Six NFL practice squads are taking shape after the 53-man cuts, with a slate of players connected to local roots landing on rosters’ perimeters. Jalyn Holmes returns to Washington’s practice squad after a Lake Taylor High/Ohio State background, Antwaun Powell-Ryland lands with Philadelphia, LaMareon James joins Cleveland, and Cole Christiansen signs with Kansas City. Rick Lovato signs with Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh brings Chuck Clark back to the active roster. These depth moves carry potential late-season impact and special-teams value for fantasy managers tracking rosters closely.

Local ties aren’t the only thread here; the Cowboys’ and Browns’ practice squads highlight how teams preserve veteran depth and development-projection in a volatile cap environment. For fantasy, the key takeaway is depth-chart instability at multiple positions, meaning sleepers on practice squads could ascend if promoted, while immediate Week 1 value remains limited for most.

Pittsburgh took a measured step to harden the left side of its special-teams unit by inviting four free-agent long snappers after Christian Kuntz suffered a chest injury in Saturday’s preseason clash with Tampa Bay. Rick Lovato, Jake McQuaide, Taybor Pepper, and Patrick Scales worked out for the Steelers, underscoring how seriously Pittsburgh guards the snap. Mike Tomlin offered cautious optimism on Kuntz’s recovery, leaving the door open for a veteran addition or internal options as the Steelers prepare for a third 2025 preseason tilt against Carolina.

These workouts spotlight a position that rarely moves fantasy needles, but the decision could influence field-position dynamics and punt timing in early-season practice. With the Panthers on deck, Pittsburgh aims to stabilize the operation quickly. Steelers coverage teams and coaches will monitor who can provide consistency and game-ready snaps while Kuntz recovers, keeping fans glued to any late-in-preseason news on @TheSteelersWire.

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed long snapper Charley Hughlett to a one-year contract, likely indicating the end of Rick Lovato's long tenure with the team. Lovato, a free agent and former Pro Bowler, had spent the last nine seasons with the Eagles, contributing to two Super Bowl victories. Hughlett, who previously played for the Cleveland Browns, has a decade of NFL experience but spent most of last season on injured reserve due to a rib injury.

Hughlett's signing comes amid concerns regarding kicker Jake Elliott's performance last season, where he missed six attempts from beyond 50 yards. While Elliott rebounded during the playoffs, including a perfect Super Bowl performance, the Eagles are taking steps to solidify their special teams unit, beginning with the addition of Hughlett.

This season, several NFL players with ties to Virginia have made notable contributions to their teams. Players like Joey Blount of the Arizona Cardinals and Tremaine Edmunds of the Chicago Bears have seen varying levels of action, with some starting games and others primarily contributing on special teams.

In addition, several players are currently on injured reserve or have not yet appeared in games, such as Hendon Hooker of the Detroit Lions and Dalton Keene of the Houston Texans. Overall, the impact of these Virginia-connected players is being closely monitored as the season progresses.