The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546417
36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER the franchise's interior defensive line depth. He was among the Raiders' final roster cuts and was then signed to their practice squad. P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), Las Vegas Raiders: The three-time Pro Bowler is going into his eighth season in the NFL, all of which have been with the Raiders. He has averaged 48.5 yards per attempt in 117 career games, including a long of 83, while placing 192 inside the 20-yard line. DL Cory Durden (2021-22), New England Patriots: After spending the first three seasons of his NFL career with three different teams, he is back with the Patriots for the second straight year. He logged a career-best 30 tackles, including 5 for a loss, in 17 games (four starts) during the 2025 campaign. OT Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), Car- olina Panthers: The highest selected player of the Dave Doeren era, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is still recovering from a ruptured patellar ten- don suffered in the Panthers' playoff loss in January. He was moved to the reserve/ physical unable to perform list Aug. 30, and will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. LB Caden Fordham (2021-25), Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The un- drafted free agent put on a clinic during the preseason en route to earning a spot on Tampa Bay's active roster. He had a standout 7-tackle performance, includ- ing 1 for a loss, in the Buccaneers' 16-15 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the second preseason game. WR Wesley Grimes (2024-25), San Francisco 49ers: The undrafted rookie landed on the 49ers' practice squad following the preseason. OLB Sabastian Harsh (2025), Houston Texans: Earned a spot on the Texans' 53-man roster despite not being selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), Cincin- nati Bengals: Set to embark on his sixth season with the Bengals after he spent his first three NFL campaigns with the New York Giants. He logged 66 tackles last season, bringing his career total to 407 stops in eight professional campaigns. S Tanner Ingle (2018-22), Los An- geles Rams: Will open the season on the Rams' practice squad. He made his first four game appearances with the team last season and recorded 1 tackle in Former first-round draft pick Ikem Ekwonu is still recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon suffered during Carolina's playoff loss in January. He was moved to the Panthers' reserve/physically unable to perform list Aug. 30 and will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. PHOTO COURTESY CAROLINA PANTHERS Despite being a fifth-round selection by Denver in the 2026 NFL Draft, tight end Justin Joly was let go during the final roster cuts and subsequently claimed by the Miami Dolphins. PHOTO COURTESY DENVER BRONCOS