By R.L. Bynum
Javonte Williams made his preseason debut for the Denver Broncos after his long recovery from right knee surgery and declared that he is 100%.
His performance was productive for the number of snaps he got — 12 rushing yards on three carries and four catches for 18 yards — and just being back on the field for the Broncos’ 21–20 exhibition loss Saturday at San Francisco was huge.
There was relief when he took his first hit.
“It was just like a weight lifted off of me,” Williams said. “I was thinking it was going to hurt or something, but I really didn’t even feel it. I just jumped back up.”
He couldn’t make the catch on a screen pass in the game’s first play but caught a throw from former N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson on the second play for 12 yards.
“I was still just thinking I got hurt the last time I got tackled,” Williams said. “There was a lot of nerves going into it, but once I got it out of the way, I felt pretty good.”
It’s unlikely that Williams will play again before Denver opens the season at home on Sept. 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, but he sounds eager for what’s ahead. It was in a game against those Raiders on Oct. 2 last season when he suffered tears to his ACL and LCL to end his season.
“I’m even more excited,” Williams said. “Just seeing the way that we improved from last week to this week, the o-line and everybody like that, it just looks promising for us. Hopefully, we will translate over to the next preseason game and to the regular season.”
Dazz Newsome, Miles Dorn, Kyler McMichael and Andre Smith are getting longer looks than they perhaps would have gotten in other camps.
Unlike recent years, all NFL teams can keep 90 players on their rosters throughout the preseason and don’t have to cut down to 53 until Aug. 29, the Tuesday after the final exhibition games. Last season, teams had to trim to 85 after the first exhibition, 80 after the second and 53 after the third.
The San Francisco 49ers’ depth chart lists Newsome as the fourth-string wide receiver, Dorn is Miami’s fifth-string safety, McMichael is Arizona’s fifth-string cornerback and Smith is the fourth-string left inside linebacker on the Atlanta Falcons’ depth chart.
Newsome caught the only pass targeted to him for the 49ers in their win over Denver. Smith came off the bench to get three tackles, one for a loss, in Atlanta’s 13-all tie with Cincinnati on Friday. Wide receiver Mack Hollins caught the two passes targeted to him for 20 yards for Atlanta.
Dorn had two tackles, one for a loss, and an assist in Miami’s 28–3 Saturday win at Houston.
McMichael had two tackles in the Cardinals’ 38–10 Saturday home loss to Kansas City.
In his second NFL exhibition, wide receiver Josh Downs again got playing time several ways. In the Indianapolis Colts’ 24–17 Saturday home win against Chicago, he had two catches for 20 yards, a punt return for five yards and a kickoff return for 14 yards.
Mitch Trubisky, the clear No. 2 quarterback behind former Pitt QB Kenny Pickett, was efficient off the bench in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27–15 Saturday home win over Buffalo. Trubisky, who turned 29 Sunday, was 10 of 13 for 78 yards and a touchdown with a 116.8 passer rating while running twice for 13 yards.
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Cole Holcomb, the Steelers’ starting left inside linebacker, had three tackles, including one for a loss, and defended one pass.
Ty Chandler had 11 carries for 24 yards in Minnesota’s 24–16 Saturday home loss to Tennessee, and remains the Vikings’ third-string running back.
Antoine Green, the third-string wide receiver on Detroit’s depth chart, caught the only pass targeted to him for 18 yards in the Lions’ 25–7 Saturday home loss to Jacksonville. It was the second-longest Detroit play of the game. Rookie nose tackle Raymond Vohasek had one tackle for Jacksonville.
Rookie Asim Richards started at left tackle for the second consecutive Dallas Cowboys exhibition, a 22–13 Saturday loss at Seattle.
Safety M.J. Stewart Jr., second-string on Houston’s depth chart, had three tackles in the Texans’ 28–3 Saturday loss to Miami.
Linebacker Tomon Fox had an active game off the bench during the New York Giants’ 21–19 home win Friday over the Carolina Panthers. He collected two tackles (one for a loss), one assist. He tackled quarterback Matt Corral for a six-yard loss and hurried him once.
Giants right guard Joshua Ezeudu played off the bench.
Tar Heels who have sat out exhibition games this weekend included running back Michael Carter and linebacker Chazz Surratt of the New York Jets and Houston Texans tackle Charlie Heck (on the PUP list with an undisclosed injury).
The teams for several UNC alums still haven’t played this weekend, including Sam Howell, who was named last week as the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback.
Robert Quinn, a free agent, was arrested Friday in Summerville, S.C., after the pickup truck he was driving allegedly hit four vehicles on Tuesday. He then allegedly hit a woman in the face.
He faces charges of third-degree assault and battery, hit-and-run of an attended vehicle, striking fixtures adjacent to a highway and four counts of hit-and-run property damage.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 26 | 6–0, 195 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
Season statistics — 6 games, 2 starts, 9 catches, 94 yards (48 longest); 48.7 offensive grade, 51.2 pass grade, 60.8 run-block grade, 62.9 special-teams grade
Week 8 — 8:20 Sunday vs. Philadelphia, NBC
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Rams, Fox
Michael Carter, Tennessee Titans running back
Age 27 | 5–8, 201 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string running back
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 carries, 7 yards (3 longest); 1 catch on 1 target, 7 yards; 50.5 offensive grade, 68.3 pass grade, 51.3 pass-block grade, 46.1 run grade
Week 8 — Bengals 43, Titans 36 (road) | played off the bench
Week 9 — Open date
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 25 | 5–9, 171 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 8 games, 5 starts, 30 catches, 330 yards (42 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 carry, 7 yards; 2 punt returns, 20 yards; 70.5 offensive grade, 70.1 pass grade, 63.1 run grade, 62.0 run-block grade
Week 8 — Jaguars 42, Colts 7 (road) | started: 4 catches on 5 targets, 23 yards, (8 longest), 1 touchdown (6-yard pass from Daniel Jones); 1 punt return, 20 yards; 57.1 offensive grade, 57.0 pass grade, 58.8 run-block grade; 12.3 fantasy points
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Dallas, Fox
Joshua Ezeudu, Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 310 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Season statistics — 6 games, 1 start, 87 offensive snaps and 10 special-teams snaps; 57.3 offensive grade, 56.8 pass-blocking grade, 62.4 run-blocking grade; 61.1 special-teams grade
Week 8 — Broncos 28, Chiefs 24 (road) | didn’t play
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Jets, CBS
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 7 games, 2 starts, 16 tackles, 16 assists, ½ sack; 63.0 defensive grade, 65.0 run grade, 88.3 tackle grade, 51.8 pass-rush grade, 63.2 coverage grade
Week 8 — Bengals 43, Titans 36 (road) | didn’t start: 1 tackle, 2 assists; 64.0 defensive grade, 66.8 run grade, 76.0 tackle grade, 58.7 pass-rush grade, 60.6 coverage grade; 2.0 fantasy points
Week 9 — Open date
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 23 | 6–0, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 7 games, 5 starts, 89 carries, 309 yards (17 longest), 3.5 average, 3 touchdowns; 11 catches, 63 yards (18 longest); 2 fumbles (2 lost); 57.9 offensive grade, 56.9 pass game grade, 80.5 pass-block grade, 57.0 run grade
Week 8 — Rams 24, Chargers 9 (road) | started: 9 carries, 20 yards (6 longest), 2 catches on 3 targets, 7 yards (4 longest); 18 offensive snaps; season-low 43.0 offensive grade; season-low 30.7 pass grade; season-low 49.0 run grade; 4.7 fantasy points
Week 9 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Houston, CBS
Charlie Heck, Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman
Age 29 | 6–8, 311 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Reserve; signed Thursday to 53-man roster after Miami waived him during training camp
2025 statistics (Tampa Bay) — 18 games, 1 tackle, 701 offensive snaps, 642 special-teams snaps
Week 8 — Jaguars 42, Colts 7 (road) | not active
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Dallas, Fox
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 29 | 6–1, 240 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 8 games, 4 tackles, 4 assists; 63.6 defensive grade, 56.1 special-teams grade
Week 8 — Steelers 27, Browns 9 (home) | 6 special-teams snaps; 60.6 special-teams grade
Week 9 — Open date
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Backup quarterback
2024 season statistics with Seattle (didn’t play last season; hasn’t played this season); didn’t play in 2025 when with Philadelphia — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer grade; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 8 — Cardinals 33, Cowboys 30, OT (home) | didn’t play
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting cornerback
Season statistics — 8 games, 6 starts, 22 tackles, 11 assists, 5 passes defended; 51.1 defensive grade, 89.4 run grade, 62.0 tackle grade, 41.9 coverage grade
Week 8 — Bucs 16, Falcons 0 (road) | didn’t start: 1 pass defended; 86.6 defensive grade, 60.8 run grade, 86.7 coverage grade
Week 9 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Cincinnati in Madrid, NFL Network
Alijah Huzzie, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback
Age 25 | 5–10, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Reserve
Season statistics — 1 game, 13 special-teams snaps (45%); 46.1 special-teams grade
Week 8 — Jaguars 42, Colts 7 (road) | not active
Week 9 — 8:15 Thursday at Baltimore, Prime Video
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles guard/center
Age 24 | 5–11, 290 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Season statistics — 7 games, 2 starts; 128 offensive snaps, 19 special-teams snaps through Week 6
Week 8 — 8:20 Sunday at Washington, NBC
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Giants, Fox
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 24 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation — Starting quarterback
Season statistics — 8 games, 8 starts, 157 of 234, 1,983 yards (8.5 average), 15 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 16 sacks (76 yards in losses), 100.4 pass rating; 46 carries, 216 yards, 3.7 average, 3 touchdowns; 1 fumbles (2 lost), 2 fumble recoveries; 81.7 offensive grade, 80.3 pass grade, 68.8 run grade, 60.0 run-block grade
Week 8 — Patriots 24, Dolphins 19 (road) | started: 16 of 20, 199 yards (48 longest), 2 touchdowns (43-yard pass to K. Williams; 9:23, 3rd quarter; 48-yard pass to D. Douglas, 12:39, fourth quarter), 3 sacks (17 yards in losses), 141.5 passer rating; 8 carries, 5 yards (2 longest), 1 touchdown (2-yard run, 0:59, third quarter); 1 fumble, 2 fumble recoveries; 60 offensive snaps; 76.3 offensive grade, 79.8 pass grade, 56.9 run grade, 60.0 run-block grade; 22.46 fantasy points
Week 9 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Green Bay, Fox
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Starting left tackle
Season statistics — 7 games, 317 offensive snaps, 16 special-teams snaps; 50.9 offensive grade, 49.0 pass-blocking grade, 59.8 run grade
Week 8 — Open date
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 30 | 5–11, 205 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string safety (activated from PUP list on Oct. 10)
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 start, 8 tackles, 7 assists, ½ sack, 1 pass defended; 49.9 defensive grade, 44.8 run defense grade, 43.9 tackle grade, 69.5 pass-rush grade, 61.2 coverage grade
Week 8 — Open date
Week 9 — 4:05 Sunday at Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist; 52.6 special-teams grade
Week 7 — Seahawks 20, Chiefs 3 (home) | not active for fourth consecutive game (calf injury)
Week 8 — 8:15 Monday vs. Chicago, ESPN
Week 9 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Arizona, Fox
Mitch Trubisky, Tennessee Titans quarterback
Age 32 | 6–3, 222 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Cam Ward
2025 statistics with Buffalo (hasn’t played this season) — 4 games, 25 of 35, 313 yards (37 longest), 4 touchdowns, 1 2-point conversion completion; 9 carries, 6 yards (9 longest)
Week 8 — Bengals 43, Titans 36 (road) | didn’t play
Week 9 — Open date
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 7 games, 3 starts, 4 catches, 75 yards (47 longest), 1 touchdown; 54.3 offensive grade, 57.3 pass grade, 65.9 run-block grade, 61.9 special-teams grade
Week 8 — Bills 36, Ravens 10 (road) | 8 offensive snaps; 56.7 offensive grade, 57.3 pass grade, 59.5 run-block grade
Week 9 — 8:15 Thursday vs. Jacksonville, Prime Video
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 8 games, 8 starts, 134 carries, 528 yards (3.9 average), 8 touchdowns; 20 catches, 104 yards (17 longest), 5.2 average, 1 touchdown; 2 fumbles; 70.8 offensive grade, 77.0 pass grade, 54.9 pass-block grade, 69.2 run grade, 60.0 run-block grade
Week 8 — Cardinals 33, Cowboys 30, OT (home) | started: 24 carries, 56 yards (6 longest); 1 catch on 2 targets, 1 yard; 1 fumble; season-low 46.6 offensive grade, 54.3 pass grade; 39.5 pass-block grade, season-low 48.5 run grade; 60.0 run-block grade; 6.7 fantasy points
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
On season-ending injured reserve
— New Orleans running back Ty Chandler; suffered a knee injury in the second preseason game; ran for 45 yards in two preseason games
On injured reserve
— Houston running back British Brooks (hamstring injury)
— New York Giants rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles)
— New England wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf injury)
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all 3 preseason games
— Minnesota defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie; had four tackles and three assists in 77 total preseason snaps
— Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker; had 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack (6 yards), 2 tackles for losses and 1 quarterback hit in their 41–3 preseason win Friday
Waived
— Cornerback Marcus Allen (with injury settlement) by Minnesota; had 2 tackles, 1 assist in 45 preseason snaps
— Cornerback Storm Duck by Miami
— Linebacker Power Echols by Seattle
— Linebacker Tomon Fox by Los Angeles Rams; had 28 tackles and 13 special-teams tackles in 2 preseason games
— Linebacker Amari Gainer by New England; had 4 tackles and 2assists in 3preseason games
— Defensive end Smith Vilbert by Minnesota; had one tackle in 47 preseason snaps
Waived with injury designation
— Tight end Bryson Nesbit by Minnesota after collecting 3 catches for 29 yards in two preseason games; had been listed as fifth string
