By R.L. Bynum
There was plenty of good news for UNC alums heading into Week 1 of the NFL season, with 21 on rosters — five expected to start — and two on practice squads.
Three players atop the depth charts are wide receivers — Washington’s Dyami Brown, Indianapolis’ Josh Downs and Buffalo’s Mack Hollins. Also starting are Denver running back Javonte Williams and Atlanta left cornerback Mike Hughes.
After starting six games as a rookie, Brown (top photo) started once in the last two seasons but made an impression in camp for the Commanders, who play at 4:25 Sunday at Tampa Bay (Fox).
Brown, who didn’t play in their third exhibition, had five catches on six targets for 73 yards, including a 42-yard gain. He was listed as the second-string left wide receiver for most of the camp but is now the first-string right wide receiver.
Downs missed the entire preseason recovering from a high ankle sprain but is progressing well and working out. He didn’t practice Wednesday and it’s unclear if he’ll be active for the Colts’ home opener at 1 p.m. Sunday (CBS).
Hollins started 16 games two seasons ago for Las Vegas but only started twice last season for Atlanta. Hollins, who figures to have a much larger role with the Bills, only played in one exhibition game, catching both passes targeted to him. He was listed as the backup left wide receiver behind Keon Coleman for most of camp, but is now listed as starting ahead of Coleman.
The Bills, with Mitch Trubisky as Josh Allen’s backup, host Arizona at 1 p.m. Sunday (CBS)
Williams, who ran for 774 yards while starting a career-high 13 games last season, played in two exhibition games, rushing seven times for 32 yards. The Broncos open at 4:05 on Sunday at the New York Giants (CBS).
Mike Hughes, who played at UNC in 2015, didn’t play in the preseason after starting three times last season. He’s listed as the Falcons’ starting left cornerback ahead of its home opener at 1 p.m. Sunday (Fox).
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye will start the season as the backup to former N.C. State player Jacoby Brissett. The Patriots open at 1 p.m. Sunday at Cincinnati (Fox). He’s one of three former UNC quarterbacks who are backups, along with Trubisky and Seattle’s Sam Howell.
The Seahawks, with Geno Smith as the starter, open at 4:05 Sunday at home against Denver (CBS).
The season starts at 8:20 Thursday night (NBC), with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting Baltimore. Although he only had one catch and three targets during the preseason, rookie wide receiver Tez Walker is the Ravens’ backup right wide receiver.
One of the feel-good stories of training camp was running back British Brooks, a former walk-on at Carolina who battled injuries, making the Houston roster. Although he is listed as the fourth-string running back, he could get his share of snaps at fullback when the Texans go to a two-running-back set after rushing 13 times for 49 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason.
What was his mindset heading into Texans camp as an undrafted rookie?
“Just be a dawg,” Brooks told Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, a former UNC beat writer when he was at The N&O. “If I did get cut or I didn’t, if I got released, I knew I put it all on the table and gave it my all. Sometimes the finesse goes out of the window. Sometimes you’ve just got to go get it and be a dawg.”
M.J. Stewart has moved from third-string Houston free safety to second-string strong safety heading into the Texans’ 1 p.m. Sunday opener at Indianapolis (CBS), but is questionable with a knee issue.
Linebacker Cole Holcomb starts the season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list with a left knee injury, and three Tar Heels are on injured reserve: Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray (shoulder), Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green (concussion) and Las Vegas defensive tackle Tomari Fox.
On practice squads are Arizona running back Michael Carter and New York Giants linebacker Tomon Fox.
The Cardinals waived Carter in camp but Coach Jonathan Gannon said, “I value Michael Carter very high.”
Offensive lineman Charlie Heck, who Houston waived, worked out Monday with Tampa Bay. Offensive lineman Marcus McKethan, who the New York Giants waived, worked out with Philadelphia last week.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Fifth-string running back
Season statistics —10 games, 4 carries, 15 yards (9 longest); 5 special-teams tackles, 4 special-teams assists
Week 16 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Las Vegas Raiders, CBS
Week 17 — 4:30 Saturday at Los Angeles Chargers, NFL Network
Dyami Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–0, 195 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 14 games, 7 starts, 22 catches, 212 yards (39 longest), 9.9 average, 1 TD, 1 fumble (lost); 5 carries, 26 yards (9 longest); 4 kickoff returns, 106 yards (31 longest)
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday at Denver, Fox
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 26 | 5–8, 201 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Fourth-string running back
Season statistics — 10 games, 2 starts, 67 carries, 221 yards (11 longest), 1 touchdown; 28 catches on 30targets, 232 yards (18 longest); 1 kickoff return, 27 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Atlanta, Fox
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cincinnati, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 13 games, 8 starts, 47 catches, 406 yards (34 longest), 4 touchdowns; 5 punt returns, 55 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16 — 8:15 Monday vs. San Francisco, ABC, ESPN
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville, Fox
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 22 | 6–2, 234 | second NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting left inside linebacker
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 82 tackles, 57 assists, 6 tackles for losses, 1 sack for 7 yards, 3 passes defended, 2 quarterback pressures, 1 quarterback hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 fumble recoveries
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Kansas City, CBS
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 22 | 6–0, 220 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — No. 2 running back
Season statistics — 7 games, 5 starts, 94 carries, 431 yards (54 longest), 2 touchdowns; 23 catches, 151 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 fumble recovery
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
Week 17 — 4:30 Saturday vs. Houston Texans, NFL Network
Charlie Heck, Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman
Age 28 | 6–8, 311 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Backup right tackle behind Luke Goedeke
Season statistics — 15 games, 1 tackle; 694 offensive snaps, 58 special-teams snaps
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Miami, Fox
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 28 | 6–1, 240 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 11 games, 3 starts, 19 tackles, 11 assists, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists
Week 16 — 4:25 Sunday at Detroit, CBS
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, CBS
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 14 games, 10 starts, 39 catches, 481 yards (54 longest), 2 touchdowns; 1 carry, 4 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday at Baltimore, NBC
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, Fox
Sam Howell, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Third-string quarterback
2024 season statistics (Seattle Seahawks); hasn’t played this season — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 16 — 5 p.m. Saturday at Washington, Fox
Week 17 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 28 | 5–10, 191 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting right cornerback
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 32 tackles, 9 assists, 4 passes defended, 2 tackles for losses; 1 interception
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday at Arizona, Fox
Week 17 — 8:15 Monday vs. Los Angeles Reams, ESPN
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —-Starting QB ahead of Joshua Dobbs
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 290 of 409, 3,567 (8.7 average; 72 longest), 70.9%, 23 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 43 sacks (194 yards in losses), 109.1 passer rating; 85 carries, 362 yards (28 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 two-point conversion run; 6 fumbles (2 lost, 1 recovered)
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday at Baltimore, NBC
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, Fox
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 24 | 6–4, 307 | third NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 13 games, 4 starts, 295 offensive snaps, 42 special-teams snaps
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Jets, CBS
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, CBS
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 of 6, 54 yards; 4 carries, 1 yard
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, CBS
Week 17 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–1, 198 | second NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Third-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 8 games, 2 startes, 4 catches, 90 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 special-teams assists
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday vs. New England, NBC
Week 17 — 8 p.m. Saturday at Green Bay, Peacock
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 25 | 5–10, 220 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Miles Sanders
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 230 carries, 1,113 yards (4.8 average; 66 longest), 10 touchdowns; 33 catches, 128 yards (3.9 average; 14 longest), 2 touchdowns
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Fox
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Thursday at Washington, Netflix
Out for season
Miami Dolphins defensive back Storm Duck, knee injury (season statistics: 2 games, 1 start, 1 tackle, 1 assist, 1 pass defended)
Houston Texans safety M.J. Stewart, quadriceps injury (season statistics: 9 games, 4 starts, 10 tackles, 8 assists, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists)
On injured reserve
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler, knee injury
New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezudu (IR with designation to return), undisclosed injury
Philadelphia Eagles center Willie Lampkin, leg injury (Rams released him in camp)
Seattle linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle injury)
On practice squads
Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker
New England linebacker Amari Gainer
Minnesota tight end Bryson Nesbit
On reserve/non-football injury list
Houston cornerback Alijah Huzzie
Waived from practice squads
Linebacker Power Echols by Chicago
Linebacker Tomon Fox by the New York Giants
Defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie by New England
Released during training camp
Linebacker Eugene Asanti by Miami
Tight end John Copenhaver by Jacksonville
Linebacker Desmond Evans by Tennessee
Wide receiver Nate McCollum by Arizona
Defensive back Kyler McMichael by Pittsburgh
Photo via @Commanders
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