Category: Roadrunners in the NFL

Roadrunners in the NFL: 2018 NFL Preseason Update & Schedule

UPDATE (8/7): The hits just keep on coming. Ashaad Mabry was released by the Panthers earlier today. The schedule has been updated accordingly.

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The NFL’s preseason is officially underway after last Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game, and this year we will see a record seven former UTSA athletes taking the field.

UTSA’s longest-tenured NFL’er Teddy Williams was set to start the season with the New York Giants, but today asked for his release from the team for personal reasons, but still hopes to play at some point this season.

In another bit of bad news, we may not get to see first-rounder Marcus Davenport right away, as he has been sitting out of practice with an undisclosed injury since last Monday. We have to assume this isn’t too severe, since he hasn’t been placed on Injured Reserve, but the Saints haven’t given any timetable for his return as of yet.

ROADRUNNERS IN THE NFL

  • Marcus Davenport – DE – New Orleans Saints
  • Ashaad Mabry – DT – Carolina Panthers
  • Jordan Moore – S – Denver Broncos
  • David Morgan – TE – Minnesota Vikings
  • Brian Price – DT – Dallas Cowboys
  • Dalton Sturm – QB – Dallas Cowboys
  • Jarveon Williams – RB – Cincinnati Bengals

COMPLETE SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)

PRESEASON WEEK 1 (AUG. 9-13)
Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
Bears at Bengals – 7:00pm
Panthers at Bills – 7:00pm
Saints at Jaguars – 7:00pm
Cowboys at 49ers – 10:00pm (NFL Network)

Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018
Vikings at Broncos – 9:05pm (NFL Network)


PRESEASON WEEK 2 (AUG. 16-20)
Friday, Aug. 17, 2018
Dolphins at Panthers – 7:30pm
Cardinals at Saints – 8:00pm

Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018
Jaguars at Vikings – 1:00pm (NFL Network)
Bengals at Cowboys – 7:00pm (NFL Network)
Bears at Broncos – 9:05pm


PRESEASON WEEK 3 (AUG. 23-26)
Friday, Aug. 24, 2018
Broncos at Redskins – 7:30pm
Patriots at Panthers – 7:30pm
Seahawks at Vikings – 8:00pm

Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018
Saints at Chargers – 8:00pm – (CBS)

Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018
Bengals at Bills – 4:00pm – (FOX)
Cardinals at Cowboys – 8:00pm – (NBC)


PRESEASON WEEK 4 (AUG. 30-31)
Thursday, Aug. 30
Colts at Bengals – 7:00pm
Panthers at Steelers – 7:30pm
Cowboys at Texans – 8:00pm
Rams at Saints – 8:00pm
Vikings at Titans – 8:00pm
Broncos at Cardinals – 10:00pm (NFL Network)

NFL Preseason Preview: Jarveon Williams – Cincinnati Bengals

Jarveon Williams left UTSA as the program’s all-time leading rusher and a key piece of the Roadrunners’ offense on the way to the team’s first bowl game.

Williams was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals on April 29, joining Jordan Moore as UTSA’s only undrafted free agent signings this offseason.

JARVEON WILLIAMS

  • Team: Cincinnati Bengals
  • Position: Running Back
  • Experience: Rookie (Undrafted)

 

Williams has been injured for the bulk of training camp, and was finally cleared to practice last week. According to UPI, he did not participate in OTAs or rookie mini-camp either.

CINCINNATI BENGALS RUNNING BACK DEPTH

  • Jeremy Hill, 3 years experience
  • Giovani Bernard, 4 years experience
  • Joe Mixon, Rookie (Drafted, Round 2)
  • Cedric Peerman, 7 years experience (NFI)
  • Tra Carson, 1 year practice squad experience
  • Jarveon Williams, Rookie (Undrafted)
  • Stanley “Boom” Williams, Rookie (Undrafted)

 

It will be extremely tough for Williams to break through the Bengals’ depth chart to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, with the Bengals likely only keeping four running backs.

2nd-round pick Joe Mixon and returnees Hill and Bernard are locked in for the top three spots, while Cedric Peerman should be selected for his special teams abilities as long as he can return from injury prior to the September 2nd roster cuts.

Cincinnati will likely sign one running back to their practice squad as well, so Jarveon will be competing for that final spot with practice squad returnee Tra Carson and fellow undrafted free agent Boom Williams.

Odds to make 53-man roster: 1%

Odds to make practice squad: 10%

 

You can watch Williams in the Bengals’ four preseason matchups, including a nationally-televised game against the Washington Redskins in Week 3, which will air on FOX.

CINCINNATI BENGALS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

(all times Central)

Friday, Aug. 11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals, 6:30 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Saturday, Aug. 12, 12:00 a.m. Midnight

Saturday, Aug. 19
Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals, 6 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Monday, Aug. 21, 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 27
Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Redskins, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)
– NFL Network re-air: Monday, Aug. 28, 3:00 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 31
Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts, 6 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Saturday, Sep. 2, 6:30 a.m.

 

NFL Preseason Preview: David Morgan – Minnesota Vikings

David Morgan entered the NFL last season as UTSA’s first ever draft pick and ended the year with 12 games and 63 offensive snaps under his belt.

Along the way, he received praise from his coaching staff and media alike. So much so that the Vikings were willing to let incumbent blocking tight end Rhett Ellison move on to the New York Giants during the offseason.

DAVID MORGAN

  • Team: Minnesota Vikings
  • Position: Tight End
  • Experience: 1 year

MINNESOTA VIKINGS TIGHT END DEPTH

  • Kyle Rudolph, 6 years experience
  • David Morgan, 1 year experience
  • Bucky Hodges, Rookie (Drafted, Round 6)
  • Kyle Carter, 1 year practice squad experience
  • Nick Truesdell, Rookie (3 years in AFL)
  • Josiah Price, Rookie

 

7th-year man Kyle Rudolph will retain his spot as the #1 tight end heading into the season, and Morgan is the obvious choice to replace Ellison as the first-choice blocking tight end, earning snaps alongside Rudolph in two-TE sets.

Ellison saw action on about 18 offensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps per game while getting targeted in the passing game a total of 14 times in 15 games. We can expect to see similar numbers from Morgan this year.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the depth chart below Rudolph and Morgan, with four guys who are all primarily pass-catching tight ends competing for one or two spots on the 53-man roster.

Odds to make 53-man roster: 100%

 

After kicking off their preseason with a visit to Buffalo tonight, the Vikings will head to Seattle and then return to face the 49ers in back-to-back nationally televised games before hosting the Dolphins in their preseason finale.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

(all times Central)

Thursday, Aug. 10
Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills, 6 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Friday, Aug. 11, 3:00 a.m.

Friday, Aug. 18
Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks, 9 p.m. (NFL Network)

Sunday, Aug. 26
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings, 7 p.m. (NBC)

Thursday, Aug. 31
Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings, 7 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Friday, Sep. 1, 9:00 a.m.

 

NFL Preseason Preview: Ashaad Mabry – New Orleans Saints

Two years after signing with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent, Ashaad Mabry is looking to finally make his way onto the Saints active roster in 2017.

The Saints reaffirmed their commitment to Mabry in January, signing him to a futures deal and keeping him in New Orleans for a third year, after two successful campaigns spent on the practice squad.

ASHAAD MABRY

  • Team: New Orleans Saints
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Experience: 2 years on practice squad

 

The Saints defensive line took a huge hit over the offseason when starting tackle Nick Fairley was diagnosed with a heart condition that will keep him out this season, and potentially end his career.

Meanwhile, New Orleans looked to free agency for some added depth, signing 11-year veteran Tony McDaniel, a former starter in Seattle.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS DEFENSIVE TACKLE DEPTH

  • Sheldon Rankins, 1 year experience
  • Tyeler Davison, 2 years experience
  • David Onyemata, 1 year experience
  • Tony McDaniel, 11 years experience
  • Ashaad Mabry, 2 years practice squad experience
  • Justin Zimmer, 1 year practice squad experience
  • Devaroe Lawrence, Rookie (Undrafted) (injured)

 

Sheldon Rankins should be a shoo-in as a starter in his second season after being drafted 12th overall a season ago. He missed the first half of his rookie year with a broken leg, but upon his return proved why he was worth a 1st-round draft pick.

Preliminary depth charts have Davison as the other starter, but reports out of training camp have Onyemata taking more of the first-team reps. The pair seem to be 2A and 2B in the pecking order for the time being.

With only four defensive tackles likely making the 53-man roster, that leaves one spot left that Mabry will be fighting for. It will take an inspired preseason performance for either Mabry or Zimmer to beat out the veteran McDaniel, so the practice squad will be his most likely landing spot once again.

Odds to make 53-man roster: 10%

Odds to make practice squad: 80%

 

Mabry and the Saints will be in action tonight against Cleveland, followed by a nationally televised game as they visit the new-look Los Angeles Chargers and their 27,000-seat MLS stadium.

 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

(all times Central)

Thursday, Aug. 10
New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns, 7 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Friday, Aug. 11, 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 20
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers, 7 p.m. (NFL Network)

Saturday, Aug. 26
Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints, 7 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Sunday, Aug. 27, 4:00 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 31
Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints, 7 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Saturday, Sep. 2, 9:00 a.m.

 

NFL Preseason Preview: Brian Price – Green Bay Packers

Brian Price may be the most intriguing NFL prospect hailing from UTSA this year.

After a 2016 season that saw Price earn a very brief stint on the gameday roster, along with extended time on the Packers’ practice squad, things are looking up for the second-year defensive tackle.

Price was rewarded last season, with Green Bay bumping his salary from the practice squad minimum $6,900/week up to $26,465/week following an attempt from the Colts to sign him late in the year.

He was also signed to a futures deal at the conclusion of last season, guaranteeing his spot in Green Bay heading into this year.

BRIAN PRICE

  • Team: Green Bay Packers
  • Position: Nose Tackle
  • Experience: 1 year

 

The Packers released defensive tackle Letroy Guion earlier this week amidst concerns about a DWI over the summer, in addition to an unrelated 4-game suspension that he would have served to begin the season.

GREEN BAY PACKERS DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH

  • Mike Daniels, 5 years experience
  • Kenny Clark, 1 year experience
  • Dean Lowry, 1 year experience
  • Ricky Jean Francois, 8 years experience
  • Christian Ringo, 2 years experience
  • Brian Price, 1 year experience
  • Montravius Adams, Rookie (Drafted, 3rd Round) (injured)
  • Izaah Lunsford, Rookie (Undrafted)

 

Defensive coordinator Dom Capers likes to rotate guys along the three-man front, and the Packers typically carry seven defensive linemen on their 53-man roster, giving Price a very good shot at making the cut this year.

Daniels, Clark, and Lowry currently look to be the likely starters heading into the regular season, while veteran Ricky Jean Francois should also be a lock to make the roster coming off the bench.

Christian Ringo looks to retain his roster spot from last season and will be in competition with Price and Adams for the fifth spot on the depth chart.

Highly-touted 3rd-round draft pick Montravius Adams is currently injured and may miss the start of the season, which could lead Green Bay to also retain Lunsford or just go with six guys on the line until Adams gets healthy.

Odds to make 53-man roster: 95%

Odds to make practice squad: 5%

 

Green Bay, unfortunately, doesn’t have any nationally televised games this preseason, but you can watch Price and the Packers in action on NFL Network when they replay the games, or by subscribing to NFL Game Pass.

GREEN BAY PACKERS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

(all times Central)

Thursday, Aug. 10
Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers, 7 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Friday, Aug. 11, 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 19
Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins, 6:30 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Sunday, Aug. 20, 6:00 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 26
Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos, 8 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Sunday, Aug. 27, 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 31
Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers, 6 p.m.
– NFL Network re-air: Saturday, Sep. 2, 7:00 p.m.