Pack Pros: P A.J. Cole III does it all for Las Vegas Raiders

NC State Pack Pro punter A.J. Cole III found ways to help flip the field for the Las Vegas Raiders in the team’s 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon, but he was also able to show off his arm on a fake punt in the second half. 

Cole, who entered the afternoon without a pass attempt in his previous five NFL seasons, was able to show off his arm. The specialist sold the fake punt before finding a wide-open Divine Deablo to pick up 34 yards and a first down. 

FAKE PUNT 🚨 @Raiders convert!

📺: #DENvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/KezuoMgTkd

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024

In addition to his passing skills, Cole averaged 47.5 yards per punt on four attempts with a long of 60 in the loss. He landed two punts inside the 20-yard line to give Las Vegas’ defense a chance to stop Bo Nix and the Broncos offense. 

While Cole had a standout day for the Raiders, he wasn’t the only Pack Pro in action. Here’s a look at how each former NC State player did in their respective NFL games this past weekend. 

Pack Pros in the NFL: Week 12

C Garrett Bradbury (played at NC State from 2015-18), #56 Minnesota Vikings: Bradbury played 71 snaps at center in the Vikings’ 30-27 win over the Chicago Bears in overtime. 

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), #14 New England Patriots: Brissett did not play in the Patriots’ 34-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins. 

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), #2 Miami Dolphins: Chubb is on the Dolphins’ injured reserve.

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), #6 Las Vegas Raiders: Cole logged four punts for 190 total yards in the Raiders’ 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. He averaged 47.5 yards per attempt with two punts inside the 20-yard line. Cole had a long of 60 yards, while he completed a fake punt pass for 34 yards in the defeat. 

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 played 67 snaps in the Panthers’ 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

P Trenton Gill (2018-21) #47 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gill is on the Buccaneers practice squad. 

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

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), #92 Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals were on bye this week. 

RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), #22 Cleveland Browns: The Browns were on bye this week.

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’ 

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), #54 Detroit Lions: McNeill logged one total tackle in the Lions’ 24-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He also logged a quarterback hit in the victory.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), #16 Las Vegas Raiders: Meyers logged a team-best 10 receptions for 121 yards in the Raiders’ 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. He set a new season high in receiving yards in Las Vegas’ defeat. 

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), #52 Los Angeles Rams: Murchison is currently on the injured reserve.

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), #57 Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals were on bye this week. 

DE James Smith-Williams (2016-19), #50 Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons were on bye this week.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), #75 Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons were on bye this week.

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

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), #42 Seattle Seahawks: Thomas logged 18 total special teams snaps in the Seahawks’ 16-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

OL Joe Thuney (2012-15), #62 Kansas City Chiefs: Thuney recorded 74 total snaps in the Chiefs’ 30-27 win over the Carolina Panthers. 

LB Payton Wilson (2018-23), #41 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson logged six total tackles in the Steelers’ 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. He had two solo stops in the defeat.  

QB Russell Wilson (2007-09, finished at Wisconsin), #3 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson was 21-of-28 passing for 270 yards with a touchdown in the Steelers’ 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. The signal-caller was sacked four times, while he also lost a fumble and had 10 rushing yards on three attempts in the defeat. 

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), #62 Carolina Panthers: Zavala played five total snaps in the Panthers’ 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.