A look at Hawkeyes on NFL preseason depth charts
The NFL preseason kicked off last week with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, OH. That marks the beginning of the NFL season, while this week, the preseason schedule really gets underway with games being played Thursday through Sunday. That means a number of former Iowa football players will be taking the field. Some Hawkeyes have their spot on the roster locked up, while for some, the preseason is an opportunity to show that they to deserve to be with the team for week one. We take a look at NFL depth charts as they get released ahead of the start of the preseason slate.
THURSDAY
Houston Texans vs New England Patriots
NB Desmond King (Houston), SLB Christian Kirksey (Houston)
– King is listed as the starting nickelback and second string cornerback on the preseason depth chart. According to reports, he has also been fielding punts in practice.
– Kirksey is entering his tenth year in the league and is set to have a decent role in the Texans defense. He will be in the conversation for a starting spot this season, but a hamstring injury could leave him out of Thursday’s game. Denzel Perryman and Blake Cashman have the starting spots at LB on the current dpeth chart.
Minnesota Vikings vs Seattle Seahawks
TE TJ Hockenson (Minnesota), TE Noah Fant (Seattle)
– Hockenson is the starting tight end for the Vikings this season and it’s not up for debate. With that being the case, he may not see much preseason action.
– Noah Fant caught 50 passes last season, but is in a crowded TE room in Seattle. Will Dissly is the starter on the depth chart, while Fant is listed on second team with Tyler Mabry. Preseason games will be important for Fant to keep his spot as one of the top options.
FRIDAY
Green Bay Packers vs Cincinnati Bengals
OLB Lukas Van Ness (Green Bay), RB Tyler Goodson (Green Bay)
– The rookie first round draft pick Van Ness is going to get his first NFL game reps on Friday against the Bengals. He is listed as second team OLB behind Preston Smith. The preseason is the perfect chance for Lukas to force his way into the Packers rotation, especially with Smith still working his way back from an ACL tear.
– Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are 1-2 in Green Bay, but the battle for RB3 is up in the air. According to reports, Tyler Goodson has been putting together some good performances during training camp. If he can continue that through the preseason, he could find himself on the week one roster.
Atlanta Falcons vs Miami Dolphins
TE Parker Hesse (Atlanta)
– The former defensive lineman at Iowa, Parker Hesse is listed as the second string tight end behind starter Kyle Pitts. If he can solidfy the TE2 role, he will see the field for a reasonable amount of snaps.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RG James Daniels (Pittsburgh), OT Tristan Wirfs (Tampa Bay), OLB Anthony Nelson (Tampa Bay), S Kaevon Merriweather (Tampa Bay)
– Couple of offensive line starters on the preseason depth chart. Daniels was listed as the starter at RG for the Steelers, while Tristan Wirfs is the starter at LT for the Bucs. That likely means their snaps in this game are going to be very limited.
– Anthony Nelson is listed as the second team OLB behind Shaq Barrett, which means he is likely in for a solid role this season. Rookie safety Kaevon Merriweather is listed at third string, but will be battling rookies Kedrick Whitehead, Christian Izien and Avery Young for a roster spot.
New York Giants vs Detroit Lions
LS Casey Kreiter (NYG), SS Dane Belton (NYG), TE Sam LaPorta (Detroit), LB Jack Campbell (Detroit), OT Matt Nelson (Detroit)
– Casey Kreiter was listed as the first team long snapper on the Giants depth chart, while Dane Belton was listed as second team strong safety behind Jason Pinnock. He had a highlight play in joint practice yesterday, where he stripped Lions RB David Montgomery and returned it for a touchdown.
– LB Jack Campbell and TE Sam LaPorta were both listed on second team in the preseason depth chart, but both will get significant snaps to change that going into the season. Various reports suggest that both of them are impressing in camp and could be the starters by the time week one rolls around.
– Matt Nelson has his work cut out for him to make the roster at offensive tackle. Taylor Decker and recent signing Bobby Hart appear to be battling for the starting job, which drops Nelson to third team going into the preseason.
Denver Broncos vs Arizona Cardinals
ILB Josey Jewell (Denver), RCB Riley Moss (Denver), ILB Seth Benson (Denver), WR Brandon Smith (Arizona)
– Josey Jewell is listed as the starter for the Broncos at ILB to start the preseason. Riley Moss is listed the backup behind Damarri Mathis, but will miss the entire preseason with a sports hernia injury. Seth Benson is listed as a third string inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Drew Sanders. As an undrafted free agent, Benson will get the chance to show what he can do during the preseason.
– Brandon Smith will be fighting for his life during the presason. He was signed by the Cardinals after a short stint in the XFL, but five of the six WR roster spots seem to be pretty certain. He could end up being a practice squad player.
SATURDAY
Indianapolis Colts vs Buffalo Bills
S Micah Hyde (Buffalo), DE AJ Epenesa (Buffalo), OG Ike Boettger (Buffalo)
– Micah Hyde is back as the first team safety after missing most of last season with an injury, while AJ Epenesa is the second string defensive end behind Von Miller. Head coach Sean McDermott said recently that AJE is a “pivotal piece to our success” and has been “dialed in” in practice.
– Ike Boettger started 17 games over 2020 and 2021, but an achilles injury in late 2021 limited him to just 11 snaps last season. The Bills retooled the offensive line over the offseason and all the sudden Boettger is going to be fighting to make the roster. He was listed as the third string LG and will likely have to beat out David Edwards for a roster spot.
Tennessee Titans vs Chicago Bears
S Amani Hooker (Titans), K Caleb Shudak (Titans), DT Jaleel Johnson (Titans), ILB Ben Niemann (Titans), CB Michael Ojemudia (Chicago)
– Amani Hooker and Caleb Shudak both landed as starters on the Titans initial depth chart, while the surprise was defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson. After bouncing around with four teams, including the Falcons and Texans practice squad last year, the assumption was that he would be fighting for a roster spot. Instead, he is listed as the second team option behind Jeffrey Simmons.
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– Ben Niemann has been a solid rotational piece at linebacker over his NFL career, including nine starts and 70 tackles last year with the Cardinals. That’s why it is interesting to see him as third string option at OLB behind Azeez Al-Shaair and Chance Campbell. He should make the roster, but his spot on the dpeth chart doesn’t make it a lock.
– Michael Ojemudia has some work to do during the preseason. With only six corners likely to make the roster and his name landing on the fourth team, he is on the wrong side to make the team. He will battle Greg Stroman Jr and Josh Blackwell, as well as Jaylon Jones, Macon Clark and Kindle Vildor. Only two of those six will make the team.
New York Jets vs Carolina Panthers
NB Greg Mabin (Carolina)
– Mabin is on his sixth team and is entering his seventh year in the league. The Panthers signed Greg in June and have him listed as the third string nickelback. He has some work to do to make the roster and will be battling Stanley Thomas-Oliver during the preseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Dallas Cowboys
OG Brandon Scherff (Jags), QB CJ Beathard (Jags), OT Coy Cronk (Jags), DT Chauncey Golston (Dallas)
– Brandon Scherff is listed as the starting offensive guard to help protect Trevor Lawrence this season. He didn’t have a great year last year, but rookie Cooper Hodges is the only name chasing him on the depth chart. Coy Cronk is listed as the third string option at LT behind Cam Robinson and Walker Little, but should make the roster.
– Chauncey Golston is entering his third year with the Cowboys and is listed as the third team option at defensive tackle behind Osa Odighizuwa, however, Reid Hanson of CowboysWire says that Golston is more likely to get the backup spot behind Neville Gallimore. Preseason games will be the time where Chauncey can lock up his backup role.
Philadelphia Eagles vs Baltimore Ravens
C Tyler Linderbaum (Ravens), S Geno Stone (Ravens), MLB Kristian Welch (Ravens)
– Tyler Linderbaum is already one of the top centers in the league and controls the starting spot for the Ravens. Geno Stone is listed as the second team strong safety behind Kyle Hamilton. He has been out of practice lately with an ankle injury, so his status for Saturday is not certain.
– Kristian Welch has been an special teams player for the Ravens over his first three seasons in the league, but could be on the chopping block this season. He was listed as a fourth team option at linebacker on the depth chart. With rookie Trenton Simpson and Josh Ross, who is back from injury, ahead of him on the depth chart, the odds are not in favor of Welch at the moment.
Los Angeles Rams vs Los Angeles Chargers
OT Alaric Jackson (LAR), OLB Zach VanValkenburg (LAR), LB Nick Niemann (LAC)
– Alaric Jackson was a starter for the Rams last season, but blood clots cut his season short and allowed Joe Noteboom to take over the starting role. Now, with the preseason about to kickoff, Jackson and Noteboom were seperated with a big ‘OR’ on the depth chart as first team options. Will be interesting to follow.
– Zach VanValkenburg will be battling for a roster spot during the preseason. He is listed as a third string outside linebacker and will try to beat out Keir Thomas and Ochaun Mathis for a roster spot.
– Nick Niemann should be in line for a solid role with the Chargers this season. Kenneth Murray and Eric Kendricks are pretty locked in as starters, but Niemann was listed as a backup to Kendricks on the preseason depth chart.
SUNDAY
Kansas City Chiefs vs New Orleans Saints
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (KC), DT Jack Heflin (Saints)
– Both of these former Hawkeyes will be battling for a roster spot during the preseason. Ihmir Smith-Marsette was signed by the Chiefs after the Bears released him last year, but his has some work to do to make the roster. He is listed as a third team option and will be battling Justyn Ross, Nikko Remigio and others. His standing as second string punt returner may help, but he is likely going to need a good preseason showing.
– Jack Heflin got signed by the Saints after a good showing with the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL, but that doesn’t mean he gets a roster spot. He is listed as a third string option, while he will be battling with Jeron Cage and Prince Emil to overtake Malcom Roach for what could be the final spot at defensive tackle.
San Francisco 49ers vs Las Vegas Raiders
TE George Kittle (49ers)
– George Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the NFL and will be the starter for the 49ers this season. Don’t expect him to see much, if any, time during the preseason.
