Pack Pros: LB Payton Wilson sets career high in tackles vs. Colts

After easing into the NFL through his first three weeks, NC State Pack Pro linebacker Payton Wilson had an expanded role for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4. 

Wilson played 37 total snaps, which allowed him to double his career best of three tackles with six in the Steelers’ 27-24 loss. The linebacker logged three solo stops in the defeat as he played 14 snaps in coverage for Pittsburgh. Wilson did not have any missed tackles and he gave up just one reception for 13 yards.

While Wilson had his career most in tackles, he was not the only Pack Pro in action this weekend. Here’s a look at how each former NC State player did in their NFL games this past weekend.

Pack Pros in the NFL: Week 4

C Garrett Bradbury (played at NC State from 2015-18), #56 Minnesota Vikings: Bradbury played 68 snaps in the Vikings’ 31-29 win over the Green Bay Packers and fellow Pack Pro Brayden Narveson. Bradbury earned a 68.0 offensive score from Pro Football Focus after he allowed two quarterback pressures, both of which were hurries in the victory.

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), #14 New England Patriots: Brissett was 19-of-32 passing for 168 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Patriots’ 30-13 loss at the San Francisco 49ers. He was sacked six times in the defeat. 

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), #2 Miami Dolphins: Chubb is currently on the Dolphins’ injured reserve and will miss at least the first four games of the 2024 season.

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), #6 Las Vegas Raiders: Cole logged four punts for 232 yards in the Raiders’ 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. He averaged 58 yards per punt with two kicks inside the 20-yard line. Cole recorded a long of 67 in the win. 

DT Cory Durden (2021-22), #98 Los Angeles Rams:.Durden is on the Rams’ practice squad. 

OT Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), #79 Carolina Panthers: Ekwonu logged 70 snaps played at left tackle in the Panthers’ 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He allowed just one quarterback pressure, which was a hurry, in the defeat against fellow Pack Pros Germaine Pratt and BJ Hill.

P Trenton Gill (2018-21) #47 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gill signed with the Buccaneers’ practice squad last week and was elevated to the game day roster. He logged four punts for 150 total yards, an average of 37.5 yards per attempt. He had a long of 42 yards with one touchback in the Buccaneers’ 33-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

WR Kelvin Harmon (2016-18), #84 Dallas Cowboys: Harmon is on the Cowboys’ practice squad for the 2024 season. 

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), #92 Cincinnati Bengals: Hill did not play in the Bengals’ 34-24 win over the Carolina Panthers. He is battling a hamstring injury, which sidelined the defensive lineman last week as well.

RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), #22 Cleveland Browns: Hines is still recovering from his season-ending injury suffered last year. He will miss at least the first four weeks of the 2024 season.

S Tanner Ingle (2018-22), #34 Los Angeles Rams: Ingle is on the Rams’ practice squad.

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), #93 Arizona Cardinals: Jones was placed on the Cardinals’ injured reserve with a triceps injury. He will miss the rest of the season to recover.

LB Vi Jones (2019-21), #53 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jones is on the Buccaneers’ practice squad for the 2024 season.

CB Robert Kennedy III (2023), #40 Los Angeles Chargers: Kennedy is on the Chargers’ practice squad for the 2024 season. 

DT T.Y. McGill Jr. (2011-14), #96 San Francisco 49ers: McGill is on the 49ers’ practice squad for the 2024 season. 

C Dylan McMahon (2019-23), #63 Los Angeles Rams: McMahon did not play in the Rams’ 24-18 loss to the Chicago Bears.

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), #54 Detroit Lions: McNeill logged two total tackles in the Lions’ 49-29 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He had one solo tackle, 0.5 tackles for a loss with a pass defended and a quarterback hit in the victory.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), #16 Las Vegas Raiders: Meyers recorded five receptions for 49 yards in the Raiders’ 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. He was targeted 10 times and had a long of 19 yards in the victory.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), #52 Los Angeles Rams: Murchison is currently on the injured reserve and will miss at least the first four weeks of the 2024 season.

K Brayden Narveson (2023), #44 Green Bay Packers: Narveson missed both of his field goal attempts in the Packer’s 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He did, however, make all three extra points in the defeat. 

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), #57 Cincinnati Bengals: Pratt logged nine total tackles, including six solo stops, in the Bengals’ 34-24 win over the Carolina Panthers. He also recorded one pass defended in the victory.

DE James Smith-Williams (2016-19), #50 Atlanta Falcons: Smith-Williams made five tackles in the Falcons’ 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints. He logged two solo stops, including one tackle for a loss, in the victory.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), #75 Atlanta Falcons: Street logged 23 total snaps played in the Falcons’ 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints. 

WR Thayer Thomas (2017-22), #89 Minnesota Vikings: Thomas is on the Vikings practice squad. 

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), #42 Seattle Seahawks: Thomas recorded two total tackles in the Seahawks’ 42-29 loss to the Detroit Lions. 

OL Joe Thuney (2012-15), #62 Kansas City Chiefs: Thuney played 62 snaps at left guard in the Chiefs’ 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He allowed three quarterback pressures, all resulting in a hurry, in the victory.

LB Payton Wilson (2018-23), #41 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson recorded a career-best six total tackles, including three solo stops, in the Steelers’ 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. 

QB Russell Wilson (2007-09, finished at Wisconsin), #3 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson did not play in the Steelers’ 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers as he recovers from calf tightness. 

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), #62 Carolina Panthers: Zavala played 70 snaps at left guard in his first start of the season during the Panthers’ 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He recorded an above-average pass blocking score of 78.1 with just one quarterback pressure allowed in the victory.