The USFL will have one of their most extensive showings in Week 17, with 7 players being activated or elevated for the final leg of the season. This week the leagues former players have seen Tae Hayes and Micah Abernathy get poached off practice squads to 53-Man rosters. While Ike Brown, Ramiz Ahmed, and DeMarquis Gates all become elevated for this week’s games, Tucker Addington and KaVontae Turpin remained steady on Active Rosters with their teams.
The USFL player parade was led by KaVontae Turpin for the 17th week in a row. Turpin was one of three former USFL specialist to take the field this week and registered 3 punt returns for 29 yards. Turpin brings his All-Purpose Yards total to 773, 272 yards short of the coveted 1,000-yard threshold.
Former Maulers Kicker Ramiz Ahmed was supposed to take over kickoff duties for Mason Crosby, as the 38-year-old kicker has struggled with injuries and kickoffs all-year however, Ahmed was injured during warm-ups. Former Gamblers Long Snapper Tucker Addington continued a clean season for the Patriots in his second NFL game seeing
Ike Brown was elevated for the first time this season, however, did not dress. Brown has been on the Raiders practice squad the entirety of the 2022 NFL season and was elevated for the first time this season. Brown spent the 2022 USFL season with the New Orleans Breakers.
Former Birmingham Stallions LB DeMarquis Gates also made his 2nd appearance in 2022 NFL season. The All-USFL Linebacker appeared in 15 snaps for the Bears in week 17. Gates has been an alt-league fixture being named to the All-XFL and All-USFL teams in addition to playing in the AAF and CFL in his career. Gates recorded his 1st NFL tackle five years since being undrafted out of Ole Miss.
Roster Moves:
Tae Hayes is joining the Patriots for the final two weeks of the season, after being released by the Panthers in favor of Josh Norman, Hayes was signed to the active roster for the final two weeks of the season on the 31st after signing with the practice squad originally. Hayes had earned $489,776.00 this season with the Panthers. Hayes recorded two tackles in his debut for the Patriots, bringing his total to five for the 2022 season.
The Falcons signed Micah Abernathy to their 53-man roster. Abernathy who originally made the Packers out of camp, has bounced between the practice squad and active roster for most of the season. The former Houston Gambler has appeared in two games this season registering one tackle in 14 snaps this season. Despite being signed to the Falcons 53, he was not active for the Falcons week 17 bout vs the Arizona Cardinals.
Workouts:
Former Tampa Bay Bandits Running Back BJ Emmons was brought in by the Packers for a workout this week. The Packers have gone back-to-back weeks working out USFL running backs as Gamblers running back Mark Thompson in the week prior. Emmons spent 2022 with the NFL’s Houston Texans and the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders before being released by the CFL franchise in late October.
Former Maulers and Current Generals Quarterback Kyle Lauletta was brought in for a workout due to the injury to Tua Tugovailoa. While Teddy Bridgewater is set to start week 17, Lauletta could be an emergency QB option for the team. Lauletta is 0/5 on pass attempts however was 31/63 (49.2%) for 269 yards after 5 stints with NFL teams. Lauletta was a 4th round pick in 2018 by the Giants prior to the drafting of Daniel Jones.
Despite a lot of movement on the transaction wire only Four of the Seven active/elevated players dressed for week 17. For the USFL the number of players to participate in a game remains at eleven despite Ike Browns elevation. With the final week of the season coming up the door remains open for many USFL players like Victor Bolden (Broncos), Ike Brown (Raiders), and Tino Ellis (Dolphins) to make their NFL debuts at the eleventh hour at the end of the season.
