After a relatively steady start to the NFL season at the snapping position, things have started to change and change quickly. Two experienced snappers played this week due to injuries to existing snappers.
Veteran snapper Thomas Gafford was signed by the Broncos to replace client Casey Kreiter who has a calf injury. Tyler Ott was first added to the Bengals practice squad and later promoted to the active roster for Clark Harris as he recovers from a groin injury. Rick Lovato of the Redskins snapped for the second straight week with Nick Sundberg still recovering from a back injury. Kreiter, Harris and Sundberg are all expected back soon.
Before Ott was signed by the Bengals, he was chosen from a tryout group that also included John DePalma, Ryan DiSalvo and Gafford. Jeff Overbaugh was also a participant at the Redskins tryout before Lovato was signed.
Four snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week. Aaron Brewer (Cardinals) and Nolan Frese (Seahawks) had solo tackles, while Don Muhlbach (Lions) and Kyle Nelson (49ers) had assisted tackles. Frese also had a forced fumble on his tackle and, in perhaps the most important plays of the week by a snapper, James Winchester of the Chiefs recovered a fumbled punt late in the victory against the Broncos.
The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Twelve is below.
Longsnap.com 