Two veteran Vols to IR; two released, more VFL in the NFL moves in Week 2

Two veteran Vols to IR; two released, more VFL in the NFL moves in Week 2

By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports

Here’s an updated list of University of Tennessee players in the National Football League in Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season.

You’ll also see a list of players that were once at UT as well as other Knoxville area players that played at other schools.

I’ve included depth chart listings from either the team’s “unofficial” depth chart or Ourlads’ reported depth charts.

That’s all below now, and will be updated often, here on my blog “Vince’s View.”

Transactions (since 9/9)
*VFL DB Micah Abernathy signed to the roster from the practice squad by Packers (9/10)
*VFL DB Micah Abernathy returned to the practice squad by Packers (9/12)
*VFL OL Ja’Wuan James placed on IR by Ravens (9/13)
*VFL DE Derek Barnett placed on IR by Eagles (9/13)
*VFL TE Ethan Wolf was released from IR by Saints (?)
*One-time Vol TE Eli Wolf (Georgia) was released from IR by Commanders (?)
*VFL WR JaVonta Payton signed to practice squad by Cardinals (9/14)
*VFL WR JaVonta Payton released from practice squad by Cardinals (9/15)

Notes
*There are 27 VFLs in the NFL
*20 of those are on 53-player rosters
*5 of those VFLs are on practice squads
*2 VFL is on IR
*17 of 32 teams have a VFL on their rosters
*10 VFLs are listed as starters on their depth charts
*Once again, the Saints have the most VFLs on active rosters with 4
*There are 5 ex-Vols that finished college at others schools currently with NFL teams
*There are 9 Knoxville-area players that did not attend UT currently with NFL teams

Tennessee Volunteers In The NFL as of 9/17/22 (27)
x = rookie / * = not on 53-player roster
AFC East (0)
NONE – Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets

AFC North (5)
DB – Cameron Sutton (20) Pittsburgh Steelers (Starting RCB)
QB – Joshua Dobbs (15) Cleveland Browns (2nd team QB)
*RB – John Kelly (41) Cleveland Browns (Practice Squad)
*OT – Ja’Wuan James (71) Baltimore Ravens (Injured Reserve)
*OL/DL – Kahlil McKenzie (69) Baltimore Ravens (Practice Squad)
NONE – Cincinnati Bengals

AFC South (3)
LB – Jalen Reeves-Maybin (34) Houston Texans (3rd team WLB)
LS – Morgan Cox (46) Tennessee Titans (LS)
*DB – Theo Jackson (29) Tennessee Titans (Practice Squad) -x
NONE – Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC West (6)
OL – Trey Smith (65) Kansas City Chiefs (Starting RG)
FB – Jakob Johnson (45) Las Vegas Raiders (FB)
DT – Kendal Vickers (95) Las Vegas Raiders (2nd team DT)
DL – Matthew Butler (73) Las Vegas Raiders (2nd team DT)-x
WR – Joshua Palmer (5) Los Angeles Chargers (Starting WR)
*OLB – Jonathan Kongbo (90) Denver Broncos (Practice Squad)
NONE

NFC East (1)
*DE – Derek Barnett (96) Philadelphia Eagles (Injured Reserve)
NONE – Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders

NFC North (2)
WR – Velus Jones Jr. (12) Chicago Bears (Starting Slot WR/Starting PR/2nd team KR)-x
*DB – Micah Abernathy (34) Green Bay Packers (Practice Squad)
NONE – Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings

NFC South (6)
WR – Cordarrelle Patterson (84) Atlanta Falcons (Starting RB)
OL – Cade Mays (64) Carolina Panthers-x (2nd team RG)
RB – Alvin Kamara (41) New Orleans Saints (Starting RB)
DT – Shy Tuttle (99) New Orleans Saints (Starting LDT)
WR – Marquez Callaway (1) New Orleans Saints (2nd team WR/PR/KR))
CB – Alontae Taylor (27) New Orleans Saints (2nd team RCB)-x
NONE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC West (4)
CB – Emmanuel Moseley (4) San Francisco 49ers (Starting LCB)
WR – Jauan Jennings (15) San Francisco 49ers (Starting WR)
DE – Darrell Taylor (52) Seattle Seahawks (Starting WLB)
DB – Justin Coleman (28) Seattle Seahawks (3rd team LCB)
NONE – Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams

One-Time Vols That Transferred To Other Schools On NFL Rosters (5)
P – Tommy Townsend (5) Kansas City Chiefs (U. of Tennessee/Florida) (P)
RB – Ty Chandler (32) Minnesota Vikings (U. of Tennessee/North Carolina)-x (4th team RB/3rd team KR)
*QB – Nathan Peterman (14) Chicago Bears (Practice Squad) (U. of Tennessee/Pitt)
*WR – Preston Williams (85) Carolina Panthers (Practice Squad) (U. of Tennessee/Colorado St)
*QB – Jarrett Guarantano (16) Arizona Cardinals (Practice Squad) (U. of Tennessee/Washington)-x

Active Knoxville Area Players That Didn’t Play At UT on NFL Rosters (9)
WR – Tee Higgins (85) Cincinnati Bengals (Oak Ridge HS/Clemson) (Starting WR)
LB – Devin Harper (50) Dallas Cowboys (Karns HS/Oklahoma St.)-x (3rd team MLB)
WR – Randall Cobb (18) Green Bay Packers (Alcoa HS/Kentucky) (Starting Slot WR)
WR – Amari Rodgers (8) Green Bay Packers (Catholic HS/Clemson) (2nd team Slot WR/Starting PR/Starting KR)
QB – Trevor Lawrence (16) Jacksonville Jaguars (Born in Knoxville, did not go to HS locally/Clemson) (Starting QB)
OL – Darian Kinnard (75) Kansas City Chiefs (Grew up in Knoxville, did not go to HS locally/Kentucky)-x (2nd team RT)
S – Harrison Smith (22) Minnesota Vikings (Catholic HS/Notre Dame) (Starting SS)
OG – Cole Strange (69) New England Patriots (Farragut HS/Chattanooga)-x (Starting LG)
*OG – Nate Gilliam (66) Cincinnati Bengals (Practice Squad) (Farragut HS/Wake Forest)

Check back for updates as roster moves are made.

Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net

49ers WR Jauan Jennings / Credit: UT Athletics

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