NFL Training Camp Tracker
As Week Two of the NFL preseason looms, here’s a snapshot of where former Beavers stand in various training camps from around the league.
We’ll keep this page updated with news and notes as the preseason continues to unfold.
Arizona Cardinals
The Oregon State feel-good story of training camp belongs to explosive playmaker and former Beaver receiver Victor Bolden. Bolden has one career reception in the NFL and hasn’t played in the league since 2018. The Los Osos High School product most recently helped the Birmingham Stallions to a 2022 USFL Championship crown, and took home championship game MVP honors as well.
Bolden’s ticket to a roster spot will likely come by winning the Cardinals’ battle at the kick returner position, but he’s been making plays on offense when given the chance. In a 36-23 victory against the Bengals in the first preseason game, Bolden hauled in his only target for a gain of 15 yards, added six yards on the ground on one carry, and a 20-yard kick return.
Game Two of the Cards’ preseason slate saw Vic get even more involved. He led the team in targets with nine, converting five of them into catches for 66 yards. He did drop a wide open pass in the end zone, however, which would have put the exclamation mark on an otherwise very successful preseason thus far.
He also made one hell of a catch in a scrimmage last week.
Also in camp in the desert is offensive guard Sean Harlow. Harlow played in 15 games for the Cards last year, making five starts.
Buffalo Bills
Arguably the best Beaver in the pros, safety Jordan Poyer, has called Buffalo home since the 2017 season and is in no danger of getting cut. Poyer’s missed time this camp with an arm injury, but should be back by the time the regular season starts. This is a contract year for Astoria, Oregon’s finest, and the Chargers just made Derwin James the highest-paid safety in NFL history. Poyer is probably too far gone on the wrong side of 30 for an NFL team to give him James-level money, but he is one of the top safeties in the game and another exceptional season could lead to one hell of a payday for him.
Buffalo made wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins the 207th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Hodgins spent most of the 2020 season injured and most of last year on the team’s practice squad, making his NFL debut in Week 16 against the Patriots. The hardwork and patience may be paying off for him, though, he caught nine balls for 77 yards in Buffalo’s preseason-opening 27-24 victory against Indianapolis. The advanced stats liked Hodgins’s game too, Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 2 receiver against man coverage in all Week One preseason action.
Carolina Panthers
Super Bowl Champion Johnny Hekker is on a new team for the first time in a decade, opening a new chapter of his career in Charlotte. Hekker is the only rostered punter in Carolina (JP, please pay five seconds of ‘Raise Up,’ by Petey Pablo) and he averaged 50.3 yards per punt on three boots in the Panthers’ 23-21 win against the Commanders and booted a 61-yarder the next against the Patriots. Barring injury the job is his.
Dallas Cowboys
Thank God Ryan Nall got out of Chicago. As a Vikings fan I am absolutely a hater, but not even the craziest Bears fan can look at that offense and think it’s going to be anything other than a hot mess this season. Godspeed, Justin Fields.
It doesn’t appear as though the Cowboys will be the team Nall will break through with. Listed as the only fullback on Dallas’ roster, Nall was initially reported as one of the first round of cuts made to trim the roster from 90 to the max of 85, but it looks like he’s just been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. We’ll keep an eye out on what becomes of WRECKING NALL!
The good news out of Dallas is that Nahshon Wright is showing improvement heading into his second year. I was pleasantly surprised to see Wright’s name announced 99th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and he had some really nice moments as a rookie. His length and increased strength have been on display throughout camp according to Cowboys beat writers. I’d be surprised if he didn’t make the team.
Wright’s up-and-down camp continued in Dallas’ 32-18 win against the Chargers. Wright made a really nice pass break-up on one play, and showed his sound tackling ability throughout the game. He has a knack for being in the right spot at the right time, he just isn’t finishing the play. He’s close, though, so I’m gonna need you to be just a liiiiittle patient, Cowboys Twitter.
Detroit Lions
The stars of this season’s Hard Knocks are interesting for several reasons, most notably because they also employ one of the most exciting Oregon State running backs of recent memory in Jermar Jefferson.
Jefferson hasn’t gotten much face time through two episodes of the acclaimed HBO series, but he has drawn praise from Dan Campbell and looks to be in good shape heading into his sophomore year as a professional. The Harbor City, CA product led Detroit ball carriers with nine carries in their first preseason game against Atlanta and tied for the lead in carries with seven in preseason game No. 2 against Indy. JJ has yet to break one of his patented explosive long runs, rushing for just 19 and 25 yards respectively. If he keeps getting chances, though, we all know it’s only a matter of time.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers stupidly cut BJ Baylor during their first round of picks because stupid teams will do stupid things and the Packers are the stupidest of them all.
The bad news is a Belligerent Beavs favorite got cut. The good news is he’ll end up somewhere better, literally anywhere else.
Houston Texans
Looking for a pro team to cheer for, Beaver fans? I give you the Houston Texans! The proud employers of messrs Brandin Cooks, Steven Nelson, and Teagan Quitoriano.
I’m expecting all three of these guys to make the final 53 in Houston. Cooks had a sneaky good year last season and seemed to have some pretty solid chemistry with QB and Stanford alum Davis Mills (Pac 12 guy, drink!).
Houston marks the fourth different team for Nelson in his career. He started 16 games for Philadelphia last year and should be seen as the current favorite to start opposite rookie corner and 3rd overall pick in 2022 Derek Stingley Jr.
I’m expecting Quitoriano to make the team as well. A fifth-round draft slot doesn’t guarantee your safety, but I’m bullish on TQ and predicted on a recent podcast that he’ll even break into fantasy relevance by the end of the season. According to the beat writers of Texans Twitter, he’s stepped it up after missing time earlier this summer and that showed in the form of a 6-yard touchdown catch from Kyle Allen.
It was a really nice play by the rookie. TQ caught the ball in the flat right at the five-yard line and changed his direction with a nifty move to get past rookie safety, and Washington State alum, Dan Isom and dive into the end zone.
Las Vegas Raiders
One of the former Beaver stars shining brightest this preseason has been Raiders’ DT Kyle Peko. The Raiders played in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton against the Jacksonville Jaguars, so Peko has had more than a share opportunities to put himself on film and he’s delivered.
Peko’s bounced on and off practice squads for the most part since entering the league in 2016, but is coming off of the most productive season of his career. There’s a lot of preseason football left to play, but Peko has positioned himself well to make the final 53 for America’s Playground.
Los Angeles Chargers
After six seasons of dedication to getting Oregon State football back to where it belongs, Trevon Bradford is now in camp with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers boast a dynamic receiving core headlined by Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and second-year pro Josh Palmer, but there’s plenty of opportunity to be had behind those three. Bradford had one catch on only one target for six yards in his preseason debut, and two catches for 26 yards on three targets in game No. 2. If head coach Brandon Staley decides to keep six wideouts in his 53, Bradford’s got a shot, but I’d guess he’s likely more of a practice squad candidate at this point.
Minnesota Vikings
Oregon State all-time passing leader Sean Mannion got the start for my beloved Purple People Eaters in Preseason Week One and went 8-of-12 for 79 yards before giving way to Kellen Mond. Mannion hasn’t lit up the world in his limited on-field opportunities, but he’s a genius, a great teammate, and something of an additional QB coach on the team. Now that my favorite team has actually hired an offensive minded coach or two, there may be less of a need for ‘Coach Mannion,’ which would break my heart. If Mond continues to flash, it’ll be hard to see a roster spot for Mannion unless the Vikes carry three quarterbacks.
Blake Brandel had a pretty solid game against the Raiders and received excellent run-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus. Brandel is entering his third year in Minnesota and made 13 appearances last season. You’ll hear me complain about this team nonstop (usually for good reason, IMO), but the starting tackle tandem of Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill is excellent. Brandel appears to be a top candidate for the swing tackle backup role, which has been an important position for the Vikings in the past, so I’m expecting the Central Catholic grad to be an important part of the OL for my favorite team this year.
New Orleans Saints
Josh Andrews aka Juice! The eight-year veteran will bring leadership and position flexibility to the Saints’ offensive line room.
Andrews is one of my favorite Beavers ever and he’s achieved a near decade in the NFL despite living with narcolepsy. He’d be an excellent fit in the trenches for New Orleans.
New York Jets
Isaiah Dunn is impressing all the right people in Jets camp. Check out this clip of head coach Robert Saleh singing his praises:
Dunn saw action in 12 games last season and made one start. Hearing this from Saleh is exactly what you hope to hear a coach say about an undrafted player entering their second season. I fully expect to see Dunn on the Final 53 and am really excited to see how he elevates his game this season.
Philadelphia Eagles
The highest-rated recruit in Oregon State history and IOL stalwart Isaac Seumalo is set for his seventh season with the Eagles and expected to be the starter at right guard. Philadelphia could be home to the NFL’s best offensive line this season, and Seumalo is a massive part of that.
Former Oregon State TE Noah Togiai is also in Philadelphia and having a hell of a camp! He’s got a long road to make the final 53, but all reports seem to indicate he’s making it a very difficult decision for the Eagle’s coaching staff.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers picked up pass rushing menace Hamilcar Rashed Jr after he was waived by the Jets and Rashed immediately paid them back for it, picking up a sack in his first preseason game in black and yellow (JP, please play five seconds of ‘Black & Yellow’ by Wiz Khalifa.
Seattle Seahawks
Elijah Jones has his work cut out for him to make the final 53 in Seattle, but Pete Carroll has shown throughout his career that he falls easily for long, tall, athletic cornerbacks who can bang on the outside. That basically describes Jones, who is taking advantage of the reps being given to him due to Artie Burns missing time with injury.
