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.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — First-string fullback
2025 statistics —13 games, 17 carries, 787 yards (20 longest); 5 special-teams tackles, 5 special-teams assists
Preseason Week 1 — Chargers 27, Raiders 13 | missed game recovering from hand surgery
Preseason Week 2 — Raiders 22, Texans 20 | missed game recovering from hand surgery
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Panthers 16, Texans 13 | missed game recovering from hand surgery
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Buffalo, CBS
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 26 | 6–0, 195 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
2025 statistics (Jacksonville) — 17 games, 7 starts, 23 catches, 220 yards (39 longest), 9.9 average, 1 TD, 1 fumble (lost); 5 carries, 26 yards (9 longest); 4 kickoff returns, 106 yards (31 longest)
Preseason Week 1 — Commanders 20, Dolphins 7 | started, 1 catch on 2 targets, 22 yards, 1 tackle after an interception on a pass intended for him; 12 offensive snaps (17%)
Preseason Week 2 — Lions 17, Commanders 13 | didn’t start, 1 catch on 1 target, 3 yards; 11 offensive snaps (23%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Ravens 41, Commanders 3 | didn’t play
Season opener — 4:25 Sept. 13 at Philadelphia, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 25 | 5–9, 171 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
2025 statistics — 16 games, 11 starts, 58 catches, 566 yards (34 longest), 4 touchdowns; 2 rush, -2 yards; 7 punt returns, 68 yards; 2 tackles
Preseason Week 1 — Colts 13, Patriots 13 | Didn’t play
Preseason Week 2 — Falcons 34, Colts 6 | Didn’t play
Preseason Week 3 — Saturday: Lions 25, Colts 16 | Didn’t play (expected to be ready for Week 1, but has dealt with a minor calf injury)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Baltimore, CBS
Joshua Ezeudu, Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 310 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Reserve tackle
2025 statistics — (with New York Giants) Missed the season with a severe calf injury suffered during training camp (played 17 games in 2024)
Traded: The Giants traded him to the Chiefs on Wednesday for a seventh-round draft pick.
Preseason Week 1 — (with Giants) Vikings 13, Giants 10 | Played 27 offensive snaps (50%) and 1 special-teams snap (4%) off the bench
Preseason Week 2 — (with Giants) Giants 26, Dolphins 3 | didn’t start, injured on late third-quarter play; 47 offensive snaps (58%), 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Preseason Week 3 — (with Chiefs) Chiefs 9, Seahawks 9 | didn’t play
Season opener — 8:15 Monday, Sept. 14 vs. Denver, ESPN
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
2025 statistics — 16 games, 15 starts, 94 tackles, 65 assists, 7 tackles for losses, 1 sack for 7 yards, 3 passes defended, 2 quarterback pressures, 1 quarterback hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 fumble recoveries
Preseason Week 1 — Titans 19, 49ers 13 | started, 2 tackles, 1 assist; 26 defensive snaps (34%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Preseason Week 2 — Sunday: Titans 19, Seahawks 16 | started, 3 tackles, 2 assists, 1 pass defended; 25 defensive snaps (49%), 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Preseason Week 3 — Saturday: Bears 24, Titans 15 | started, 1 tackle; 13 defensive snaps (19%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. New Your Jets, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 23 | 6–0, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
2025 statistics — 9 games, 6 starts, 124 carries, 545 yards (54 longest), 4.4 average, 4 touchdowns; 32 catches, 192 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 fumble recovery
Preseason Week 1 — Chargers 27, Texans 7 | didn’t play
Preseason Week 2 — Thursday: 49ers 41, Chargers 17 | started: 1 carry, -1 yard; 3 offensive snaps (5%)
Preseason Week 3 — Thursday: Rams 20, Chargers 18 |
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Buffalo, CBS
Charlie Heck, Miami Dolphins offensive lineman
Age 29 | 6–8, 311 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
2025 statistics (Tampa Bay)— 18 games, 1 tackle, 701 offensive snaps, 642 special-teams snaps
Preseason Week 1 — Commanders 20, Dolphins 7 | Played 27 offensive snaps (49%) and 1 special-teams snap (4%) off the bench
Preseason Week 2 — Giants 26, Dolphins 3 | started, called for offensive holding and a false start; 30 offensive snaps (83%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Falcons 17, Dolphins 12 | didn’t start, 19 offensive snaps (33%), 4 special-teams snaps (15%)
Season opener — 4:25 Sept. 13 at Los Angeles Raiders, Fox
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 29 | 6–1, 240 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
2025 statistics — 12 games, 3 starts, 19 tackles, 11 assists, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 3 special-teams assists
Preseason Week 1 — Steelers 28, Packers 9 | didn’t start, 2 tackles; 37 defensive snaps (62%), 10 special-teams snaps (38%)
Preseason Week 2 — Jets 17, Steelers 0 | didn’t start, 1 tackle, 1 assist; 17 defensive snaps (29%), 8 special-teams snaps (36%)
Preseason Week 3 — Thursday: Bills 28, Steelers 27 | started, 3 tackles, 2 assists, 1 tackle for a loss; 41 defensive snaps (61%), 9 special-teams snaps (29%)
Season opener —1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Atlanta, Fox
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 32 | 6–4, 221 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
2025 statistics — 15 games, 47 catches, 550 yards, 12.0 average, 54 longest, 2 touchdowns
Preseason Week 1 — Colts 13, Patriots 13 | Started, 2 catches on 4 targets, 24 yards (18 longest); 13 offensive snaps
Preseason Week 2 — Patriots 24, Eagles 21 | didn’t start; 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Preseason Week 3 — Thursday: Browns 37, Patriots 13 | didn’t play
Season opener — 8:30 Sept. 9 at Seattle, NBC
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Backup quarterback
2024 season statistics (Seattle Seahawks); didn’t play in 2025 when with Philadelphia — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Preseason Week 1 — Cowboys 17, Seahawks 7 | started, 8 of 12, 94 yards (39 longest), 1 TD (39-yard pass to Cameron Brown), 118.1 passer rating; 2 carries for 15 yards (10 longest); 26 offensive snaps (39%)
Preseason Week 2 — Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13 | started second half, 7 of 10, 65 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 1 sack (6 yards), 47.9 passer rating; 1 carry, 7 yards; 28 offensive snaps (47%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Saints 27, Cowboys 24 | started second half, 12 of 17, 155 yards, two touchdowns (26-yard pass to Jordan Hudson; 21-yard pass to Mitchell Van Vooren), 0 interceptions, 130.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards; two-point conversion run; 32 offensive snaps (48%)
Season opener — 8:20 Sept. 13 at New York Giants, NBC
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting left cornerback
Season statistics — 12 games, 38 tackles, 11 assists, 1 interception
Preseason Week 1 — Broncos 27, Falcons 7 | Started, 1 tackle, 2 assists; 14 defensive snaps (19%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Preseason Week 2 — Falcons 34, Colts 6 | didn’t play
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Falcons 17, Dolphins 12 | started, 1 pass defended; 14 defensive snaps (24%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Pittsburgh, Fox
Alijah Huzzie, Houston Texans cornerback
Age 25 | 5–10, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string nickelback
2025 statistics — 2 games, 3 tackles, 1 pass defended, 1 interception, 1 assist on kickoff coverage
Preseason Week 1 — Chargers 27, Raiders 13 | didn’t start, 2 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass defended; 30 defensive snaps (45%), 7 special-teams snaps (32%)
Preseason Week 2 — Thursday: Raiders 22, Texans 20 | didn’t start, 2 tackles, 2 assists; 1 punt return, 8 yards; 36 defensive snaps (52%), 10 special-teams snaps (32%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Panthers 16, Texans 13 | started; 1 tackle, 1 tackle on kickoff coverage, 1 fair catch on punt; 36 defensive snaps (51%), 11 special-teams snaps (46%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Buffalo, CBS
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles guard/center
Age 24 | 5–11, 290 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string right guard
2025 statistics — Didn’t play; went on injured reserve in late August
Preseason Week 1 — Ravens 24, Eagles 7 | started; 23 offensive snaps (52%), 1 special-teams snap (4%); played center and guard
Preseason Week 2 — Patriots 24, Eagles 21 | started; 18 offensive snaps (29%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Bengals 30, Eagles 13 | didn’t play
Season opener — 4:25 Sept. 13 vs. Washington, Fox
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 23 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —Starting quarterback
2025 statistics — 17 games, 17 starts, 354 of 492, 4,494 (72 longest), 71.9%, 31 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 47 sacks (201 yards in losses), 113.5 rating; 103 carries, 450 yards (28 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 two-point conversion run; 3 fumbles (2 lost, 1 recovered)
Preseason Week 1 — Colts 13, Patriots 13 | Didn’t play
Preseason Week 2 — Saturday: Patriots 24, Eagles 21 | Didn’t play
Preseason Week 3 — Thursday: Browns 37, Patriots 13 | Didn’t play
Season opener — 8:30 Sept. 9 at Seattle, NBC
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
2025 statistics — 15 games, 4 starts, 359 offensive snaps, 53 special-teams snaps
Preseason Week 1 — Jaguars 24, Saints 20 | started; called for a false start; 45 offensive snaps (68%), 5 special-teams snaps (18%)
Preseason Week 2 — Saturday: Rams 34, Saints 0 | started; 26 offensive snaps (39%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Saints 27, Cowboys 24 | started; 32 offensive snaps (54%), 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Detroit, Fox
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string weakside linebacker
2025 statistics — 11 games, 4 tackles
Preseason Week 1 — Cowboys 17, Seahawks 7 | didn’t start, 2 tackles, 4 assists, 1 forced fumble; 40 defensive snaps (61%), 5 special-teams snaps (28%)
Preseason Week 2 — Titans 19, Seahawks 16 | started; 4 tackles, 1 assist, 1 forced fumble; 35 defensive snaps (45%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Seahawks 9, Chiefs 9 | didn’t play
Season opener — 8:20 Sept. 9 vs. New England, NBC
Mitch Trubisky, Tennessee Titans quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Cam Ward
2025 statistics (Buffalo) — 4 games, 25 of 35, 313 yards (37 longest), 4 touchdowns, 1 2-point conversion completion; 9 carries, 6 yards (9 longest)
Preseason Week 1 — Titans 19, 49ers 13 | didn’t start, 2-3, 23 yards (17 longest), 89.6 passer rating; 8 offensive snaps (13%)
Preseason Week 2 — Sunday: Titans 19, Seahawks 16 | didn’t start, 7 of 9, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 49 yards, 89.4 passer rating; 16 offensive snaps (21%)
Preseason Week 3 — Saturday: Bears 24, Titans 15 | didn’t play
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. New York Jets, CBS
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
2025 statistics — 11 games, 2 starts, 6 catches, 136 yards (38 longest), 3 touchdowns; 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 QB hit, 2 special-teams assists
Preseason Week 1 — Ravens 24, Eagles 7 | started, 3 catches on 3 targets, 31 yards (19 longest); 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 26 offensive snaps (32%), 5 special-teams snaps (22%)
Preseason Week 2 — Saturday: Ravens 13, Vikings 3 | started, 2 catches on 3 targets, 32 yards (27 longest); 32 offensive snaps (55%), 6 special-teams snaps (30%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Ravens 41, Commanders 3 | didn’t start, 3 catches on 5 targets, 22 yards (11 longest); 41 offensive snaps (59%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Indianapolis, CBS
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
2025 statistics — 16 games, 16 starts, 252 carries, 1,201 yards (4.8 average; 66 longest), 11 touchdowns; 35 catches, 137 yards (3.9 average; 14 longest), 2 touchdowns
Preseason Week 1 — Cowboys 17, Seahawks 7 | didn’t play
Preseason Week 2 — Saturday: Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13 | didn’t play
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Saints 27, Cowboys 24 | didn’t play
Season opener — 8:20 Sept. 13 at New York Giants, NBC
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
— Minnesota cornerback Marcus Allen; had 2 tackles, 1 assist in 45 preseason snaps
— New York Giants rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles)
On PUP list
— Houston safety M.J. Stewart (torn quad), who didn’t play during the preseason
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all three preseason games
— Tennessee running back Michael Carter by Tennessee; had three catches for 20 yards and a 43-yard kickoff return in last preseason game
— 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 in camp
— Linebacker Power Echols by Seattle
— Linebacker Tomon Fox by Los Angeles Rams; had 28 tackles and 13 special-teams tackles in two preseason games
— Linebacker Amari Gainer by New England; had 4 tackles and two assists in three preseason 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
