Latest news with #specialteams
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets roster move leaves position battle decided for now
The New York Jets made an under-the-surface roster move on Monday which could hold significance. The Jets claimed cornerback Ryan Cooper off of waivers from the Miami Dolphins. The corresponding move is worth noting. To make room for Cooper, pinter Kai Kroeger was released. Kroeger was one of two punters on New York's roster. He was competing with Austin McNamara for the starting job on special teams and now McNamara is the presumed starter for the Jets... as he's the team's only punter right now. McNamara signed with the Jets in March after competing for the Cincinnati Bengals' gig in training camp last year. Kroeger was a rookie undrafted free agent who punted at South Carolina for five seasons (2020-24). McNamara is known as a punter with a powerful leg, but he will still have to perform in training camp if he hopes to earn the starting job. He went undrafted out of Texas Tech last season and has yet to appear in a regular season game. Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout training camp. This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets roster move leaves position battle decided for now
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Andy Reid works his magic as he plots surprise position change for Chiefs wide receiver
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid may be continuing his magic touch at the helm one of the NFL's premier franchises, as a position change for one of his star wide receivers may be in the books. After a successful rookie season, wideout Xavier Worthy may take on the added role of being the Chiefs' primary punt returner. Worthy is known as one of the NFL's fastest players after breaking the 40-yard dash record at last year's league scouting combine. Now, those elusive skills may be used to add another layer of skill to the Chiefs' special teams corps. Worthy's possible special teams role would be critical, as he would help one of the NFL's most-lethal offenses get in good positions before they even step onto the field. 'Punt return, I'll do anything the team needs me to do, however they need me to do it.' Worthy said last weekend of the possibility. On the Chiefs' latest depth chart, fellow wide receiver Nikko Remigio has been penciled in as the team's punt returner. Those decisions are very much not made with permanent ink. Worthy became the heir-apparent to the Chiefs' No 1 receiver role after Rashee Rice went down with a season-ending injury last year. The former Texas Longhorn has 59 receptions for 638 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He also had zero punt returns. Reid has used his star wide receivers in the past as punt returners, deciding to take the risk of having them on the field more when not catching passes. Those who have been elevated to special-teams duty by Reid in the past include Tyreek Hill and DeSean Jackson, who both fit the mold of wide receivers Worthy can project to become.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Brenden Schooler Vying To Become Patriots' Next Special Teams Captain
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The longest tenures left in the kicking game are no longer left in the kicking game. But a successor has emerged for the New England Patriots following the retirement of Matthew Slater and release of Joe Cardona in back-to-back offseasons. Brenden Schooler is in waiting as the next special teams captain. It's atop the list of goals for the 28-year-old as training camp begins in Foxborough. 'I think more of a leadership role,' Schooler told reporters during his Tuesday press conference at Gillette Stadium. 'I know I kind of talked about it last year, as well, but Joe Cardona was still here and he was that seasoned vet in the special teams room. So to kind of be thrusted into that role, I'm very excited about that, and to hopefully get to wear a 'C' on my chest and be elected by these guys on the team.' Schooler finds himself on the doorstep of his fourth NFL season. A run that began as an undrafted free agent following stints with the Oregon Ducks, Arizona Wildcats and Texas Longhorns has gone on to span 50 games. He went from a PFWA All-Rookie selection in 2022 to an NFLPA All-Pro selection in 2023. And in 2024, Pro Bowl and AP first-team All-Pro honors arrived under special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer. 'When it comes to punt, punt return on the perimeter, anybody who has any questions, I want to be that guy,' Schooler said. 'I had great mentors like Cody Davis, Matthew Slater, Justin Bethel, even Joe Cardona when it comes to rushes on punt. Just taking those guys under my wing and showing them all the ways that I learned.' Schooler reached agreement on a three-year, $9 million contract extension with the Patriots last October. The deal through 2027 carries $3.6 million guaranteed as well as a max value of $10.5 million. 'Any way I can be a role model to those guys and be a teacher,' Schooler said of his teammates in the transitional phase. 'I'm still trying to be a student of the game. If I learn something new, I want to teach them something new, too. Just trying to be that guy in the room now that's kind of the quote, unquote 'old head' now and I've seen a lot of ball out there. It's crazy I'm only going into Year 4, but these guys look at me like I'm an old guy.' Schooler has amassed 1,115 snaps on special teams for New England. From Bill Belichick to Jerod Mayo and now Mike Vrabel as head coach, his stay includes 40 tackles to go with four fumble recoveries, one blocked field goal and one blocked punt. And as a blitzing safety in the 'Longhorn' package, Schooler saw the initial 52 downs of his career on defense last campaign. That situational role, which he hopes to expand upon, brought sacks against the Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams and Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa. A team-high 86.5% of the workload on special teams was also logged. 'As long as the leaders who are supposed to be leaders on the team are your best players on the field, then those guys are going to raise the standard and raise the bar,' added Schooler. 'If you're not meeting that standard, if you're not rising to the occasion, then I think we're going to have a hard time. And so, to be that guy and to hold that standard, that's something that I take very personal. I want to be that guy. I want to be part of something great that we're going to build here. 'It's about the guys on the team who are going to hold the standard, and those need to be your best players who are going to be on the field day in and day out. To wear that 'C' on my chest, it's a huge deal, especially being at this level. Coming in as a guy who was undrafted to hopefully get to wear a 'C' on my chest, that would be a huge honor. I wouldn't want to let anybody down who got to wear that before me, who's going to wear that after me, so it's about holding that standard and keeping that tradition alive here of dominant football.' New England's first practice of training camp is set for Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. ET.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tennessee Titans LB Anfernee Orji has a different way to prepare for the season
The Tennessee Titans claimed linebacker Anfernee Orji off waivers from the New Orleans Saints in May to add some competition to the inside linebacker position and add a depth player with special-teams prowess. On Friday, the young linebacker joined Good Morning Football to discuss his offseason and why he chose to step away from the game to become a substitute teacher in his home state of Texas. 'I always say, like, I'm an odd person,' Orji said. 'For some reason, I was like, I want to substitute teach. I feel like if I just do football camp, I can only reach the kids who come to the camp, which is mainly male athletes and football players. But substitute teaching, I can reach all kinds of kids, I can have an impact on more kids' lives.' Advertisement When he's not battling middle schoolers, the former undrafted rookie free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2023 is preparing for his first training camp in Nashville, where he has a chance to compete for playing time in a wide-open inside linebacker battle. Initially signed by the New Orleans Saints, Orji worked his way up to the active roster in 2024 and made an impact, becoming a vital cog on the Saints' special teams. He saw action on 82 percent of those snaps over 16 games and finished the season with 30 tackles. That experience could pay off in Tennessee, with the Titans completely overhauling their special teams units during the offseason. Orji will have a chance to leave the classroom and show off his talents when the Titans open training camp on July 22. This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans LB Anfernee Orji has a different way to prepare for the season
New York Times
21-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Jaylon Johnson, Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett lead experienced Chicago Bears defense into camp
When the Chicago Bears hit the field for training camp this week, a lot of the names on defense and special teams will be the same. That should be a good thing. Despite the struggles in the second half of the season, the Bears still finished 12th in the league in defensive EPA (expected points added) per snap in 2024, according to TruMedia. They return nearly every starter, and added two-time Pro Bowl player Grady Jarrett at defensive tackle, ascending defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and second-rounder Shemar Turner. Advertisement Safety Jaquan Brisker returns. Defensive end Montez Sweat wants to forget about last season. There's a lot to like about the defensive roster, and then you add a veteran defensive play caller in Dennis Allen, and this group should be loud and active during summer practices. What Allen, head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will want to see is which young players can step up. Here's Part II of our look at the Bears' roster: defense and special teams. Montez Sweat — Asked about attending OTAs, Sweat said in May, 'Coming off a disappointing year, I thought it was important to be here.' He knows 2024 wasn't up to his standards. He wasn't healthy, either. How much can that motivation help get Sweat back to his '23 production? Dayo Odeyingbo — A lot hinges on Odeyingbo. He secured a substantial contract and had no one to compete with as Sweat's complement. He has got the size and the wiring to be successful. Dominique Robinson — Having been active for only six games last season, and entering Year 4 with two career sacks, Robinson should be a 'bubble' player. However, he had an impressive spring. Keep an eye on him for the No. 3 role. Austin Booker — Last preseason, he had 2 1/2 sacks and four QB hits. That didn't translate to a standout rookie year (1 1/2 sacks), but he's in line for the good ol' Year 2 bump. Daniel Hardy — The preseason league leader in sacks (3 1/2), Hardy blocked a punt and forced a fumble on special teams in 2024. Jamree Kromah — The James Madison product had two QB hits last preseason. Jereme Robinson — He had 5 1/2 sacks last year at Kansas and will be among those vying for practice-squad spots. Xavier Carlton — Fans are going to notice Carlton at Halas Hall. Why? He's nearly 6 foot 6 with 34 5/8-inch arms. Now we'll see what that means on the field. Grady Jarrett — Fans might hear Jarrett more often than they see the 6-1 Pro Bowl player. He's going to have a massive impact in the locker room and make everything easier for his linemates. And it wouldn't be a surprise to see him mix it up during practices. Gervon Dexter — It might be easy to forget that Dexter led the team in QB hits last season. Put him in a new scheme with better players around him, and what's his ceiling? Advertisement Shemar Turner — There's no doubting Turner loves the game. He should be a fun player to watch, given his personality and versatility. Andrew Billings — The veteran should have less pressure to perform this season because of the added depth, but he's still a stalwart. Chris Williams — He has the 24th-highest cap hit, which might not be reflected in his snap counts, but Williams had a career year and can be a valuable rotational player. Zacch Pickens — Could the third-rounder be the odd man out? Injuries have hampered him, and a bunch of players are in front of him on the depth chart. It's a crucial summer for Pickens. Jonathan Ford — In his first game as a Bear, Ford had a pair of tackles for loss. He is the largest (6-5, 346 pounds) player on the Bears. Tremaine Edmunds — Few Bears elicited more disappointment from fans last season than Edmunds. It's a new scheme, a better line in front of him, and he's still only 27. T.J. Edwards — He had quite the spring: a new contract, another Piccolo Award. He, too, can benefit from what Allen's defense does for linebackers. Ruben Hyppolite II — His speed helped get him drafted. His maturity and professionalism are already winning over the coaches. Noah Sewell — If he can avoid a training camp injury, don't be shocked if Sewell wins the strongside linebacker spot. He had a solid spring. Amen Ogbongbemiga — Special teams stalwart returns to lead Richard Hightower's coverage units. Carl Jones — Will vie once again for preseason leader in tackles (18 last summer). Power Echols — Dane Brugler's 32nd-ranked linebacker, Echols has the second-best name among the linebackers. Swayze Bozeman — Best name in the linebackers room. Jaylon Johnson — He's now a two-time Pro Bowl player, but Johnson still will surely note which corners rank ahead of him on summer lists, and he is still seeking a playoff win. Now he gets to follow the opponent's top receiver, too. Kyler Gordon — 'Spider-Man' received a well-deserved contract extension. Next up? A Pro Bowl. Staying on the field for a full season will help. Advertisement Tyrique Stevenson — There's a significant variance for Stevenson, who will want to do everything he can not to be defined by last season. He has the makings of a corner who can thrive under Allen and defensive backs coach Al Harris. Can he be consistent? Josh Blackwell — A valuable player on special teams and as the backup nickel, Blackwell has proven to be one of Poles' best finds. Terell Smith — Can Smith stay healthy? It's been the one knock on his career because when he's on the field, he impresses his coaches. Zah Frazier — A 6-3 cornerback will attract some eyeballs at training camp. We didn't get to see Frazier in the spring, and soon we'll see if he's providing a glimpse into the future at the position. Nick McCloud — Fun fact: McCloud led the NFL in 2023 with three fumble recoveries on special teams. Shaun Wade — A Ravens fifth-rounder, Wade hasn't played in a game since 2023. Nahshon Wright — A Cowboys third-rounder in 2021, Wright played in one game last season. At 6-4, the size is intriguing. Ameer Speed — A Patriots sixth-rounder, Speed played in two games for the Bears last season. Jeremiah Walker — He's the team's most recent signee, having joined the Bears in May. Jaquan Brisker — One of the major storylines of camp will be Brisker's return. He's motivated and is going to be loud. He wants to prove himself to everyone. That could work out well for the secondary — if he stays healthy. Kevin Byard — The NFL stopped tracking 'ironmen' stats, but Byard would be on the list. The only 'game' he's missed in his career was due to having two byes after getting traded in 2023. Jonathan Owens — An undrafted player from Missouri Western State, who appeared in 14 games his first three seasons, could have easily been churned out of the league. Instead, he's rattled off three consecutive 17-game seasons and is a core special-teams player. Advertisement Elijah Hicks — The 2022 seventh-round pick has a lot of game experience, but he will have to fend off the undrafted rookies. Tarvarius Moore — You might have lost the bet if you took the under on games played for Moore in 2024. He played in 11 and brings plenty of special-teams experience. Major Burns — The best name in the secondary, Burns might have the best shot of an undrafted rookie to make the team. Tysheem Johnson — Or Johnson is best equipped to make the 53 with his versatility after a productive career at Oregon. Alex Cook — Cook was Gordon's college teammate. Cook didn't play in a game last season. Cairo Santos — It's not easy to kick at Soldier Field. Santos knows how to handle it. He missed only one extra point last season. Maybe he can't hit a 60-yarder, but Santos is 19 for 22 from 50-plus since 2022. Tory Taylor — He set franchise records as a rookie and should only continue to be a weapon. Scott Daly — The Downers Grove native stepped in nicely as the long snapper last season, replacing the previous longest-tenured player (Patrick Scales). Jonathan Kim — Could we have a kicking competition this summer, or will Kim be the Bears' emergency option throughout the season? Luke Elkin — How fun would a long snapping battle be? More likely, Elkin allows the Bears to let both kickers get their reps in. (Top photo of Montez Sweat, left, and Jaylon Johnson: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
