Vols In The League: How Former VFLs Fared In NFL Week 2
Image: Kym Fortino/49ers
By Aidan Sidoti
Week 2 of the NFL season saw several former Volunteers deliver strong performances across the league.
Here’s a rundown of how the VFLs performed:
James Pearce (Atlanta Falcons DE)
In his second career game, the Falcons rookie recorded two tackles, half a sack, and one quarterback hit in Atlanta’s 22-6 win over Minnesota on Sunday Night Football.
Joshua Palmer (Buffalo Bills WR)
Hauled in two of three targets for 47 yards in Buffalo's 30-10 victory over the Jets.
Cade Mays (Carolina Panthers OL)
Logged 17 snaps on offense and two on special teams in Carolina’s 27-22 loss to Arizona, as the Panthers dropped to 0-2.
Darnell Wright (Chicago Bears OL)
Started at right tackle and played all 68 offensive snaps in Chicago’s 52-21 letdown against Detroit.
Dylan Sampson (Cleveland Browns RB)
The former SEC Offensive Player of the Year scored his first NFL touchdown, finishing with four carries for six yards and three receptions for 13 yards in Cleveland’s 41-17 loss at Baltimore.
Cedric Tillman (Cleveland Browns WR)
Caught two passes on seven targets for 22 yards, including a circus-style touchdown grab in Cleveland’s loss.
Joe Milton III (Dallas Cowboys QB)
Did not see any action in Dallas’ 40-37 overtime win over the Giants.
Kamal Hadden (Green Bay Packers CB)
Played three snaps on special teams and did not record any stats in Green Bay’s 27-18 over Washington on Thursday Night Football.
Derek Barnett (Houston Texans DE)
Barnett and the Texans take on the Buccaneers at home at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.
Darrell Taylor (Houston Texans DE)
Will also take on Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football.
Omarr Norman-Lott (Kansas City Chiefs DT)
Recorded his first-career sack in his NFL debut as Kansas City lost 20-17 to Philadelphia.
Trey Smith (Kansas City Chiefs OL)
Played every offensive snap and didn’t allow a sack in Kansas City’s Super Bowl rematch against Philly.
Jaylen McCollough (Los Angeles Rams SAF)
Recorded three tackles in the Rams’ 33-19 victory over the Titans.
Byron Young (Los Angeles Rams LB)
The former Vol stuffed the stat sheet with two sacks and five tackles in the Rams’ 33-19 win over Tennessee.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. (Las Vegas Raiders WR)
Thornton Jr. and the Raiders take on the Chargers at 10 p.m ET on ESPN.
Matthew Butler (Miami Dolphins DE)
Recorded three tackles on 15 defensive snaps as the Dolphins fell 33-27 to New England, dropping to 0-2.
Jaylen Wright (Miami Dolphins RB)
Wright was inactive Sunday as he continues to recover from a leg procedure.
Theo Jackson (Minnesota Vikings SAF)
Led the Minnesota defense with a team-high nine tackles and a fumble recovery as the Vikings lost 22-6 to Atlanta on Sunday Night Football.
Joshua Dobbs (New England Patriots Quarterback)
Dobbs did not see any game action in the Patriots’ 33-27 win over Miami.
Alontae Taylor (New Orleans Saints Cornerback)
Taylor showed out in New Orleans’ 26-21 loss to San Francisco, recording six tackles, one tackle for loss, and two pass breakups.
Velus Jones Jr. (New Orleans Saints RB)
Jones did not see any game action in New Orleans' loss to San Francisco.
Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints RB)
Kamara rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries (4.7 YPC) and added six receptions for 21 yards in the Saints’ loss to the 49ers.
Jalin Hyatt (New York Giants WR)
Hyatt was active for the second straight week for New York, but once again recorded zero offensive snaps in the Giants’ 40-37 overtime loss to Dallas.
Jauan Jennings (San Francisco 49ers WR)
Jennings found the end zone in San Francisco’s 26-21 victory over New Orleans, the former Vol caught five passes for 89 yards in Mac Jones’ first career start with the squad.
Morgan Cox (Tennessee Titans LS)
Started at long snapper for the Titans’ 33-19 loss against the Rams.
Shy Tuttle (Tennessee Titans DT)
Tuttle played 30.5% of the defensive snaps in his season debut, recording one tackle in Tennessee’s loss to the Rams.
Gabe Jeudy-Lally (Tennessee Titans CB)
Jeudy-Lally did not appear in the Titans’ loss to the Rams.
