Chad

Spann

Spann was signed from the team’s practice squad in January after spending time with the Colts and Bucs prior to that. The two players were expendable after the Steelers drafted RB Chris Rainey and CB Terrence Frederick.

Undrafted out of Northern Illinois, Spann spent time with the Colts and Bucs before landing on the Steelers’ practice squad. His promotion doesn’t bode well for Mewelde Moore’s (knee) availability at Denver. Spann will be third on the depth chart behind Isaac Redman and John Clay.

A onetime favorite of Rookie Scouting Portfolio prospects guru Matt Waldman, Spann went undrafted in 2011 out of Northern Illinois despite earning MAC MVP honors. The Jets haven’t signed Spann yet. He’s still only 24 years old. Per the Newark Star-Ledger, Spann has been impressive on the Jets’ practice field.

Coach Rex Ryan referred to Spann as “that MJD guy” earlier in camp, but the 5-foot-9, 198-pound back didn’t make a preseason impact. Spann has never appeared in an NFL game, and doesn’t appear terribly likely to do so this season.

They placed Garrett Graham (hamstring) and FB Brad Smelley on injured reserve. Spann will be Houston’s No. 4 back in Sunday’s season finale against the Titans, backing up Jonathan Grimes, Deji Karim, and Ray Graham.

Spann, 25 next month, practiced at Gang Green’s rookie minicamp, so the team must have been at least a bit impressed. The former Northern Illinois standout has never appeared in an NFL game, but runs with impressive toughness for his size and showed explosive lateral movement in college. Despite his almost nonexistent resume, Spann is worth monitoring in deep leagues.

With Chris Ivory (hamstring) on the shelf and Mike Goodson (undisclosed) on leave, “carries have materialized” for Spann behind Bilal Powell. Based on Spann’s college tape, he’s a more talented runner than Powell and bears watching in preseason games. The Newark Star-Ledger describes Spann (5'9/198) as a “tiny” back who “cannon-balls through the line of scrimmage.”

Undrafted free agents Chad Spann and David Gilreath entered the exhibition season competing with Moore on kick returns, but impressive rookie Joe Lefeged may have since moved to the head of the pack. Vaughn was a penalty machine at safety. Hartline, Brian’s brother, starred at Kentucky the past few years.

Undrafted out of Rutgers, Lefeged has also been rock solid as a reserve safety. He’s averaged 25.8 yards on four returns, maintaining an edge over WR David Gilreath (20.0) and RB Chad Spann (16.8). Gilreath appears to have punt-return duties locked up.

He’s a free agent now. A favorite of some draftniks, Spann averaged under four yards per carry in the preseason before pulling his hamstring in the exhibition finale. He was beaten out by Delone Carter, Donald Brown, and Darren Evans.