Seattle Sea Dragons running back Phillip Lindsay has been grinding away in the XFL this year, with his team falling just one game shy of the league’s championship game last Sunday. According to Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette, Lindsay viewed his time with the Sea Dragons as an audition to return to the NFL, where he would like to play at least two more seasons.
Lindsay got to stay local after a college career at Colorado, signing as an undrafted free agent to the Denver Broncos in 2018. He made an immediate impact in the Mile High City, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons with the organization.
Injuries and the reemergence of Melvin Gordon resulted in a down 2020 season for Lindsay, though, and the Broncos rescinded their initial restricted free agent tender on the back after the season ended. He proceeded to bounce from the Houston Texans to the Miami Dolphins to the Indianapolis Colts without ever finding the success he had found in Denver.
Despite being essentially let go by the Broncos, Lindsay actually has Denver at the top of his list for his hopeful return to the NFL. He sees an opportunity with his former squad, as well, given that starter Javonte Williams has had a rocky time rehabbing from a torn ACL.
Lindsay's agent reportedly reached out to Denver and was told that the team wanted to see how the draft panned out before addressing his query. The Broncos did not draft any running backs and have yet to announce any official undrafted free agent signings yet.
The team signed former Bengals running back Samaje Perine and former Saint Tony Jones this offseason and they return Damarea Crockett, Tyler Badie, and Tyreik McAllister from last year. Crockett, Badie, and McAllister don’t account for much, with a combined four career carries for seven yards, while Perine and Jones provide solid backup options behind Williams. Perine is likely to start if Williams is unable to early in the season.
So, the possibility remains for a Lindsay return, if the team is looking for a bit more experienced depth during a potentially lengthy Williams recovery. He put together some XFL film for Denver to consider and will await his opportunities in the meantime.
Here are a few more potential NFL returns out of the XFL to Denver:
- One player the Broncos have reported interest in is Houston Roughnecks outside linebacker Trent Harris, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Harris led the XFL in sacks this season with 9.5 over eight starts. Harris went undrafted in 2018 after collecting 8.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in his final year with the Miami Hurricanes down in South Beach. In 2019, he landed with the Miami Dolphins and totaled 1.5 sacks, 22 tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits, and a forced fumble in 11 appearances (three starts) with the organization. He started two games for the Buffalo Bills the next year and essentially bounced out of the league after short stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. His resurgent year in the XFL has shown that Harris still has plenty of gas left in the tank and plenty of NFL potential. He could have a decent opportunity in Denver, as well, where Dre’Mont Jones led the team with 6.5 sacks in 2022 as Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory dealt with injuries. Harris could provide some solid depth in case the position continues to deal with absences or lack of production. While the Broncos invited him to their rookie minicamp, several other teams have reportedly shown interest, as well.
- Lastly, the Broncos invited Sea Dragons quarterback Ben DiNucci to their rookie minicamp, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. DiNucci, a former Dallas Cowboys passer, was another strong factor that led Seattle to the XFL playoffs. With a completion percentage of nearly 65, DiNucci led the XFL in passing yards with 2,671 while tossing 20 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in 10 starts. A transfer from Pitt after losing his starting job to then-true freshman Kenny Pickett, DiNucci was drafted out of James Madison in the seventh round by the Cowboys in 2020. He played and started in relief of Andy Dalton to discouraging results and was eventually waived by the team. The Broncos appear to be very secure in the quarterbacks room, with Jarrett Stidham and Jarrett Guarantano backing up Russell Wilson, but DiNucci will attempt to show that he still has an NFL-caliber arm this spring in Denver.
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