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.
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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.
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 — 5 games, 2 starts, 8 catches, 88 yards (48 longest); 47.5 offensive rating, 50.3 pass game rating, 37.1 run-blocking rating
Week 5 — Commanders 27, Giants 27, OT (home) | didn’t start: 1 catch on 2 targets, 2 yards, 1 fumble (recovered); 1.2 fantasy points; 23 offensive snaps (37%), 37.2 offensive grade, 37.5 pass-game grade, 62.8 run-block grade
Week 6 — 8:15 Monday at San Francisco, ESPN
Week 7 — Open date
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 — Elevated from practice squad for Week 4, but didn’t didn’t play
Week 5 — Texans 26, Titans 3 (home) | inactive for the game
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
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 — 5 games, 3 starts, 20 catches, 249 yards (42 longest); 75.4 offensive grade, 75.3 pass-game grade, 65.9 run-block grade
Week 5 — Steelers 34, Colts 22 (road) | started: 3 catches on 6 targets, 47 yards (42 longest); 1.2 fantasy points; 60 offensive snaps (100%); 63.9 offensive grade, 61.8 pass game grade; season-high 79.4 run-block grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tennessee, Fox
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Minnesota, CBS
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 — 4 offensive snaps and 6 special-teams snaps
Week 5 — Open date
Week 6 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
Week 7 — 8:30 Sunday at Seattle, NBC
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 4 games, 2 starts, 11 tackles, 11 assists, ½ sack; 71.1 defensive grade, 78.0 run grade, 57.9 pass-rush grade, 61.3 pass coverage grade
Week 5 — Texans 26, Titans 3 (home) | didn’t start: 2 tackles, 4 assists, ½ sack; 5.0 fantasy points; 28 defensive snaps (42%), 12 special-teams saps (55%); season-high 75.6 defensive grade, 73.9 run grade, 79.0 tackle grade, season-high 63.4 pass-rush grade, season-high 65.7 pass coverage grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
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 — 5 games, 4 starts, 73 carries, 271 yards, 3.7 average, 3 touchdowns; 5 catches, 35 yards (18 longest); 2 fumbles (2 lost); 63.9 offensive grade, 66.1 pass game grade, 76.7 pass-block grade, 61.6 run grade
Week 5 — Broncos 23, Chargers 17 (home) | started: 14 carries, 33 yards (11 longest); 1 catch on 1 target, 6 yards; 4.9 fantasy points; 20 offensive snaps (30%); season-high 68.0 offensive grade, season-high 88.9 pass grade, 74.4 pass-block grade, 62.9 run grade
Week 6 — 4:25 Sunday at Kansas City, CBS
Week 7 — Open date
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 — 5 games, 4 tackles (all solo), 3 assists; 58.5 defensive grade, 54.9 run grade, 30.9 tackle grade, 56.0 pass-rush grade, 66.0 coverage grade
Week 5 — Steelers 34, Colts 22 (home) | 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 8 defensive snaps (11%), 18 special-teams snaps (60%); 64.0 defensive grade, 60.0 run grade, 69.0 pass-rush grade, 61.7 pass coverage grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tampa Bay, CBS
Week 7 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans in Saint-Denis, France, NFL Network
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth 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 rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 5 — Buccaneers 24, Cowboys 16 (Thursday at home) | didn’t play
Week 6 — 8:20 Sunday at Green Bay, NBC
Week 7 — 8:15 Sunday at Philadelphia, ESPN
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting cornerback
Season statistics — 3 games, 11 tackles, 4 assists, 2 passes defended; 45.7 defensive grade, 87.4 run grade, 67.5 tackle grade, 39.3 coverage grade
Week 5 — Ravens 30, Falcons 23 (home) | started: 3 tackles, 3 assists; 69 defensive snaps (91%), 2 special-teams snaps (7%); 45.7 defensive grade, season-high 83.9 run grade, 56.7 tackle grade, season-low 33.0 coverage grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago, Fox
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. San Francisco, Fox
Alijah Huzzie, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback
Age 25 | 5–10, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Reserve
Season statistics — Was on Houston Texans’ practice squad before Jags signed him Monday
Week 5 — Jaguars 19, Eagles 17 (in London) | Inactive for game
Week 6 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Houston in London, NFL Network
Week 7 — Open date
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 — 5 games, 1 start; 64 offensive snaps, 19 special-teams snaps; 44.6 offensive grade, 33.3 pass-blocking grade, 49.1 run-blocking grade
Week 5 — Jaguars 19, Eagles 17 (in London) | started at left guard: key block on Will Shipley touchdown run; 62 offensive snaps (100%); 44.6 offensive grade, 33.3 pass-blocking grade, 49.4 run-blocking grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Week 7 — 8:15 Sunday vs. Dallas, ESPN
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 23 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —Starting quarterback
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 99 of 151, 1,228 yards, 8 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 11 sacks (48 yards in losses), 89.0 passer rating; 30 carries, 161 yards, 5.4 average; 5 fumbles (2 lost); 70.0 offensive grade, 66.2 pass grade, 65.4 run grade
Week 5 — Patriots 45, Raiders 17 (home) | started: 26 of 34, 374 yards (49 longest), 4 touchdowns (35-yard TD pass to DeMario Douglas, 11:23 left in first quarter; 11-yard pass to Hunter Henry, 24 seconds left in first half; 34-yard TD pass to Kyle Williams, 12:58 left in third quarter; 8-yard pass to Douglas, 6:06 left in fourth quarter), 1 sack (3-yard loss), 150.9 passer rating; 7 rushes, 25 yards (10 longest), 1 touchdown (3-yard run, 3:10 left, third quarter); 75 offensive snaps (100%); season-high 92.7 offensive grade, season-high 92.2 pass-game grade, 65.4 run grade; 39.46 fantasy points
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Jets, CBS
Week 7 — 8:15 Thursday at Chicago, Prime Video
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 5 games, 190 offensive snaps, 16 special-teams snaps; 47.8 offensive grade, 46.0 pass-blocking grade, 49.4 run-blocking grade
Week 5 — Vikings 23, Saints 13 | started; 42 offensive snaps (93%), 2 special-teams snaps (9%); 58.8 offensive grade, season-high 57.3 pass-block grade, 57.2 run-block grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Giants, Fox
Week 7 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Pittsburgh in Saint-Denis, France, NFL Network
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | fifth 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 5 — 49ers 32, Seahawks 29 (home) | not active for game (calf injury)
Week 6 — 8:15 Thursday at Denver, Prime Video
Week 7 — 8:20 Sunday vs. Kansas City, 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 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 5 — Texans 26, Titans 3 (home) | didn’t play
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 start, 24 catches, 75 yards (47 longest), 1 touchdown; 58.0 offensive grade, 60.6 pass game grade, 57.6 run-blocking grade
Week 5 — Ravens 30, Falcons 23 (road) | started: 2 catches on 2 targets, 9 yards 7 longest), 1 touchdown (7-yard reception, 40 seconds left in regulation); 45 offensive snaps (59%); 60.7 offensive grade, 60.6 pass-game grade, 57.6 run-block grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, Fox
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cincinnati, CBS
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 74 carries, 276 yards (3.7 average), 6 touchdowns; 17 catches, 94 yards (17 longest), 5.5 average, 1 touchdown; 1 fumble (recovered); 69.5 offensive rating, 84.0 pass game rating, 60.1 pass-block rating, 63.2 run rating
Week 5 — Buccaneers 24, Cowboys 16 (Thursday at home) | started: 12 carries, 45 yards (21 longest), 1 touchdown (1-yard run, 10:51 left in the first quarter); 2 catches on 3 targets, 17 yards (9 longest); 51 offensive snaps (85%); 14.2 fantasy points; 63.8 offensive grade, 67.8 pass-game grade, 52.8 pass-block grade, 63.2 run-game grade
Week 6 — 8:20 Sunday at Green Bay, NBC
Week 7 — 8:15 Sunday at Philadelphia, ESPN
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 PUP list
— Houston safety M.J. Stewart (torn quad), who didn’t play during the preseason; estimated return Oct. 11
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all three 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
— 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
— Offensive lineman Charlie Heck by the Miami Dolphins
— 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
Photo via @Commanders
