(Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)
By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
Here’s an updated list of University of Tennessee players in the National Football League entering Week 6 of the season and all the moves in the last week or so, as well as the VFL in the NFL Player of the Week as named by me.
I’ve included some notes, jersey numbers, unofficial depth chart positions, breakdowns by position and much more.
You will also see all of the players that are inactive in the league, either on injured reserve or on practice squads. Plus, you’ll find the list of players that were at UT at one time before transferring and others that have local ties to the Knoxville area that did not attend the University of Tennessee.
I update this list throughout the season here on my blog “Vince’s View.” Bookmark my blog page and check back often.
Moves The Last 3 Weeks – U. of Tennessee/One-Time Vols/Local Players in the NFL
-FB Jakob Johnson elevated from the Patriots practice squad to the man roster (9/21)
-OL James Stone’s NFL suspension lifted by the commissioner, is a free agent (9/24)
-WR Jalen Hurd placed on IR by 49ers (10/3)
-QB Tyler Bray elevated from the Bears practice squad to the main roster (10/5)
-TE Alex Ellis was placed on IR by the Eagles (10/7)
-QB Tyler Bray returned to the practice squad by the Bears (10/9)
-TE Ethan Wolf signed by the Packers to their practice squad (10/9)
Notes and Numbers – Vols in the NFL
*Currently 23 U. of Tennessee players are on NFL 53-player rosters
*UT had 25 entering Week 1
*11 UT players are in the league, but inactive (6 on IR & 5 on practice squads)
*2 VFL rookies are in the NFL, both made teams as undrafted free agents
*Pittsburgh has the most active UT players with 3
*DB & DL are the largest positions of VFLs in the league right now with 4 active
*17 of the 32 teams have a UT player on active rosters
*There are 2 players on active rosters that were once at U. of Tennessee but then transferred
*There are 3 players on active rosters that didn’t attend UT, but have Knoxville/East TN ties
-10 of the 23 Vols on active rosters started their most recent game (not counting special teams)
Vinny’s VFL Player of the Week
Broncos ILB Alexander Johnson
Johnson, who made his first career start in the Broncos win at the Chargers Sunday, played his first defensive snaps of the season and finished second on the team with nine tackles (6 solo) to go along with two passes defensed and his interception in the end zone. He nearly had a second interception late in the fourth quarter. He was everywhere in that game. It will be difficult to take him off the field if #45 keeps playing like that. Check out the tweets below to see his interception and where he talks about swimming with sharks this offseason with another VFL, Curt Maggitt.
“I want to take on a challenge. When stuff’s easy, it don’t make you better. Anybody can do easy.”
@Chief45Beast takes a bite out of Chargers' offense during first NFL start » https://t.co/GFnwukmT43 pic.twitter.com/brNxaUi5df
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 7, 2019
So we had to ask @Chief45Beast about where he got the "Dino" nickname …
And his answer is incredible. 😅 pic.twitter.com/1Lt0NZu9yy
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 11, 2019
Tennessee Volunteers On Active NFL Rosters as of 10/10/19 (23) x = rookie
Atlanta Falcons
Luke Stocker (80) TE (2nd team TE)
Baltimore Ravens
Morgan Cox (46) LS (starting LS)
Carolina Panthers
Michael Palardy (5) P (starting P/H)
Rashaan Gaulden (28) DB (3rd team SS)
Chicago Bears
Cordarrelle Patterson (84) WR/KR (2nd team WR & starting KR)
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Witten (82) TE (starting TE)
Denver Broncos
Alexander “AJ” Johnson (45) LB (starting ILB)
Ja’Wuan James (70) OT (injured – starting RT)
Detroit Lions
Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44) LB (2nd team OLB)
Justin Coleman (27) DB (starting CB)
Houston Texans
Zach Fulton (73) OL (starting RG)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Joshua Dobbs (1) QB (2nd team QB)
Kansas City Chiefs
Dustin Colquitt (2) P (starting P/H)
Minnesota Vikings
Britton Colquitt (4) P (starting P/H)
New England Patriots
Jakob Johnson (47) FB (starting FB)
New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara (41) RB (starting RB/2nd team KR)
Shy Tuttle (74) DT (2nd team DT)
New York Jets
Kyle Phillips (98) DE (starting DT)-x
Philadelphia Eagles
Derek Barnett (96) DE (starting DE)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ramon Foster (73) OG (starting LG)
Daniel McCullers (93) NT (2nd team NT)
Cameron Sutton (20) DB (2nd team NCB)
San Francisco 49ers
Emmanuel Moseley (41) CB (starting RCB)
One-Time Vols That Transferred On Active Rosters (2) x = rookie
Buffalo Bills
Lee Smith TE (85) *Powell HS/Tennessee/Marshall (2nd team TE)
Miami Dolphins
Preston Williams (82) WR *Tennessee/Colorado St (starting WR)-x
Knoxville Area Players That Didn’t Play At U. of Tennessee On Active Rosters (3) x = rookie
Dallas Cowboys
Randall Cobb (18) WR *Alcoa HS/Kentucky (starting WR)
Chris Jones (6) P *Carson-Newman (starting P/H)
Minnesota Vikings
Harrison Smith (22) S *Catholic HS/Notre Dame (starting SS)
Inactive Players From UT, One-Time Vols & Local Players In The NFL
Injured Reserve
LB Colton Jumper – New Orleans Saints
QB Matt Simms – Atlanta Falcons
TE Jason Croom – Buffalo Bills
LB Jordan Williams – Tennessee Titans
DT Malik Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles
TE Alex Ellis – Philadelphia Eagles
QB Nathan Peterman – Oakland Raiders (Pitt)
WR Jalen Hurd – San Francisco 49ers (Baylor)
Practice Squads
RB John Kelly – Los Angeles Rams
QB Tyler Bray – Chicago Bears
OG Kahlil McKenzie – Seattle Seahawks
WR Josh Malone – New York Jets
TE Ethan Wolf – Green Bay Packers
TE Daniel Helm – San Francisco 49ers (Duke)
DE Dewayne Hendrix – Miami Dolphins (Pitt)
Teams Without Any Players From UT On Active 53-Player Rosters (15)
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
New York Giants
Oakland Raiders
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Washington Redskins
UT Players In The NFL By Position (23)
QB – 1
RB – 1
WR – 1
TE – 2
FB – 1
OL – 3
DL – 4
LB – 2
DB – 4
P – 3
PK – 0
LS – 1
Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net
