University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels In The NFL – Preseason Week One
August 18, 2026 | Football
With the start of NFL Preseason games underway, 31 former Tar Heels are on NFL rosters ahead of the season.
Below is a recap of each player's performance. Additionally, former Carolina quarterback and now Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson led the team to a dominant 34-10 victory against the Browns.
Marcus Allen, Minnesota Vikings (CB) – Allen played 11 snaps and had an assisted tackle in the Viking's 13-10 win against the New York Giants.
Austin Blaske, Los Angeles Rams (OL) – Blaske started at left guard and also played left tackle in the Rams' 20-12 victory versus the Kansas City Chiefs. He logged 54 snaps in the game and graded out at 80.9, according to Pro Football Focus, which is considered to be a high-quality performance.
British Brooks, Houston Texans (RB) – Did not play in Houston's first preseason game last Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers due to injury.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders (WR) – Brown started at wide receiver in Washington's 20-7 win against Miami. He played 12 snaps and recorded a 22-yard reception in the game.
Michael Carter, Tennessee Titans (RB) – Carter rushed two times for 10 yards in the Titans' 19-13 win against San Francisco. He played 13 snaps in the contest.
Ty Chandler, New Orleans Saints (RB) – Chandler played 20 snaps against the Jaguars, rushing six times for 24 yards, the second-leading rusher for the team in the game.
Thaddeus Dixon, New York Giants (CB) – Dixon did not appear in the game due to injury.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (WR) – Downs did not appear in the Colts' first preseason game.
Power Echols, Seattle Seahawks (LB) – Echols did not appear in Seattle's first preseason game.
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants (OL) – Ezeudu played 27 snaps at left tackle for the Giants and graded out at 80.3, which is considered a high-quality performance according to Pro Football Focus.
Tomon Fox, Los Angeles Rams (LB) – Fox did not appear in the Rams' first preseason game.
Amari Gainer, New England Patriots (LB) – Gainer played 21 snaps in the Patriots' first preseason game last week and made two tackles with a quarterback hurry.
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans (LB) – Gray did not appear in the Titans' first preseason game.
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers (RB) – Hampton did not appear in the Chargers' first preseason game.
Charlie Heck, Miami Dolphins (OT) – Heck played 27 snaps at left tackle in the Dolphins' game against Washington.
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers (LB) – Holcomb saw action in 37 snaps against Green Bay last week. He recorded two tackles, including a tackle for loss and had a pass deflection.
Mack Hollins, New England (WR) – Hollins started at wide receiver for the Patriots and played 13 snaps. He had two catches for 24 yards.
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys (QB) – Howell was 8-for-12 with 94 yards passing and threw a touchdown in the Cowboys' 17-7 win against Seattle.
Alijah Huzzie, Houston Texans (CB) – Huzzie turned in a strong performance against the Chargers with 31 snaps played and two tackles. He graded out at 73.2 in PFF's advanced metrics, which is tabbed to be an above average performance.
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles (OG) – Lampkin started at center for the Eagles and played 23 snaps. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out at 69.3, the fourth best on the team in the game.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots (QB) – Maye did not play in New England's first preseason game.
Bryson Nesbit, Minnesota Vikings (TE) – Nesbit saw significant playing time for the Vikings, logging 25 offensive snaps and 10 snaps on special teams. He was targeted four times in the game and made two catches for 13 yards.
Asim Richards, New Orleans (OL) – Richards started at left tackle for the Saints in the preseason opener and notched 45 snaps. He was the team's second-highest graded offensive player with an 81.4 by PFF stats.
Jahvaree Ritzie, Minnesota Vikings (DL) – Ritzie played nine snaps at defensive tackle for the Vikings, notching two assisted tackles.
Kaimon Rucker, Baltimore Ravens (DL) – Rucker played 16 snaps at linebacker against the Eagles, logging a tackle in the game.
MJ Stewart, Houston Texans (CB) – Stewart did not appear in Houston's first preseason game due to injury.
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks (LB) – Surratt was one of Seattle's top defensive players against Dallas, playing 40 snaps with six tackles. He graded out at 83.7, according to PFF, the second best on the team.
Mitchell Trubisky, Tennessee Titans (QB) – Trubisky played eight snaps in Tennessee's preseason opener, completing two of his three passes for 23 yards.
Smith Vilbert, Minnesota Vikings (DE) – Vilbert saw action at outside linebacker in Minnesota's first preseason game.
Devontez Walker, Baltimore Ravens (WR) – Walker started at wide receiver for the Ravens and played 26 snaps, recording three catches for 31 yards.
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys (RB) – Williams did not appear in Dallas' first preseason game.
Below is a recap of each player's performance. Additionally, former Carolina quarterback and now Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson led the team to a dominant 34-10 victory against the Browns.
Marcus Allen, Minnesota Vikings (CB) – Allen played 11 snaps and had an assisted tackle in the Viking's 13-10 win against the New York Giants.
Austin Blaske, Los Angeles Rams (OL) – Blaske started at left guard and also played left tackle in the Rams' 20-12 victory versus the Kansas City Chiefs. He logged 54 snaps in the game and graded out at 80.9, according to Pro Football Focus, which is considered to be a high-quality performance.
British Brooks, Houston Texans (RB) – Did not play in Houston's first preseason game last Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers due to injury.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders (WR) – Brown started at wide receiver in Washington's 20-7 win against Miami. He played 12 snaps and recorded a 22-yard reception in the game.
Michael Carter, Tennessee Titans (RB) – Carter rushed two times for 10 yards in the Titans' 19-13 win against San Francisco. He played 13 snaps in the contest.
Ty Chandler, New Orleans Saints (RB) – Chandler played 20 snaps against the Jaguars, rushing six times for 24 yards, the second-leading rusher for the team in the game.
Thaddeus Dixon, New York Giants (CB) – Dixon did not appear in the game due to injury.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (WR) – Downs did not appear in the Colts' first preseason game.
Power Echols, Seattle Seahawks (LB) – Echols did not appear in Seattle's first preseason game.
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants (OL) – Ezeudu played 27 snaps at left tackle for the Giants and graded out at 80.3, which is considered a high-quality performance according to Pro Football Focus.
Tomon Fox, Los Angeles Rams (LB) – Fox did not appear in the Rams' first preseason game.
Amari Gainer, New England Patriots (LB) – Gainer played 21 snaps in the Patriots' first preseason game last week and made two tackles with a quarterback hurry.
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans (LB) – Gray did not appear in the Titans' first preseason game.
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers (RB) – Hampton did not appear in the Chargers' first preseason game.
Charlie Heck, Miami Dolphins (OT) – Heck played 27 snaps at left tackle in the Dolphins' game against Washington.
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers (LB) – Holcomb saw action in 37 snaps against Green Bay last week. He recorded two tackles, including a tackle for loss and had a pass deflection.
Mack Hollins, New England (WR) – Hollins started at wide receiver for the Patriots and played 13 snaps. He had two catches for 24 yards.
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys (QB) – Howell was 8-for-12 with 94 yards passing and threw a touchdown in the Cowboys' 17-7 win against Seattle.
Sam Howell throws it deep and Camden Brown makes the contested catch for the TD 🔥
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2026
DALvsSEA on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/fpKAq7jcPK
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles (OG) – Lampkin started at center for the Eagles and played 23 snaps. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out at 69.3, the fourth best on the team in the game.
Willie Lampkin (61) on 3-15… finish to the echo of the whistle. pic.twitter.com/1jhLO1EDXu
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) August 15, 2026
Bryson Nesbit, Minnesota Vikings (TE) – Nesbit saw significant playing time for the Vikings, logging 25 offensive snaps and 10 snaps on special teams. He was targeted four times in the game and made two catches for 13 yards.
Asim Richards, New Orleans (OL) – Richards started at left tackle for the Saints in the preseason opener and notched 45 snaps. He was the team's second-highest graded offensive player with an 81.4 by PFF stats.
Jahvaree Ritzie, Minnesota Vikings (DL) – Ritzie played nine snaps at defensive tackle for the Vikings, notching two assisted tackles.
Kaimon Rucker, Baltimore Ravens (DL) – Rucker played 16 snaps at linebacker against the Eagles, logging a tackle in the game.
MJ Stewart, Houston Texans (CB) – Stewart did not appear in Houston's first preseason game due to injury.
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks (LB) – Surratt was one of Seattle's top defensive players against Dallas, playing 40 snaps with six tackles. He graded out at 83.7, according to PFF, the second best on the team.
Mitchell Trubisky, Tennessee Titans (QB) – Trubisky played eight snaps in Tennessee's preseason opener, completing two of his three passes for 23 yards.
Smith Vilbert, Minnesota Vikings (DE) – Vilbert saw action at outside linebacker in Minnesota's first preseason game.
Devontez Walker, Baltimore Ravens (WR) – Walker started at wide receiver for the Ravens and played 26 snaps, recording three catches for 31 yards.
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys (RB) – Williams did not appear in Dallas' first preseason game.
Players Mentioned
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