The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1476803
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 2022 NFL PREVIEW BY MATT CARTER H ow is your favorite former Pack Pro doing in NFL training camp? Here is a rundown of all the former NC State football players trying to make a roster spot in the league. QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15 at NC State), Cleveland Browns: The suspension of newly acquired quarter- back Deshaun Watson for 11 games opens the door for Brissett to be the Browns' starter … Cleveland would be the fourth team that Brissett has started for in his NFL career … Entering his seventh season in the league, Brissett has completed 727 of 1,208 passes (60.2 percent) for 7,742 yards and 36 touchdowns with 17 interceptions while adding 653 yards and 13 more TDs rushing … Brissett signed a one-year, $4.65 million contract with the Browns in the offseason. DB Juston Burris (2012-15), Carolina Panthers: After starting for most of the past two seasons for the Pan - thers, the recently married Burris returned to Carolina on a one-year contract worth almost $1.2 million … He is expected to make the roster in a reserve role after Panthers added free agent Xavier Woods on a three- year deal worth $15.75 million. OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), Denver Broncos: Chubb is in a contract year and looking to bounce back after ankle surgery limited the former Pro Bowler to six largely unproductive games last season … In his two fully healthy seasons, he had a combined 102 tackles, including 19.5 sacks, but he missed one season with an ACL tear and then most of last year with a bone spur. P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), Las Vegas Raiders: Last season was a banner campaign for Cole … Led the NFL with a punting average of 50.0 yards per attempt, the eighth-best single-season mark in league history … Was selected to the Pro Bowl and during the season signed a four-year contract extension worth $12 mil- lion, including a $2 million signing bonus and $5.6 mil- lion guaranteed. OL Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), Carolina Panthers: After being drafted in the first round by the Panthers, the newest Pack Pro played behind second-year lineman Brady Christensen early in camp. However, on Aug. 16, three days after Carolina's preseason opener against Washington, Ekwonu was named the team's starter at left tackle … "He played well in the game," Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said. "These are valuable reps for him." P Trenton Gill (2018-21), Chicago Bears: After being selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, the rookie is favored to be the Bears' punter … He is cur - rently the lone punter on Chicago's roster. WR Kelvin Harmon (2016-18), Washington Com- manders: As a rookie in 2019, Harmon caught 30 passes for 365 yards, but a year later he tore his ACL and then in his return in 2021 was cut before being placed on Washington's practice squad … Faces stiff competition to land a roster spot this preseason with the Commanders. DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals: After an impressive season with Super Bowl participant Bengals, who acquired him in a trade with the Giants, Hill signed a three-year, $30 million contract during the offseason that included a $10 million signing bonus and $13 million guaranteed … Had 5.5 sacks during his breakout season with the Bengals in 2022 and is expected to have a larger role in 2022. RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), Indianapolis Colts: Through four seasons with the Colts, Hines has rushed 282 times for 1,169 yards and 9 touchdowns while catching 210 passes for 1,537 yards and 7 more scores … Has also returned 2 punts for TDs … Colts head coach Frank Reich recently said he would pick Hines if he were a fantasy draft owner. DB Dontae Johnson (2010-13), San Francisco 49ers: Johnson signed a one-year contract with the 49ers, the team with which he has spent seven of his eight NFL seasons … Started three games last season and has spent time during training camp running first-string nickel. DB Josh Jones (2014-16), Seattle Seahawks: Jones is quickly impressing with Seattle, his fourth NFL team … Played the last four games of the 2021 season there, including one start, and has been reportedly "making waves" in training camp. DT Justin Jones (2014-17), Chicago Bears: Jones signed a two-year, $12 million contract in the offseason with the Bears, including a $5 million signing bonus Former NC State Football Players In The NFL As of Aug. 15 Linebacker Bradley Chubb has been a force for Denver when healthy, but he played in only six games last year due to a bone spur. PHOTO COURTESY DENVER BRONCOS