Pack Pros: NFL Week 1
Week 1 of the NFL continues Monday night with the Denver Broncos at the Seattle Seahawks. That game alone will feature three Pack Pros, former NC State football standouts now in the NFL. Here is a rundown of how the other Pack Pros did Sunday.
Pack Pros Updates
C Garrett Bradbury (Played at NC State from 2015-18), Minnesota Vikings: Started at center and played all 62 snaps in the Vikings’ 23-7 home win over the Green Bay Packers … Minnesota rushed for 126 yards and 4.5 yards per carry while giving up just 1 sack and 8 quarterback hits.
QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), Cleveland Browns: Starting for the Browns, Brissett completed 18 of 34 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown and ran 4 times for 10 yards … On Cleveland’s final drive, Brissett completed all 3 of his pass attempts for 20 yards to help the Browns clinch a 26-24 win at the Carolina Panthers with a 58-yard field goal with 8 seconds left.
DB Juston Burris (2012-15), Carolina Panthers: Burris was released at the end of training camp and then added to the team’s practice squad.
OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), Denver Broncos: The former Pro Bowler begins his contract year Monday night at the Seattle Seahawks.
P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), Las Vegas Raiders: Punted twice for an average of 53 yards, landing one inside the 20 and not giving up a return on either kick … The Raiders lost their opener, 24-19 at the Los Angeles Chargers.
OL Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), Carolina Panthers: The rookie started at left tackle … Had a challenging assignment against Cleveland Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett, allowing a couple of sacks … Ekwonu played all 53 snaps in the loss for an offense that averaged 2.8 yards per carry and allowed 4 sacks and 6 quarterback hits in the Panthers’ 26-24 home loss.
P Trenton Gill (2018-21), Chicago Bears: In a downpour in Chicago, Gill had an effective debut with 6 punts for an average of 46.2 yards, landing 1 inside the 20 and finishing with a net average of 39.0 yards … The Bears won 19-10 at home over the San Francisco 49ers … However, Gill also made a rookie mistake (see tweet):
DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals: Started at defensive tackle in the Bengals’ 23-20 loss at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that ended on a field goal as time expired in overtime … Hill had 3 tackles (2 solo), including 1 sack … He played 51 out of a possible 63 snaps on defense and 7 on special teams.
RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), Indianapolis Colts: Reserve running back rushed 3 times for 4 yards and caught all 6 passes thrown his way for 50 yards (long of 15) in the Colts’ 20-20 tie at the Houston Texans … Hines also returned 5 punts for a total of 31 yards, an average of 6.2 yards per runback … He played 26 snaps on offense (out of 92) and 8 on special teams.
DB Dontae Johnson (2010-13, San Francisco 49ers: Johnson did not survive the final round of cuts but was added to the 49ers’ practice squad, making him the longest-standing current Pack Pros member that is not a quarterback … San Francisco started the year with a 19-10 loss at the Chicago Bears.
DB Josh Jones (2014-16), Seattle Seahawks: Surgery to remove a hyperactive thyroid and a fresh start with the Seahawks has Jones making the initial 53-man roster for Seattle … He’ll make his debut for the team Monday night at home against the Denver Broncos.
DT Justin Jones (2014-17), Chicago Bears: In his Bears’ debut, Jones started at defensive tackle and made 2 tackles (1 solo) while also breaking up a pass in Chicago’s 19-10 home win over the 49ers … He played 43 out of a possible 68 snaps on defense and 4 more on special teams
LB Vi Jones (2020-21), Seattle Seahawks: The undrafted free agent did not survive the last round of cuts but was quickly added to the Seahawks’ practice squad.
RB Zonovan “Bam” Knight (2019-21), New York Jets: After initially making the 53-man roster, Knight was cut and added to the Jets’ practice squad prior to the opener, which New York lost 24-9 at home to the Baltimore Ravens.
CB Nick McCloud (2016-19, finished at Notre Dame), New York Giants: Reserve defensive back had a pair of special teams tackles in the Giants’ 21-20 win at the Tennessee Titans … Did not play any snaps on defense but did log 14 on special teams.
DT T.Y. McGill Jr. (2011-14), Minnesota Vikings: McGill was placed on injured reserve by the Vikings, which will keep him out for the season unless he negotiates an injury settlement and becomes a free agent … The former undrafted free agent has found a way to play the past seven years in the NFL with six different teams.
DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), Detroit Lions: Started at nose tackle in the Lions’ 38-35 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and assisted on a tackle … Played 52 of 76 snaps on defense.
WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), New England Patriots: Starting receiver led the Patriots with 4 receptions on a team-high 6 targets for 55 yards (long of 27) in New England’s 20-7 loss at the Miami Dolphins … Also rushed once for 7 yards while playing 50 of 57 snaps on offense and 1 on special teams.
DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), Tennessee Titans: Is on the Titans practice squad after starting five of the 11 games he played last season … Tennessee lost the opener to the Giants at home, 21-20.
TE Dylan Parham (2017-21), Denver Broncos: The undrafted free agent has been signed to the Broncos practice squad.
LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), Cincinnati Bengals: Starting linebacker tied for a team-high 8 tackles (4 solo), including 1 for loss, and a pass breakup in the Bengals’ overtime loss to the Steelers … Pratt played 45 of 63 defensive snaps and added 7 more on special teams.
DE James Smith-Williams (2016-19), Washington Commanders: Started at defensive end in the Commanders’ 28-22 home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars … Had 2 solo tackles while playing 37 out of 70 defensive snaps and adding 5 more on special teams.
DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), New Orleans Saints: Reserve defensive lineman had 2 tackles (1 solo) in the Saints’ 27-26 win at the Atlanta Falcons … Played 31 out of 75 snaps on defense in his New Orleans debut.
OG Joe Thuney (2012-15), Kansas City Chiefs: Started at left guard and was one of two Chiefs players to play all 70 snaps on offense during a 44-21 win at the Arizona Cardinals … Helped Kansas City rush for 128 yards and average 4.7 yards per carry while not giving up a sack and allowing 6 quarterback hits.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2013-14, Finished at USF), Kansas City Chiefs: Starting receiver caught all 4 passes thrown his way for 44 yards with a long of 17 … Played 51 of 70 offensive snaps.
QB Russell Wilson (2007-09/Finished at Wisconsin), Denver Broncos: The potential future Hall of Famer and part of the NC State quarterback Pack Pros legacy begins a new chapter in his NFL career Monday night when he travels to play his former team, the Seattle Seahawks.
