our way through this game, let's take a look at who had the best nights.
San Francisco's second-round pick had a strong debut against the Tennessee ****** ans, and he continued that run against the Chargers. On Thursday, he caught four of his five targets for 45 yards and showed, once again, that quarterback Brock Purdy can trust him.
Despite all of the injuries at wide receiver throughout training camp, Cowing hasn't exactly taken advantage of the opportunity. However, on Thursday, he showed that he can be a difference-maker on special teams, as he took a punt back 83 yards for a touchdown in the first half. That one play may have helped him earn a roster spot for 2026.
Jones joined the 49ers this offseason, and he has been making plays throughout camp. After suffering a hand injury early against the ****** ans, he entered Thursday's game after Renardo Green went down with a hamstring. He played well again, recording one tackle and sticking in coverage to break up multiple passes.

#take #showed

Another day, another fall practice for the Washington Huskies.
That's how it felt for the first hour or so as Jedd Fisch's team went through its fourth straight day of practice before the entire roster, and the majority of the coaching staff formed two lines in the middle of the field. On one end stood senior punter Hunter Green, and on the other stood defensive quality control coach Korey Rush and defensive tackle Darin Conley.
Green, fresh off an appearance on the Ray Guy Award watch list, sent a pair of end-over-end punts booming down towards first Rush, and then Conley, both of whom secured the kicks with ease. Rush's catch meant the coaching staff got the rest of the day off, while Conley's meant that the day was over for the players ahead of Saturday night's mock game.
The celebration at midfield, as you might imagine, was raucous.
With the second scrimmage of the fall on the horizon, it was a lighter day for the Huskies in a practice that mainly consisted of individual drills and special teams work, but secondary coach John Richardson's unit still showed up, as junior nickelback Rahshawn Clark made one of the more notable plays for the day.

#rush

It looks as if Jake Bobo's fourth season with the Seattle Seahawks is already over.
The fan favorite wide receiver and special teams contributor suffered what was described as a "bad-looking leg injury" during Friday's joint practice with the Tennessee ****** ans in Nashville. He was carted off after awkwardly landing on a catch attempt, and barring some very favorable imaging, that will be his last action on the field this year.
"Our heart goes out to Jake Bobo," Mike Macdonald said after practice. "Seems like it's going to be a serious knee, we're going to get it imaged, but early returns—looks like it's a long-term injury. So that's unfortunate."
Bobo re-signed with the Seahawks on a two-year deal after matching the Jacksonville Jaguars' restricted free agent offer sheet. He's functioned as the fourth or fifth option at wide receiver, doing a lot of the dirty work as a blocker and in kick and punt return coverage. His NFC Championship touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams was his only score all season and it helped Seattle get to the Super Bowl.
In all likelihood, Bobo would've played the Sunday preseason game against the ****** ans, having played the first half of last week's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, it appears as if the next time we see Bobo will be 2027.

#fourth #season #wide

One of the most exciting plays in Thursday night's preseason action was an 83-yard punt return touchdown from San Francisco's Jacob Cowing. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh was not happy that punter JK Scott let that happen.
Asked what went wrong on the return, Harbaugh made clear that Scott didn't land the punt where he was supposed to.
"The punt was short and in the middle, and then we got out-flanked," Harbaugh said.
Scott's attempt at tackling Cowing was so weak that Harbaugh was asked after the game if Scott had been instructed not to tackle, on the theory that maybe it's not worth a punter injuring himself in a preseason game. Harbaugh made clear that was not the case.
"No, he's got to have a plan when he's in that position to make the tackle. Something we need to work on, coach up," Harbaugh said.

#scott

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Jacob Cowing returned a punt for an 83-yard touchdown, Eddy Pineiro kicked a pair of field goals and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-18 on Thursday night in a preseason game.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy saw his first preseason action, going 4 of 6 for 29 yards in the first quarter.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played the opening series in his first appearance of the preseason. He was 1 of 2, hitting Charlie Kolar with a 9-yard pass as the team went 3-and-out.
Battling for a roster spot at wide receiver, Cowing showed off his speed and agility after the Chargers went 3-and-out with three minutes left in the second quarter.
Chargers punter JK Scott kicked 52 yards to the 49ers' 17-yard line, where Cowing fielded the ball. He dashed to the left and ran in for the score, giving San Francisco a 17-3 lead.

#preseason #francisco #quarterback #quarter

Well, just like last week, Houston had a very deflating finish to this preseason game, losing to the Las Vegas Raiders 22-20, dropping to 0-2 this preseason. Despite the loss, however, this game was a much more satisfying showing from the Texans roster than last week's loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Tonight, the Houston Texans faced first overall pick QB Fernando Mendoza, hoping to get some positive action from their roster following the devastating news of WR Jayden Higgins' injury yesterday. They got exactly what they were looking for on the first two drives of the game: a methodical, run-heavy drive from the first-stringers that ended in a 20-yard Woody Marks touchdown run, and then a pick-six on Mendoza by rookie LB Wade Woodaz!
For a moment, you might've mistaken this game to be a pivotal late-season matchup with the amount of cheering from the fans following Woodaz's interception. Then, on the next Raiders' drive, DE Jadeveon Clowney announced his return to Houston with a deflection against Mendoza on third down! Seeing that #90 screaming off the edge for Houston's defensive line again after seven years away is a very welcome sight, especially considering the state the Texans' franchise is in now compared to the chaotic state it was in during the Bill O'Brien era. Clowney makes for an excellent depth piece on the edge, and if the preseason is any indication, Houston may be leaning on its defensive line a lot once again in 2026.
Following the three-and-out by the Raiders, Texans backup QB Davis Mills entered the game along with many second and third-string players. He targeted backup TE Foster Moreau and Noah Whittington on this drive, and he even got a nice completion to undrafted rookie Daniel Sobkowicz on third down. Just barely not enough for a new set of downs, though, so Houston settles for a field goal, making it 17-0 with a little over 3 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Raiders answered that drive with a field goal drive of their own, led by some impressive runs from rookie RB Mike Washington – who's too fast for Texans LB Jake Hummel – and FB/TE Connor Hayward. Texans rookie DT Kayden McDonald put an end to the string of positive plays for the Raiders, sacking Mendoza for an eleven yard loss and reminding everyone what this Texans d-line is capable of. The Raiders settle for a field goal, and then both teams trade punts, and Houston nabs a field goal shortly before halftime.
Texans rookie WR Lewis Bond made an impressive reception on 3rd & 8, and RB Noah Whittington had a few nice runs in the second quarter, but the run-blocking from Houston's backup offensive lineman still leaves much to be desired. Blake Fisher still doesn't look the part of a second-round pick, and Braden Smith wasn't particularly impressive, either. Thankfully, it appears they may have found a star in rookie TE Marlin Klein, who had a 17-yard reception that showcased his ability to track a bad pass, reel it in while in motion, and crank up the

Aug. 20—GRAND FORKS — With a week to go to UND football's 2026 season opener, the Fighting Hawks have announced team captains.
UND's captains this season will be offensive tackle Trace Thaden, wide receiver Sam Strandell, quarterback Jerry Kaminski, linebacker Michael Devereaux and edge Lance Rucker, the school announced Thursday.
Those five were selected by their teammates following the conclusion of fall camp.
Thaden, a 6-foot-7, 306-pound fifth year from Omaha, started all 14 games at left tackle last season and helped UND allow the second-fewest sacks among Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive lines.
Strandell, a Grand Forks Central product, served as a key special teams contributor last season after overcoming an injury that sidelined the wide receiver for much of the season. He made three tackles and blocked a punt in UND's road win at Tennessee Tech in the opening round of the FCS playoffs.

#forks #thaden #captains

The Baltimore Ravens and USAA gave 100 Baltimore-area service members an opportunity to experience training camp from a different perspective Thursday. Military members from Fort Meade visited the Ravens' training facility for a day of competition featuring drills similar to those NFL coaches use to evaluate players.
Former Ravens punter Sam Koch, the Ravens Cheerleaders and Poe welcomed the participants before the competition began. Service members then tested their athletic abilities in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, three-cone shuttle, receiving gauntlet and quarterback arm challenge. A live leaderboard tracked individual scores throughout the event, adding another competitive element to the experience. Each member of the winning team received tickets to this season's Ravens Salute to Service game presented by USAA.
https://drive.google.com/f...
Participants also received an exclusive tour of the Ravens' practice facility, commonly known as The Castle, following the competition.
The event offered local military members a behind-the-scenes look at an NFL training environment and allowed them to experience some of the physical tests players undergo during the pre-draft and roster evaluation process.

#members

Brian Schottenheimer identifies two major Cowboys concerns originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys won their preseason opener, but Brian Schottenheimer found two areas that failed to meet his standard. Dallas defeated the Seattle Seahawks 17-7 behind an impressive defensive performance. The Cowboys allowed only 76 total yards over Seattle's final seven possessions and received multiple encouraging contributions from players competing for roster spots.
Schottenheimer still was not pleased with the special teams or the offensive line. The Cowboys allowed 144 yards on six combined kickoff and punt returns. Seattle's average offensive possession began at its own 42-yard line, repeatedly creating difficult situations for the Dallas defense.
"Our mantra is get back to basics," Schottenheimer said. "Got to pay more attention to detail. Very, very disappointed in how we lost contain. Very disappointed in how we gave up kick-side leverage."
Schottenheimer also criticized the communication from Dallas' coverage units.

#brian #sporting #line #disappointed

Eight LSU football players landed on the preseason Coaches' All-SEC team. That's the third-most total, after Georgia and Texas with 11 apiece, then Oklahoma with 10. The Tigers tied with the Longhorns for the most first-team selections with five each.
Tight end Trey'Dez Green, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen, linebacker Whit Weeks and punter Grant Chadwick landed on the first team. Cornerback DJ Pickett is on the second team while safety Ty Benefield and center Braelin Moore are on the third team.
A mix of veterans from the 2025 roster and the transfer portal, along with young stars, characterizes this year's LSU team. Its All-SEC selections reflect that as well. Weeks and Moore fought through injuries with the Tigers last year, both returning to lead the purple and gold in its first year under head coach Lane Kiffin.
Umanmielen played under Kiffin at Ole Miss last year, ending the year as a third-team All-SEC selection. Chadwick also earned a spot on the All-SEC third team last year as LSU's punter. Benefield and Seaton came to Baton Rouge as two of the top players out of the transfer portal.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Eight LSU football players make Coaches All-SEC team

#players #tigers #seaton

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is not afraid of being hard on rookie Gabe Jacas.
In last Thursday's preseason opener, that led to Vrabel calling out Jacas on the sidelines and challenging the rookie to compete harder on special teams. Jacas recorded a tackle shortly after.
"I think that it needs to be better. It was better on Saturday [in practice] than it was in the game," Vrabel said this week of Jacas' progress. "We pointed some things out to him in the game, and I felt it was really cool of him to be able to make those corrections and look at some of the body positions that we feel like he should be in, and he was really conscious of those, and I saw those things translate in just a quick, short amount of time from the meeting after the game to Saturday's practice."
Jacas has received plenty of 1-on-1 coaching from Vrabel throughout training camp. That's included time on special teams, as Jacas is part of the team's top punt protection group — a unit the 22-year-old had never played before.
So far, Jacas has appreciated the hard coaching.

#jacas #game #practice

Wolves are in the market for attacking depth and Amario Cozier-Duberry has moved firmly into view. According to TeamTalk, Wolves are exploring a deal for the Brighton winger, though West Ham are in the same conversation and Rangers have already tested the water.
The basics are clear. Brighton value the 21-year-old at £10million and have already turned down a £7million bid from Rangers. That tells you two things straight away. First, Brighton think there is real upside here. Second, any club hoping to haggle their way to a discount is wasting time.
Cozier-Duberry is not a random punt. He "impressed on loan with Bolton Wanderers last season, contributing nine goals and 13 ******* ists as Bolton secured promotion from League One via the play-offs." Those are serious numbers for a wide player. Add in Championship experience at Blackburn Rovers in 2024/25 and there is at least a working case that he is ready for the next step.
IMAGO | Anfield Index
TeamTalk reports that Wolves "view the 21-year-old as a potential reinforcement in a key area" and that they "have begun ******* sing the conditions of a deal." That sounds like sensible groundwork rather than empty noise. Wolves need more directness, more end product and more players who can attack from either side. Cozier-Duberry appears to tick each box.

#wolves #teamtalk #bolton #deal

At 37 years old now and on his fifth NFL team over a career entering its 16th year, linebacker Von Miller made one thing perfectly clear Tuesday at his introductory press conference at Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, Calif.
"I can still play football."
But as the eight-time Pro Bowler went on to explain, that's only part of the reason he was brought to Dallas.
"You can say what you want to say about my play on the field and what I've got left. But when it comes to being a great teammate, if there was a Hall of Fame for that, I'm going in the Hall of Fame, first ballot," Miller told reporters.
As it is, Miller is actually two full years younger than one of this year's enshrinees in the real Hall of Fame (Luke Kuechly). But the Texas native walks into the Cowboys locker room the second-oldest player on the current roster, with punter Bryan Anger beating him by just six months.

#play #calif #bowler

After an outstanding NFL debut in the Cleveland Browns preseason game against the Chicago Bears, a former Texas A&M wide receiver made some fiery comments about his mindset on the gridiron.
KC Concepcion showcased why he was a first-round pick in his first professional contest, hauling in three receptions and 27 yards, while also rushing for a 14-yard touchdown and securing a 31-yard punt return. His performance drew plenty of attention on social media, with many touting Concepcion as the NFL's next star wideout.
He has electric breakaway speed, quick cuts and a determination to reach the end zone, but he also doesn't lack confidence. In a press conference following one of the Browns' practices, the former Aggie wide receiver spoke to the media about his mindset when he steps on the field.
Concepcion transferred to Texas A&M after two seasons at NC State, where he was named ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year. He made an immediate impact for the Aggies in his junior campaign, recording 919 yards on 61 receptions and nine touchdowns, while also returning two punts for touchdowns. Concepcion won the prestigious 2025 Paul Hornung Award, which is given to the most versatile player in college football every year.
He's certainly lived up to that ***** le since transitioning to the NFL. As the Browns continue to try and navigate a quarterback controversy, Concepcion has been the one factor keeping Cleveland's excitement alive for the upcoming season.

#concepcion #made #mindset

Fifth-year punter Jackson Ross was named to the 2026 Ray Guy Award preseason watch list. The Ray Guy Award recognizes the nation's top collegiate punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Augusta Sports Council established the award in 2000 to honor College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ray Guy. The 2026 Ray Guy Award winner will be announced in December during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
Statistics considered in selecting the Ray Guy Award winner are net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line and percentage of punts not returned.
The 6-foot-4, 204-pound Ross enters his fifth season with the Vols.
He has totaled 6,382 yards on 147 punt attempts. Ross' longest punt was 71 yards in 2023 and is averaging 43.4 yards per attempt.

#yards #fifth #punts

The Eagles Communications department released an updated depth chart ahead of two days of joint practices and Saturday night's preseason game against the New England Patriots. DeVonta Smith, first-round pick Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks are listed as the three starting wide receivers. Hollywood Brown is behind Smith, while Darius Cooper sits directly behind Wicks following a productive first two weeks of training camp.
The backup quarterback competition remains unsettled. Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee remain listed as co-backups behind Jalen Hurts, with rookie Cole Payton listed fourth. Joint practices and the second preseason game will give Dalton and McKee additional opportunities to create separation.
Defensively, Philadelphia lists a five-man front featuring Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt on the edges with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo inside. Cooper DeJean is again listed as the starter at nickel cornerback and safety, reinforcing the flexibility that allows the Eagles to alter the packages based on personnel.
Riq Woolen and Quinyon Mitchell are the starting outside cornerbacks, while Andrew Mukuba occupies the other safety position. Britain Covey remains the top punt returner, and Will Shipley leads the kickoff-return group.
Position

#dalton

Saturday's game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs brought answers and left us with some significant questions.
There remain two exhibition games to collect information ahead of the page turning to the regular season. If searching for answers to the leftover burning questions, these are the areas I would start:
Despite watching Xavier Smith quite literally fumble away the NFC Championship game last season, he returns as LA's primary punt returner. The Rams had all offseason to either bring in competition or consider alternatives. Instead, they seem ready to run it back with Smith.
But why? Smith brings little upside to the return role, even if he did break a longer return for one of the most important plays in Saturday's game in KC. Can the Rams maximize a roster spot by identifying a player who can contribute more as a returner and elsewhere?
I'd start with receiver Brennan Presley, who played well in the 2025 exhibition games and then led the Rams in receiving yards against the Chiefs. Presley has a similarly sized frame and close skillset to Smith. He seems to be a more productive receiver and the team risks nothing by experimenting with him as a punt returner. Presley already returned kicks in the preseason opener. Push his limits and see what he is capable of.

#exhibition

The Auburn Tigers have made a last-minute addition to their roster, signing former Troy wide receiver Tray Taylor. He is already listed on their online roster.
Taylor recently received a fifth year of eligibility and is another veteran presence for first-year head coach Alex Golesh. He was a contributor at Troy last year, catching 30 passes for 499 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 55 yards and another touchdown on 10 carries.
He started his career at Tyler Junior College, spending two years at the JUCO level before joining the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers ahead of the 2024 season. He was named a Second-Team JUCO All-American as a sophomore after leading Tyler with 39 catches for 850 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023.
Taylor caught 18 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown in his only season at Coastal Carolina. He also carried the ball six times for 58 yards. He handled punt and kick return duties for the Chanticleers as well, averaging 13.5 yards per return on punts and 14.1 yards on kickoffs.
While he returned just one punt last season at Troy, he could also factor in the return game at Auburn. He is listed at 5-foot-6, 150 pounds and is from Shreveport, Louisiana.

#taylor #year #auburn #tyler

Things can change very quickly in the NFL, and one former Oregon Duck learned that the hard way.
Former Ducks wide receiver Traeshon Holden was cut by the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, according to Dallas Morning News reporter Joseph Hoyt. The Cowboys signed Holden as an undrafted free agent in 2025. The move to release him from the roster opens up a spot for the future Hall of Fame edge rusher Von Miller, who the Cowboys agreed to a contract on Monday.
Holden quickly became a fan favorite with the Cowboys in training camp last year. He made some plays in the preseason, but he truly impressed fans and the coaching staff in training camp to earn a spot on the practice squad in Dallas, where he spent all of last season.
Coming into his second season, Holden was expected to contend for a roster spot, but he had a tough showing in the team's first preseason game on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. Holden didn't catch any passes and **** ed a punt, resulting in a turnover. Undrafted rookie Camden Brown caught two touchdowns as well, making Holden an easier name to let go of.
While he won't be staying in Dallas, Holden could catch on somewhere else. His speed and ability to make tough catches intrigued the Cowboys enough to keep him on the practice squad last year, and another team could have a similar feeling and keep him on the roster.

#dallas #Monday #former #undrafted

It feels like every year there are a few "training camp darlings," players who catch the eyes of coaches, media, and fans alike as they show glimpses of what could possibly be during the regular season.
Through the first few weeks of Jets camp, it's clear that receiver Isaiah Williams is one of those players.
Williams is no stranger to his teammates or to fans. In fact, he was named the Jets' team MVP in 2025 for his work as a returner. During his first season in New York, Williams had 396 punt return yards and two touchdowns, plus an additional 837 yards as a kick returner.
But the 25-year-old has been making his mark during this year's camp as a receiving option, making his share of standout plays.
"Training camp's been going great," Williams said on Monday. "It's been good to just every day go out there compete against our defense. Last week it was good to go out and compete against the Bucs, but it's been good. For me, my main focus right now is just enduring myself to my teammates, making my teammates better every single day, and along the process getting better."

#williams #every #making #training

The Atlanta Falcons released offensive lineman Layden Robinson and punter Matthew Hayball from their 90-man training camp roster, the team announced before Monday's practice. Since Hayball was Atlanta's designated international player, he did not take up an active roster spot.
Robinson, 25, was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and appeared in 13 games (11 starts) as a rookie. Robinson was waived/injured by New England early in the 2025 season and later spent time on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.
Hayball signed with the Falcons in free agency and suited up for the team's preseason opener. The former Saint punted the ball four times for 178 total yards (44.5 yards per attempt).
The Falcons have one open roster spot available, so we wouldn't be surprised to see them to sign someone on Monday afternoon. Check out the team's updated 90-man roster below.
Michael Penix Jr. (9)

#yards #atlanta

The Los Angeles Rams added a punter to their roster Sunday, signing Jack Bouwmeester days after the San Francisco 49ers waived him, per NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco.
Bouwmeester, 27, qualifies for the NFL's International Player Pathway program as an Australian national, meaning the Rams can carry him without counting him against the 90-man roster limit. If he eventually lands on the practice squad, the same exemption applies there, giving Los Angeles an extra body at the position without sacrificing a spot it would otherwise need for a different role.
That gives the Rams two punters in camp, but it's not expected to be a competition. Ethan Evans, a seventh-round pick in 2023, remains firmly entrenched as the starter. Evans punted 50 times for a 46.3-yard gross average and a 38.0 net average in 2025, dropping 20 punts inside the 20 with a long of 68 yards. He's started every game since he was drafted.
Bouwmeester's path to the Rams ran through three college programs. He spent time at Michigan State, Utah and Texas. Across stops, he punted 213 times for 9,338 yards, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2023 and a second-team All-Big 12 nod in 2024. He went undrafted this spring, signed with San Francisco and was waived Aug. 12, one day before the 49ers' preseason opener.
The Rams open the regular season against the 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, marking the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia. Bouwmeester grew up in Bendigo, roughly two hours north of Melbourne, and would face his former team in his home country if he's still with the Rams by then.

#without

It doesn't take much for Bailey Ettridge to put things in perspective for himself while living out a dream and competing for a starting spot on Oregon football's makeshift practice fields outside the Ducks' in-progress state-of-the-art indoor practice facility aside Autzen Stadium.
Not even two years ago, the 28-year-old transfer punter was doing that same work in Australia — using torches and plasma cutters to size metal pieces, joining metals and doing various other construction work — though not on any projects of quite that scale.
"When I look out there, I'm like, I could still be doing that in Australia," Ettridge said. "I'm here on the other side, watching them do it, playing football."
One year ago, Ettridge had never played in front a crowd of over 500, had never played in a college football game and until halfway through 2025, had not truly considered punting in America as wholly viable.
The Geelong, Australia-born Ettridge had been playing Australia rules football since he was 5 years old and started work in construction at the age of 16.

#playing

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football's 2026 roster is making a late addition.
Safety Caleb Wooden is re-joining the Razorbacks' roster for the upcoming season, Wooden confirmed to the Southwest Times, adding he will return to campus this week. Best of Arkansas Sports originally reported Wooden's inclusion in Ryan Silverfield's plans. The university has not announced his place on the roster.
Wooden began his career at Auburn before transferring to Arkansas for his senior season in 2025. He was out of eligibility until a recent injunction from a federal court ruled all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27.
Wooden made 11 starts for Arkansas last fall. He tallied 59 total tackles, including three tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.
His best game with the Hogs came on the road against LSU. Wooden tied for a team-high seven tackles while also returning a blocked punt for a touchdown.

#wooden #roster

The Los Angeles Rams signed punter Jack Bouwmeester on Sunday, giving them two on the 90-man roster headed into their second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints this week. Bouwmeester is Australian and qualifies for the league's international pathway program exemption, meaning that the Rams can control his rights without him counting against their practice squad limits.
Ethan Evans continues to be one of the best punters in the NFL, so this signing would seemingly not be a threat to his job.
Bouwmeester, 27, played college football for Michigan State, Utah, and Texas. He went undrafted this year and signed with the San Francisco 49ers, but was waived last week. He was first-team All-Pac 12 in 2023 and second-team All-Big 12 in 2024.
Special teams has been a longstanding problem for Sean McVay, so maybe Bouwmeester just gives L.A. more options moving forward, and maybe if Evans is dealing with any issues, he gives the team a punter for the rest of the preseason.
If the Rams want, they can keep Bouwmeester on their practice squad after final cuts, without counting against their 16-man limit, until they or another team put him on their 53.

#evans #punter #week

As we continue to navigate our way through all of the college football awards preseason watch lists, the latest is the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the college player judged to be the most versatile. We've seen plenty of Ohio State representation throughout these announcements, and that's the case as well with the Paul Hornung Award. Wide Receiver Brandon Inniss was among the names on the preseason watch list released by the Louisville Sports Commission.
Inniss not only hauled in 35 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns last season, but he also played a major role on special teams with five kick returns totaling 55 yards and 17 punt returns for 181 yards. His work in returning kicks landed him on the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention team. Inniss was also one of four captains on last year's team and will be embarking on his senior season.
The Paul Hornung Award has been around since the 2010 season, with no Buckeye ever taking the award home. The winner of the award will be announced sometime in late December after the list is pared down to three finalists in early December.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State receiver named on the Paul Hornung preseason watch list

#ohio #inniss