The NFL preseason has been incredibly busy for former spring football talent. Players from the UFL, USFL, and XFL have all been making an impact – doing their part in showcasing why these platforms matter.
Aside from the 2026 alumni who shined in week two (which we covered here), there were a plethora of athletes who continued to make a name for themselves in week two from previous seasons. Let’s take a look at who impressed this past weekend.
San Francisco 49ers
QB Adrian Martinez, Birmingham
WR Malik Turner, Michigan
Adrian Martinez, the former UFL MVP in 2024, left his mark in week two of the preseason. He scored a pair of touchdowns on the night (one passing, one rushing) – amassing 67 yards in the 41-17 win. Former Panthers WR Malik Turner did not record any statistics.
Denver Broncos
WR Michael Bandy, Houston
DE Dondrea Tillman, Birmingham
LS Mitchell Fraboni, Pittsburgh
Dondrea Tillman has been a revelation for Denver over the past two seasons. He’s once again earning a roster spot with the organization, totaling four tackles on Friday. Unfortunately, WR Michael Bandy did not dress for their matchup against Green Bay.
New York Jets
OL Liam Fornadel, DC
OL Kohl Levao, San Antonio
DL Jack Heflin, Houston
For a second straight week, Jack Heflin put his name on the stat sheet up front. The journeyman had two tackles in New York’s 17-0 win over Pittsburgh. Kohl Levao, formerly an All-UFL guard with the Brahmas, had an outstanding 83.2 Pass Blocking grade on the night. Fornadel did his thing once again, with a 75.1 Offensive Grade, blocking at a high level while playing center.
Atlanta Falcons
WR Chris Blair, DC
DL LaCale London, St. Louis
Unfortunately, LaCale London was quiet for a second straight week. Former DC Defenders WR Chris Blair stole the show in Atlanta, to no one’s surprise. Blair had two receptions for 37 yards, with both catches resulting in first downs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
WR Brandon Smith, DC
DT Kyler Baugh, St. Louis
LS Christian Kuntz, Dallas
This week, Brandon Smith wasn’t targeted by Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks. Meanwhile Kyler Baugh had a pair of tackles, following a sack last week.
New Orleans Saints
WR Kevin Austin Jr., Birmingham
EDGE Garrett Nelson, San Antonio
DB Jayden Price, Dallas/Arlington
Every week, Austin consistently gets the football thrown his way. Kevin hauled in one reception for 10 yards, on three targets. Garrett Nelson and Jayden Price each had a tackle in the blowout loss.
Dallas Cowboys
WR Kavontae Turpin, New Jersey
DB Josh Butler, Michigan
K Brandon Aubrey, Birmingham
For a second straight week, the Cowboys opted not to play Turpin, saving him for the upcoming season. Brandon Aubrey was on point as always, scoring 10 points. He hit two field goals, one from 50 yards, alongside four extra points.
Josh Butler was also involved defensively, notching a pair of tackles in the 34-13 win over Arizona.
Detroit Lions
RB Jacob Saylors, St. Louis
DB Nick Whiteside II, St. Louis
K Jake Bates, Michigan
Jacob Saylors is proving his value to Detroit as a rusher, something we saw him do efficiently in St. Louis in back to back UFL seasons. Jacob had 32 rushing yards on just six carries, averaging 5.9 YPC. His former Battlehawks teammate, Nick Whiteside, had four tackles in Detroit’s win over Washington. Additionally, Jake Bates was 1-for-2 on field goal attempts.
Cleveland Browns
K Andre Szmyt, St. Louis
LS Rex Sunahara, San Antonio
It was a quiet day for Cleveland’s specialists, as Andre Szmyt only trotted out for one extra point attempt.
Other UFL To NFL Performances
Wildcats QB Josh Johnson, Bengals: Johnson, the veteran, was spinning it this week. He completed 15 of 23 pass attempts for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns, leading the way for Cincinnati’s convincing 27-9 victory over the Bears.
Defenders P Daniel Whelan, Packers: Last week, Whelan had to punt six times. This time, his name was called upon only twice, with Green Bay scoring 33 points. Daniel punted twice for 95 yards, averaging 47.5 yards per punt.
Panthers WR D.J. Montgomery, Colts: Montgomery has been a mainstay on Indianapolis’ practice squad following his quick stint with the Michigan Panthers in 2023. D.J. had one catch for eight yards on Saturday.
Stars WR Maurice Alexander Jr., Bears: After scoring a touchdown last week, Maurice Alexander continued his quality play. He led Chicago with 60 receiving yards, on five catches. Alexander was targeted five times.
Stallions K Harrison Mevis, Rams: Mevis was picture perfect for Los Angeles, scoring 10 of their 34 points. He hit on a couple of chip shot field goals, alongside four extra points.
Renegades OT Ricky Lee, Jaguars: After allowing a couple of sacks a week ago, Ricky had a bounce-back performance for Jacksonville. He played 55 snaps, giving up two pressures and zero sacks.
Long snappers Peter Bowden (Chargers), Tucker Addington (Dolphins), and Nick Muse (Ravens) all played this weekend as well. They were formerly with the Panthers, Gamblers, and Guardians, respectively.
With the amount of former spring football talent that has taken the spotlight, cutdowns will be very intriguing to watch – as coaches will be making very tough decisions. One thing is for certain: these UFL players belong at the highest level.
You can stay up to date on all UFL to NFL signings with our official tracker.
What are your thoughts on these UFL to NFL performances from week two of the preseason? Who did you enjoy watching? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
