Pack Pros: Former NC State football players on rosters

How are your favorite former Pack Pros doing in NFL with the start of the season beginning Thursday? Here is a rundown of all the former NC State football players currently with a roster spot in the league.

Pack Pros Updates

C Garrett Bradbury (played at N.C. State from 2015-18), Minnesota Vikings: A season ago, Bradbury entered a crucial contract year after the Vikings declined the former first-round pick’s fifth-year option, but after showing improved pass protection, he was rewarded with a three-year, $15.5 million contract extension …. Offensive line coach Chris Kuper described himself as “elated” at the re-signing … Bradbury, who has started for most of his four seasons in the NFL, is expected to continue handling first-string snaps for the Vikings … Minnesota opens the season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), Washington Commanders: Brissett signed a one-year, $8-million contract in the offseason with Washington, but the Commanders announced that Sam Howell would be the starter with Brissett as the lone other QB on the final roster … Brissett has started for four different teams in his seven seasons in the NFL … He has completed 963 of 1,577 passes (61.1 percent) for 10,350 yards and 48 touchdowns with 23 interceptions and added 896 yards and 15 more scores rushing … … Washington hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), Miami Dolphins: The two-time Pro Bowler begins his first full season with the Dolphins after being traded midseason from the Denver Broncos to Miami and signing a five-year, $110 million extension with his new team … In his three fully-healthy seasons, Chubb had a combined 141 tackles, including 27.5 sacks, but he missed one season with an ACL tear and then most of 2021 with a bone spur … The Dolphins start the 2023 season on the road Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers.

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), Las Vegas Raiders: Last year, Cole made his second straight Pro Bowl team … Led the NFL in punting average at 50.0 yards in 2021, and he followed up with an average of 48.9 yards in 2022 … He will continue to handle punting duties for the Raiders, who kick off the year on the road Sunday at the Denver Broncos.

OL Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), Carolina Panthers: After a successful rookie season starting every game for the Panthers at left tackle, Ekwonu had rough moments at times in the preseason, but new Carolina head coach Frank Reich noted he has “no concerns” about Ekwonu “being one of the true anchors to our offensive line.” … The Panthers are at the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

P Trenton Gill (2018-21), Chicago Bears: After averaging 46.0 yards per punt as a rookie, Gill is locked in as the Bears’ punter in 2023 … Chicago opens at home against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon.

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals: Hill is in the second year of a three-year, $30 million contract that he signed after the 2021 season … In 2022, Hill started all 16 games for the first time in his career and logged career highs in tackles (68), pass breakups (4) and fumble recoveries (3), while also having his first career forced fumble and registering 3 sacks. … Hill is favored to continue in his starting role … The Bengals are at the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon.

RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), Buffalo Bills: Hines will miss the season after suffering a knee injury while sitting on a stationary jet ski … Hines, who reworked his contract to a two-year, $9 million deal in the offseason, is in a pay dispute with his team … Buffalo kicks off the year on Monday night football at the New York Jets.

DB Tanner Ingle, Los Angeles Rams (2018-22): The list of Pack Pros includes examples of undrafted free agent success stories, and Ingle is one of multiple possibilities to join that list … Ingle did not survive the final round of cuts, but he impressed enough that the Rams brought him back on their practice squad … The Rams host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), Chicago Bears: Jones, who has started all but one game he has played in over the past four seasons, is in the final year of a two-year, $12 million contract with the Bears … In his NFL career, Jones has 170 tackles, including 24 for loss and 7.5 sacks … He set career highs last season in tackles (52), tackles for loss (12), quarterback hits (7) and matched his personal best with 3 sacks.

LB Vi Jones (2019-21), Seattle Seahawks: Jones went from undrafted free agent to making the Seahawks’ practice squad to be elevated to the active roster for three games in 2022 … He was placed on injured reserve ahead of the 2023 season … The Seahawks start the year at home Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

RB Zonovan Knight (2019-21), Detroit Lions: Another undrafted Pack Pros success story, Knight started four of seven games he played as a rookie for the New York Jets and finished the year with 85 carries for 300 yards and a touchdown on the ground … He also added 13 receptions for 100 yards … However, a crowded Jets backfield led to Knight not making the final cut, and he was picked up last week by the Detroit Lions, who placed Knight on their practice squad … The Lions open the season Thursday night at Kansas City.

CB Nick McCloud (2016-19, finished at Notre Dame), New York Giants: McCloud broke through last year with the Giants, starting 8 of 14 games he played and finishing with 43 tackles (1.5 sacks) and 7 pass breakups … The Giants play on Sunday night at home against the Dallas Cowboys.

DT T.Y. McGill Jr. (2011-14), San Francisco 49ers: The former undrafted free agent has found a way to play eight years in the NFL with seven different teams … He hopes to extend his streak as one of the longest-tenured Pack Pros after signing a one-year offseason deal with 49ers, with whom he played nine games last year and had 8 tackles, including a pair for loss, and 2 quarterback hits … While McGill did not survive the final round of cuts, the 49ers brought him back after he cleared waivers for its practice squad … The 49ers are at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon.

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), Detroit Lions: McNeill emerged as a full-time starter in Year 2 with Detroit, tallying 41 tackles, including a sack … McNeill dropped his body fat by 13 percent in the offseason to improve his conditioning.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), Las Vegas Raiders: Another member of the undrafted group of Pack Pros has cashed in on his successes in the NFL, signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Raiders after four seasons with the Patriots, where he hauled in 235 passes for 2,758 yards and 8 touchdowns … Meyers is expected to start for Las Vegas.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), Los Angeles Rams: Murchison was cut midway through his third season with the Tennessee Titans and caught on with the Rams to conclude the 2022 campaign … Murchison won a camp battle to win a spot on Los Angeles’ 2023 roster.

CB Derrek Pitts Jr. (2021-22), Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Perhaps one of the surprises of the Pack Pros in training camp, Pitts, an undrafted free agent, won a spot on the Buccaneers’ 53-man roster … Tampa begins the season at the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon.

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), Cincinnati Bengals: After his third straight year as a full-time starter for the Bengals, Pratt cashed in on his success with a three-year, $21-million contract to stay in Cincinnati … Pratt has 355 career tackles, including 20 for loss.

DE James Smith-Williams (2016-19), Washington Commanders: After starting six games in his second season in the NFL, Smith-Williams started all 14 contests he played a year ago, amassing career highs in tackles for loss (5), sacks (3) and quarterback hits (16) … Favored to be in the defensive line rotation if not starting.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), Philadelphia Eagles: After piling up 29 tackles in his lone season for the New Orleans Saints, including 5 for loss and 3.5 sacks, Street signed with the Eagles in the offseason on a one-year, $1.28 million deal and won a camp battle to earn a spot on the team … Philly plays at the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon.

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), Seattle Seahawks: The undrafted free agent made a strong impression during the preseason with the Las Vegas Raiders, so much so that the Seattle Seahawks signed Thomas to its 53-man roster after the Raiders tried to waive him in the hopes of adding Thomas to their practice squad.

WR Thayer Thomas (2017-22), Minnesota Vikings: The undrafted free agent made a strong enough impression that he was added to the Vinings’ practice squad.

OG Joe Thuney (2012-15), Kansas City Chiefs: Has started every game he has played in his seven-year NFL career, the first five with the New England Patriots … Is in the third year of a 5-year, $80 million contract, one of the most lucrative ever signed by the Pack Pros community, and is coming off his second All-Pro honor and first Pro Bowl selection … The Chiefs are hosting Detroit on Thursday night.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2013-14, Finished at USF), Kansas City Chiefs: In his first season with the Chiefs after signing a three-year, $30 million contract, Valdes-Scantling set a career high with 42 receptions, which went for 687 yards and included 2 touchdowns.

QB Russell Wilson (2007-09/Finished at Wisconsin), Denver Broncos: The potential future Hall of Famer is looking for a rebound year after setting career-worst marks for completion percentage (60.1 percent) and quarterback rating (84.4), while throwing the fewest touchdowns (16) in any of his 11 seasons in the NFL … The Broncos host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), Carolina Panthers: The rookie fourth-round draft pick for the Panthers started at offensive guard in Carolina’s second preseason game and has a chance to start in Sunday’s opener at the Falcons.