AUBURN, Ala. – A total of 28 former Auburn players were on active NFL rosters this past weekend, including a handful of rookies who were making their debut. Here's a look at how all of the former Tigers fared in their first game of the season.
BEST OF WEEK 1
Josh Bynes, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Entering his seventh NFL season, Bynes recorded a team-high 11 tackles in a 24-6 loss to the Washington Redskins. The former undrafted free agent earned a PFF grade of 88.3, No. 8 among all linebackers. And his grade (90.4) against the run was tops at his position.
Dee Ford, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Ford has become a force in the NFL as he enters his fifth season. The former first-round pick in 2014 made his 2018 season debut with four tackles and a sack to help the Chiefs knock off the Los Angeles Chargers, 38-28, in Week One. After only playing six game last year due to injury, he played 73 snaps in this year's season opener.
Jonathan Jones, CB, New England Patriots
Coming off a season-ending injury in the playoffs last year, Jones bounced back with four tackles (two solo, two assisted) and two passes defended in the Patriots' 27-20 win over the Houston Texans to open the season. The third-year player logged 37 snaps and was fourth among all cornerbacks with a PFF grade of 87.2.
OTHER TIGERS IN THE NFL
Montravious Adams, DT, Green Bay Packers
The former second-round pick now in his second year in the NFL played only snaps in the first game but recorded a tackle as the Packers beat the Chicago Bears, 24-23.
Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Carolina Panthers
Artis-Payne was active but didn't see any action as the Panthers beat the Cowboys, 16-8.
Daren Bates, LB Tennessee Titans
Bates enters his sixth season in the NFL (second as a Titan) as the special teams captain. He recorded one assisted tackle in a 27-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Angelo Blackson, DL, Houston Texans
Entering his second season with the Texans and fourth in the NFL, Blackson finished with three tackles and a pass defended in a 27-20 loss to the New England Patriots. The former fourth-round pick in 2015 earned a PFF grade of 75.0.
Peyton Barber, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The second-year player earned the start at running back for the Buccaneers and finished with 69 yards on 19 carries in a 48-40 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week One. His overall (66.1) and pass-blocking (79.6) grades from PFF were both top-11 at his position.
Daniel Carlson, K, Minnesota Vikings
Making his NFL debut, Carlson made his only field-goal attempt of 48 yards and also added three extra points to help the Vikings beat the San Francisco 49ers, 24-16. The fifth-round pick, who became the SEC's all-time leading scorer last season, won the starting job in the preseason.
Sammie Coates, WR, Houston Texans
Coates, making his debut for the Texans, played six snaps and did not record a catch in a Week One loss to the New England Patriots. The former third-round pick is now in his fourth season in the NFL.
Shon Coleman, OL, San Francisco 49ers
Coleman did not see action in Week One. The third-year player was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the San Francisco 49ers at the end of August.
Blake Countess, DB, Los Angeles Rams
Now in his third NFL season, Countess recorded one tackle in the Rams' 33-13 win over the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football.
Carlton Davis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Davis played 56 snaps in his NFL debut but failed to record a stat in a 48-40 win over the New Orleans Saints. The rookie was taken in the second round of April's NFL draft.
Casey Dunn, C, Washington Redskins
Dunn did not play in a Week One win over the Arizona Cardinals, but the rookie center made the 53-man roster after signing with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent.
Rudy Ford, S, Arizona Cardinals
Drafted in the sixth round a year ago, Ford once again made the 2018 active roster and had two tackles in the Cardinals' 24-6 loss to the Washington Redskins to open the season.
Corey Grant, RB Jacksonville Jaguars
Entering his fourth season in the NFL, Grant recorded one carry for three yards in a 20-15 victory over the New York Giants in Week One. He's known as one of the fastest players on the team and signed a new contract with the Jaguars in the offseason.
Josh Harris, LS, Atlanta Falcons
Harris, now in his seventh season in the NFL, served as his team's long snapper in their 18-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.
Kerryon Johnson, RB, Detroit Lions
Making his NFL debut on Monday Night Football, Johnson finished with five carries for 17 yards and three catches for 20 yards as the Lions fell to the New York Jets, 48-17. The second-round pick played a total of 16 snaps and earned a PFF grade of 71.9.
Devaroe Lawrence, DL, Cleveland Browns
Lawrence enters his first season with the Browns after being traded from the New Orleans Saints in the offseason. The second-year player played two snaps and recorded no stats in a Week One tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Carl Lawson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Coming off a season in which he led all rookies with 8.5 sacks, Lawson played 42 snaps in his 2018 season debut and finished with a QB hurry as the Bengals beat the Indianapolis Colts, 34-23.
Brandon King, LB, New England Patriots
King, now in his fourth year in the NFL, recorded one tackle in a 27-20 victory over the Houston Texans.
Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Entering his eighth season in the NFL, Newton helped guide the Panthers to a 16-8 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week One. The former league MVP went 17 of 16 for 161 yards through the air and also rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
Cody Parkey, K, Chicago Bears
Playing on his fifth team in five seasons, Parkey looks to have found a home in Chicago. The 2014 Pro-Bowler made all three of his field-goal attempts (26, 33, 32) and both PAT attempts in a loss to the Packers.
OL Greg Robinson, Cleveland Browns
Robinson, the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, did not play Week One. He signed with the Browns this offseason after spending his four seasons in the Rams organization.
Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
After being taken in the second round of April's NFL draft, Smith made his debut with the Colts and played four snaps in a Week One loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Neiko Thorpe, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Entering his sixth season in the NFL, Thorpe saw action on special teams Week One but recorded no stats in a 27-24 loss to the Broncos.
C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Uzomah caught his only target for four yards in a 34-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week One. He's now in his fourth season with the Bengals.
Jermaine Whitehead, S, Green Bay Packers
After opening last season on Green Bay's practice squad, Whitehead began the 2018 season on the active roster and finished with three tackles in a 24-23 win over the Chicago Bears. He played a total of 25 snaps and finished with a PFF grade of 74.7.
DNP (Reserve/Injured or Practice Squad)
Jeff Holland, LB, Denver Broncos
Joshua Holsey, CB, Washington Redskins
Ricardo Louis, WR, Cleveland Browns
Tray Matthews, DB, Minnesota Vikings
Cassanova McKinzy, LB, Washington Redskins
Jonathon Mincy, CB, Chicago Bears
Chad Slade, OL, Houston Texans
Robinson Therezie, S, Indianapolis Colts
Gabe Wright, DT, Oakland Raiders
