18 Former Kentucky Players Make NFL Week 1 Active Rosters

Happy NFL Week 1, everybody. This year, 18 former Kentucky players will suit up for a professional football team as a member of their respective 53-man rosters. Kentucky’s players represent the entire spectrum of talent with big name superstars like Josh Hines-Allen all the way down to undrafted free agents who played their way on to a team like Brenden Bates.

Speaking of Bates, the New York Jets picked him up after the Chicago Bears foolishly released him following a great preseason performance. PFF graded Bates as the highest rated rookie tight end during the preseason so it is no surprise a tight-end needy team would scoop him up.

We will also see what type of impact rookies like Ray Davis, Trevin Wallace, and Dru Phillips make in their NFL debuts.

Former Kentucky players on NFL active rosters

Team	Player	Position	Week 1 Game
Bills	Mike Edwards	DB	vs. Cardinals (1 pm, CBS)
Bills	Ray Davis	RB	vs. Cardinals (1 pm, CBS)
Broncos	Keidron Smith	DB	at Seahawks (4:05 pm, FOX)
Browns	Za’Darius Smith	LB	vs. Cowboys (4:25 pm, FOX)
Chargers	Bud Dupree	LB	vs. Raiders (4:05 pm, CBS)
Commanders	Jamin Davis	LB	at Buccs (4:25 pm, FOX)
Eagles	Darian Kinnard	OL	vs. Jets (Friday)
Giants	Wan’Dale Robinson	WR	vs. Vikings (1 pm, FOX)
Giants	Dru Phillips	DB	vs. Vikings (1 pm, FOX)
Jaguars	Josh Hines-Allen	LB	at Dolphins (1 pm, CBS)
Jaguars	Luke Fortner	C	at Dolphins (1 pm, CBS)
Jets	Brenden Bates	TE	at 49ers (Mon 8:20 pm, ABC)
Jets	Brandin Echols	DB	at 49ers (Mon 8:20 pm, ABC)
Lions	Josh Pascal	DL	vs. Rams (8:20 pm, NBC)
Packers	Carrington Valentine	DB	vs. Eagles (Friday)
Panthers	Trevin Wallace	LB	at Saints (1 pm, FOX)
Saints	Landon Young	OL	vs. Panthers (1 pm, FOX)
Titans	Will Levis	QB	at Bears (1 pm, FOX)

Practice squad guys await their call-up

Eight former Kentucky players just barely missed the active roster cut for their teams but will start the season on the practice squad. Teams can call up and activate these players on any given week based on injuries or performance-based reasons.

The most surprising player on this list is Chris Rodriguez Jr., who the Commanders cut at the end of the preseason. Veteran Jeremy McNichols beat out C-Rod for the final running back spot, but don’t be surprised if we see the former ‘Cat getting touches for the Commanders this season.

Elsewhere around the league, the Cincinnati Bengals picked up Tashawn Manning for their practice squad after the Ravens waived the former OVW intern. Similarly, the Carolina Panthers picked up Lonnie Johnson Jr. after the Houston Texans cut him, the Seattle Seahawks picked up Quinton Bohanna after a short stent with the Tennessee Titans, and the Dallas Cowboys signed Phil Hoskins after spending the preseason with the Arizona Cardinals.

Finally, a shoutout to Bryce Oliver who made the Titans’ practice squad after a tremendous preseason performance.

Good luck to all the former ‘Cats.

Former Kentucky players on NFL Practice Squads

Team	Player	Position
Bengals	Tashawn Manning	OL
Commanders	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	RB
Cowboys	Phil Hoskins	DL
Panthers	Lonnie Johnson Jr.	DB
Raiders	MJ Devonshire	DB
Ravens	Devin Leary	QB
Seahawks	Quinton Bohanna	DL
Titans	Bryce Oliver	WR