Pack Pros: P A.J. Cole III posts standout special teams performance in Las Vegas Raiders' win

Punting is important in tight games. Luckily for the Las Vegas Raiders, three-time Pro Bowler and Pack Pro A.J. Cole III is handling those duties at an extremely high level this season. 

Cole, who is a two-time All-Pro selection, was critical in the Raiders’ 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon. He posted six punts in the game with an average of 47.5 yards per attempt, which helped flip the field on a consistent basis for Las Vegas. 

The Atlanta, Ga., native was uber effective as he landed three kicks inside the 20-yard line with a long of 60 in the 5-point win.

Cole wasn’t the only Pack Pro in action this weekend. Here’s a look at how all of NC State’s Pack Pros performed during Week 16 of the NFL season. 

Pack Pros in the NFL: Week 16

C Garrett Bradbury (played at NC State from 2015-18), #56 Minnesota Vikings: Bradbury played 66 snaps in the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. 

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), #14 New England Patriots: Brissett did not play in the Patriots’ 24-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills. 

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 recorded six punts for 285 yards — an average of 47.5 — in the Raiders’ 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He landed three attempts inside the 20-yard line with a long of 60 and did not have a touchback in the victory.

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 73 total snaps in the Panthers’ 36-30 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals.

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: Hill recorded five total tackles, including two solo stops, in the Bengals’ 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns.

RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), #22 Cleveland Browns: Hines will not play this season as he recovers from a jet ski accident suffered in July 2023. 

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 played 18 total snaps in the Buccaneers’ 26-24 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. He did not record a tackle in the defeat, playing mostly on special teams.  

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 appear in the Rams’ 19-9 win over the New York Jets. 

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), #54 Detroit Lions: McNeill is on injured reserve after he suffered a torn ACL. 

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), #16 Las Vegas Raiders: Meyers logged two catches for 41 yards in the Raiders’ 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had a long of 29 yards and was targeted four times in the victory.

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

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), #57 Cincinnati Bengals: Pratt logged five total tackles, all solo stops, in the Bengals’ 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns. 

DE James Smith-Williams (2016-19), #50 Atlanta Falcons: Smith-Williams did not play in the Falcons’ 34-7 win over the New York Giants.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), #75 Atlanta Falcons: Street recorded two total tackles, including a solo stop, in the Falcons’ 34-7 win over the New York Giants. 

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

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), #42 Seattle Seahawks: Thomas played 23 total snaps in the Seahawks’ 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

OL Joe Thuney (2012-15), #62 Kansas City Chiefs: Thuney played 75 total snaps in the Chiefs’ 27-19 win over the Houston Texas on Saturday afternoon.

LB Payton Wilson (2018-23), #41 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson was 22-of-33 passing for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the Steelers’ 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was sacked three times, while Wilson posted a 38.1 QBR. 

QB Russell Wilson (2007-09, finished at Wisconsin), #3 Pittsburgh Steelers:.Wilson logged three total tackles, including two solo stops, in the Steelers’ 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), #62 Carolina Panthers: Zavala played 18 total snaps in the Panthers’ 36-30 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals.