Nearly six years after his final snap at Auburn, tight end Sal Cannella is on the verge of a long-awaited NFL regular-season debut. The Cleveland Browns elevated Cannella from the practice squad on Saturday, setting the stage for him to suit up in Sunday’s divisional clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This move comes as Cleveland navigates a banged-up tight end room. David Njoku has already been ruled out with a knee injury, while rookie Harold Fannin Jr. was limited in Friday’s practice due to a groin issue. That opened the door for Cannella - and after the journey he’s been on, it’s a door he’s more than ready to walk through.
Cannella joined the Browns back in June, fresh off a standout season with the Arlington Renegades in the UFL. He earned All-UFL honors after hauling in 44 catches for 474 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers put him second in the league in receptions and fifth in receiving yards - production that speaks to his reliability and route-running polish in the middle of the field.
Despite a solid preseason with Cleveland - nine catches for 67 yards over three games - Cannella didn’t make the initial 53-man roster. But unlike his previous NFL stops, the Browns saw enough to keep him around on the practice squad. That’s no small thing for a player who’s been grinding for years to crack a regular-season roster.
Cannella’s path has taken him through just about every spring league opportunity out there. After closing out his Auburn career with a 37-yard touchdown from Bo Nix in the 2020 Outback Bowl, he spent time in The Spring League, the USFL, the XFL, and now the UFL. And at every stop, he’s produced.
In 2022, he earned All-USFL honors with the New Orleans Breakers, catching 34 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season. He followed that up with a monster outing in the playoffs - 12 catches for 154 yards in a semifinal loss to the Birmingham Stallions. That performance helped earn him a training camp invite from the Green Bay Packers, where he caught three passes for 31 yards in the final two preseason games before being waived.
The following year, Cannella joined the Arlington Renegades in the XFL’s return season and played a key role in their championship run. In the title game against the D.C. Defenders, he racked up 71 yards on four receptions, including a 41-yard touchdown that helped seal the 35-26 victory.
When the USFL and XFL merged into the United Football League in 2024, Cannella returned to Arlington and didn’t miss a beat. He led the league with six touchdown receptions, finished third in catches (53), and was fifth in receiving yards (497). It was yet another reminder that Cannella has the skills to contribute at a high level - and he’s done it consistently, even if the NFL doors haven’t fully opened until now.
This year, he also had a stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during training camp and preseason, catching two passes for 16 yards before being waived. But once again, he went back to work with the Renegades, continuing to sharpen his game.
Now, at 28 years old, Cannella is finally getting his shot. And it’s not just a feel-good story - it’s a testament to persistence, development, and a player who’s made the most of every opportunity, even when the odds were stacked against him.
He’s not the only one getting a call-up this weekend. Former Auburn offensive tackle Jack Driscoll has been elevated from the Steelers’ practice squad for the third straight game.
Though he dressed for the last two, he didn’t see action. If Pittsburgh wants to have him available again after this week, they’ll need to sign him to the active 53-man roster - NFL rules limit practice squad elevations to three per season per player.
Seattle also made a move, elevating former Alabama offensive lineman Amari Kight. The Thompson High School product is hitting his third elevation as well.
Kight has already made his NFL debut, logging a pair of offensive snaps and six special teams reps back in September against the Cardinals. He also saw the field for two special teams plays in Seattle’s overtime win over the Rams on Dec.
But the headline here is Cannella. Sunday could mark the next chapter in a football journey that’s taken him across leagues, coasts, and continents of doubt. And now, finally, the NFL stage is calling.