17 former Kentucky players make active rosters for NFL Week 1

The NFL season has officially landed. No more mock drafts, no more preseason holdouts (for the most part), and no more talking heads spouting off projections about the Dallas Cowboys and/or Aaron Rodgers. In my best slightly modified Herm Edwards impression (you know, the version of him before he got Arizona State put on probation): It’s Time. To Play. The Game. And the 2023 rendition of the most popular sports league in America opens Week 1 with 17 former Kentucky Wildcats on active rosters.

After 25 or so ‘Cats participated in the preseason, a slew of roster cuts whittled this list down to just 17 for the start of the games that count. This number would be 18, but Brandin Echols is serving a one-game suspension for a player conduct violation stemming from a car wreck back in April. Echols took an interception back for a touchdown in the third preseason game, so they’ll be anxious to get him back on the field during Week 2.

Josh Paschal, Quinton Bohanna, and Mike Edwards kicked things off on Thursday night with Paschal coming up with a huge tackle for loss at a critical moment in the 4th quarter, helping the Lions secure the upset win. So, as you bask in the afterglow of a Kentucky football win (regardless of how ugly it was) and settle into the first full day of the NFL, here are the former Wildcats to keep an eye on and their matchups:

Week 1 NFL Lineup

Thursday

• Detroit Lions (Josh Paschal [3 tackles, 1 TFL], Quinton Bohanna) at Kansas City Chiefs (Mike Edwards [2 tackles])

Sunday

• 1:00 pm (FOX): Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders (Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jamin Davis)
• 1:00 pm (FOX): Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (Bud Dupree, Josh Ali)
• 1:00 pm (FOX): Jacksonville Jaguars (Josh Allen, Luke Fortner) at Indianapolis Colts
• 1:00 pm (CBS): Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (Za’Darius Smith)
• 1:00 pm (CBS): Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings
• 1:00 pm (CBS): Tennessee Titans (Will Levis) at New Orleans Saints (Lonnie Johnson Jr., Landon Young)
• 1:00 pm (FOX): San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers
• 4:25 pm (FOX): Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
• 4:25 pm (FOX): Green Bay Packers (Carrington Valentine)
• 1:00 pm (CBS): Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
• 4:25 pm (CBS): Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos
• 4:25 pm (CBS): Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
• 4:25 pm (CBS): Miami Dolphins (Kelvin “Bossman Phat” Joseph) at Los Angeles Chargers
• 8:20 pm (NBC): Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (Wan’Dale Robinson)

Monday

• Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (Randall Cobb)

Practice Squad Members

Though not on the Week 1 active roster, four additional former Kentucky players earned a spot on an NFL practice squad. Fresh off of winning a Super Bowl ring, Darian Kinnard is back with the Kansas City practice unit after spending a good chunk of time there last season.

Meanwhile, down in New Orleans, Lynn Bowden Jr. did well enough in camp and in the preseason to stick around with the Saints. He is one wide receiver injury away from being called up.

Tashawn Manning of OVW intern fame also impressed his coaches during the offseason and will start off the year on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.

And finally, after the Miami Dolphins cut him, the Washington Commanders picked up Keidron Smith and added him to their practice squad.

So, whether you cheer for an individual team or just the players on your fantasy team, good luck out there today.