By R.L. Bynum
Cut day in the NFL didn’t go well for several former UNC players, but many have made practice squads heading into Week 1. Eight other former Tar Heels are listed as starters or possible starters.
One notable surprise came when the Los Angeles Chargers released their Week 1 depth chart: the starting running back is listed as Najee Harris OR Omarion Hampton.
Hampton was impressive in training camp, according to reports, but had only four preseason carries for 21 yards, while Harris didn’t play at all due to an offseason eye injury. Hampton currently sits second on the depth chart page of the Chargers’ official site.
It’s safe to say that Hampton will get some carries in the Chargers’ opener is in São Paulo, Brazil, at 8 p.m. on Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs (YouTube).
The first NFL game is at 8:20 p.m. on Thursday (NBC), when the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, with reserve quarterback Sam Howell, host the Dallas Cowboys in the Cowboys’ debut of running back Javonte Williams.
UNC alums who are atop depth charts in addition to Williams, who didn’t play during the preseason:
— Jacksonville wide receiver Dyami Brown
— Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs
— Miami cornerback Storm Duck
— New England wide receiver Mack Hollins
— Atlanta cornerback Mike Hughes
— New England quarterback Drake Maye
Tar Heels listed as second string:
— Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray
— Tampa Bay left tackle Charlie Heck
— Pittsburgh right inside linebacker Cole Holcomb
— New Orleans left tackle Asim Richards
— Houston free safety M.J. Stewart
— Buffalo quarterback Mitch Trubisky
UNC alums who are third-stringers on depth charts:
— Minnesota running back Ty Chandler
— Philadelphia quarterback Howell
— Baltimore wide receiver Tez Walker
The only player waived Tuesday, when teams had to trim their rosters to 53 players, on an active roster is linebacker Chazz Surratt, who moved from one NFC West team to another.
After collecting 10 tackles and six assists in two preseason games for San Francisco, the 49ers released him. Seattle signed him to their active roster, and it appears that he’ll be a reserve.
He’s not on the Seahawks’ official depth chart, but ESPN lists him as the backup right inside linebacker behind Ernest Jones IV, and Ourlads has him as the second-string weakside linebacker behind Tyrice Knight.
Rookie cornerback Alijah Huzzie is on the Houston Texans’ reserve/non-football injury list, and five others released Tuesday are on practice squads:
— Baltimore rookie linebacker Kaimon Rucker
— Chicago rookie linebacker Power Echols
— New York Giants linebacker Tomon Fox
— Minnesota tight end rookie Bryson Nesbit
— New England rookie defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie
Where Tar Heels stand entering Week 1
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 15 — 1 assist on kickoff coverage; 3 offensive snaps (4%), 14 special-teams snaps (50%)
Week 16 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Las Vegas Raiders, CBS
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 15: Jaguars 48, Jets 20 — Didn’t start; 1 carry, 4 yards, 1 fumble (lost); 5 offensive snaps (8%), 1 special-teams snap (3%)
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday at Denver, 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 15: Texans 40, Cardinals 20 — Didn’t start; 14 carries, 56 yards (8 longest); 4 catches on 4 targets, 38 yards (14 longest); 53 offensive snaps (80%)
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Atlanta, 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 15: Seahawks 18, Colts 16 — Started; 3 catches on 5 targets, 13 yards (8 longest), 1 touchdown (8-yard TD pass from Philip Rivers with 1:33 left in the second quarter); 43 offensive snaps (72%)
Week 16 — 8:15 Monday vs. San Francisco, ABC, ESPN
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 15: 49ers 37, Titans 24 — Started; 7 tackles, 9 assists; 64 defensive snaps (86%), 6 special-teams snaps (21%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Kansas City, 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 15: Chargers 16, Chiefs 13 — Didn’t start; 15 carries, 61 yards (26 longest); 1 catch on 1 target, 4 yards; recovered a fumble; 25 offensive snaps (36%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
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 15: Falcons 29, Bucs 28 on Thursday — Reported tackle-eligible four times; 5 offensive snaps (7%), 4 special-teams snaps (15%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, 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 15: Steelers 28, Dolphins 15 — 1 tackle on kickoff coverage in 9 special-teams snaps
Week 16 — 4:25 Sunday at Detroit, 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 15: Bills 35, Patriots 31 — Started; 4 catches on 8 targets, 41 yards (18 longest), 1 fumble; 1 tackle after an interception; 41 offensive snaps (79%)
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday at Baltimore, NBC
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 15: Eagles 31, Raiders 0 — Not active
Week 16 — 5 p.m. Saturday at Washington, 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 15: Falcons 29, Bucs 28 on Thursday — Started; injured an ankle on play with 5:06 left in the first quarter; 9 defensive snaps (13%)
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday at Arizona, Fox
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 15: Bills 35, Patriots 31 — Started; 14 of 23, 155 yards (30 longest) 0 touchdowns, 1 interception, 3 sacks for 16 yards in losses, 62.8 passer rating; 4 carries, 42 yards (17 longest), 2 touchdowns (runs of 8 yards with 10:21 left in the first quarter and 7 yards with 25 seconds left in the first quarter); 52 offensive snaps (100%); 21.5 fantasy points
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday at Baltimore, NBC
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 15 — Not active for the game
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Jets, 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 15: Bills 35, Patriots 31 — Didn’t play
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, CBS
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 15: Ravens 24, Bengals 0 — Started; 25 offensive snaps (61%), 4 special-teams snaps (24%)
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday vs. New England, NBC
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 15: Vikings 34, Cowboys 26 — Started; 15 carries, 91 yards (6.1 average, 21 longest), 1 touchdown (1-yard run with 8:23 left in the first quarter); 20 offensive snaps (29%); 15.10 fantasy points
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Fox
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 @Chargers
tarheeltribune.com 