The Green Bay Packers signed punter Daniel Whelan on Wednesday.
Whelan, an Ireland native, averaged 44.0 yards per punt and placed 86 punts inside the 20-yard line over a decorated five-year career at UC-Davis featuring three All-Big Sky selections. As a redshirt senior in 2021, he led the FCS in punting average (46.3 yards).
This year, Whelan (6-6, 227) was named the All-XFL punter after averaging 45.6 yards per punt and placing 11 of his 29 punts inside the 20-yard line for the D.C. Defenders. Only two of his 29 punts resulted in a touchback.
In the XFL title game, Whelan averaged 52.7 yards per punt over three punts, with two inside the 20-yard line and a long of 64.
PFF ranked Whelan as the highest-graded punter during the XFL season. He was second in net punting and first in average hangtime.
Whelan spent part of training camp with the New Orleans Saints last season.
Signing Whelan gives the Packers two punters on the roster. Can Whelan push veteran Pat O’Donnell for a roster spot? The Packers now have at least two specialists — see: competition — at all three special teams positions.
The Packers also announced other roster moves: offensive lineman DJ Scaife was claimed from the Dolphins and cornerback Benjie Franklin was waived.
