Notable Milestone: Just In, 17 Wildcats Alumni Selected for NFL Opening Day Rosters

NFL teams finalized their rosters to the 53-man active limit on Tuesday, resulting in over 1,200 player releases this month. While the initial 53-man roster spots are not guaranteed for Week 1, as teams are expected to make further adjustments, players cut from these rosters still have a strong chance of joining practice squads.

Here are the 17 former Kentucky players who made the initial 53-man rosters:

– LBJamin Davi s (Commanders)- RB Ray Davis (Bills)
– EDGE Bud Dupree (Chargers)
– CB Brandin Echols (Jets)
– S Mike Edwards (Bills)
– C Luke Fortner (Jaguars)
– EDGE Josh Hines-Allen (Jaguars)
– QB Will Levis (Titans)
– OL Darian Kinnard (Eagles)
– EDGE Josh Paschal (Lions)
– CB Dru Phillips (Giants)
– WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Giants)
– S Keidron Smith (Broncos)
– EDGE Za’Darius Smith (Browns)
– CB Carrington Valentine (Packers)
– LB Trevin Wallace (Panthers)
– OT Landon Young (Saints)

The following former UK players were waived or released as part of the final roster cuts across the NFL:

Here are the former UK players who were waived or released as part of the final roster cuts across the NFL:

– WR Josh Ali (Falcons)
– TE Brenden Bates (Bears)
– DT Quinton Bohanna (Titans)
– DT T.J. Carter (Cardinals)
– OT Jeremy Flax (Panthers)
– DT Phil Hoskins (Cardinals)
– RB Ramon Jefferson (Buccaneers)
– S Lonnie Johnson Jr. (Texans)
– CB Kelvin Joseph (Chiefs)
– QB Devin Leary (Ravens)
– OG Tashawn Manning (Ravens)
– DT Marquan McCall (Raiders)
– CB Quandre Moseley (Panthers)
– RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Commanders)
– WR Tayvion Robinson (Panthers)

Many of these players may continue their professional careers in the near future. Each NFL team can also have up to 17 players on its practice squad, including one spot for the International Player Pathway Program.

The NFL regular season begins on Thursday, September 5, with a game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. The first game featuring former UK players will be on Friday, September 6, with Carrington Valentine and the Packers facing Darian Kinnard and the Eagles.