University of Tennessee Athletics

Vols in the NFL - Week 1 Update
September 14, 2021 | Football
The first week of the 2021 NFL season is in the books as VFLs played across the country with their teams going a collective 9-5.
Â
The New Orleans Saints rolled to a convincing 38-3 win. While the game was played in Jacksonville, Florida, due to Hurricane Ida, Alvin Kamara picked up right where he left off a season ago, rushing for 83 yards on 20 carries and hauling in three passes for eight yards and a touchdown. Marquez Callaway got the start at receiver and had one reception for 14 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Shy Tuttle had a pair of solo tackles as a reserve on the defensive line.
Rookie Trey Smith, after a stellar preseason camp, kept the ball rolling in the Kansas City Chiefs season opener against the Browns. He started at right guard, playing all 65 snaps in the game, and only allowed one pressure on Patrick Mahomes.
Â
After spending his first year on IR, Darrell Taylor made his much anticipated debut, delivering two tackles and a big sack to seal the game for the Seahawks against Indianapolis.
Â
Cornerback Cameron Sutton had perhaps the most valuable weekend, notching a career-best five tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. He preserved Pittsburgh's 23-16 win at Buffalo with a huge tackle for loss on 4th-and-1 early in the fourth quarter.
Â
Derek Barnett – DE – Eagles
Started and made three tackles in a 32-6 win at Atlanta
Marquez Callaway – WR – Saints
Started and had one reception for 14 yards in a 38-3 win over the Packers
Justin Coleman – DB – Dolphins
Played but did not record any statistics in a 17-16 win at New England
Morgan Cox – LS – Titans
Snapped for an extra point and four punts in a 38-13 loss against the Cardinals
Jason Croom – TE – Eagles
Injured Reserve
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Steelers
Injured Reserve
Malik Jackson – DT – Browns
Started against the Chiefs making three tackles and having one pass breakup
Ja'Wuan James – OL – Ravens
Injured Reserve
Jauan Jennings – WR – 49ers
Played but did not record any statistics in a 41-33 win at Detroit
Alexander Johnson – LB – Broncos
Started at linebacker making two tackles and one pass breakup in a 27-13 win against the Giants
Jakob Johnson – FB – Patriots
Saw time in the backfield in a 16-17 loss against Miami
Alvin Kamara – RB – Saints
Had 20 carries for 83 yards and added three receptions for eight yards and a touchdown in a 38-3 win against Green Bay
John Kelly – RB – Browns
Practice Squad
Kahlil McKenzie – DT – Ravens
Practice Squad
Emmanuel Moseley – CB – 49ers
Did not play against Detroit due to injury
Michael Palardy – P – Dolphins
Had four punts for 180 yards against New England with a long of 50 yards
Joshua Palmer – WR – Chargers
Made his NFL debut and had one reception for 17 yards in a 20-16 win over Washington
Cordarrelle Patterson – WR – Falcons
Started and made two catches for 13 yards, added seven rushes for 54 yards against Phladelphia, now has 2100 career receiving yards
Kyle Phillips – DL – Jets
Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
Jalen Reeves-Maybin – LB – Lions
Played in a reserve role making one tackle agaist the 49ers
Trey Smith – OL – Chiefs
Made his NFL debut, playing all 65 offensive snaps and only allowing one pressure
Cameron Sutton – CB – Steelers
Started at cornerback and tied a career high with five tackles, also broke up two passes in a 23-16 win over Buffalo
Darrell Taylor – DE – Seahawks
Two tackles and a sack in a 28-16 win at Indianapolis
Shy Tuttle – DL – Saints
Made two tackles as a reserve defensive lineman in New Orleans' win
Kendal Vickers – DE – Raiders
Practice Squad
Nigel Warrior – DB – Seahawks
Injured Reserve
Ethan Wolf – TE – Saints
Practice Squad
Â
The first #Saints TD of the season goes to last season's NFL TD leader: @A_kamara6 🙌#GBvsNO | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/LnMFgELRG4
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 12, 2021
The New Orleans Saints rolled to a convincing 38-3 win. While the game was played in Jacksonville, Florida, due to Hurricane Ida, Alvin Kamara picked up right where he left off a season ago, rushing for 83 yards on 20 carries and hauling in three passes for eight yards and a touchdown. Marquez Callaway got the start at receiver and had one reception for 14 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Shy Tuttle had a pair of solo tackles as a reserve on the defensive line.
Rookie Trey Smith, after a stellar preseason camp, kept the ball rolling in the Kansas City Chiefs season opener against the Browns. He started at right guard, playing all 65 snaps in the game, and only allowed one pressure on Patrick Mahomes.
Â
Watch Trey Smith https://t.co/oyrNhVCJNo
— Tom Childs (@tomchilds56) September 12, 2021
After spending his first year on IR, Darrell Taylor made his much anticipated debut, delivering two tackles and a big sack to seal the game for the Seahawks against Indianapolis.
Â
Welcome to the league, @darrelltaylorst! 💪
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 12, 2021
📺: #SEAvsIND on FOX pic.twitter.com/RvkUKf1Nhl
Cornerback Cameron Sutton had perhaps the most valuable weekend, notching a career-best five tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. He preserved Pittsburgh's 23-16 win at Buffalo with a huge tackle for loss on 4th-and-1 early in the fourth quarter.
Â
The guy is everywhere 💪 pic.twitter.com/18OPo9BQcQ
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 12, 2021
Derek Barnett – DE – Eagles
Started and made three tackles in a 32-6 win at Atlanta
Marquez Callaway – WR – Saints
Started and had one reception for 14 yards in a 38-3 win over the Packers
Justin Coleman – DB – Dolphins
Played but did not record any statistics in a 17-16 win at New England
Morgan Cox – LS – Titans
Snapped for an extra point and four punts in a 38-13 loss against the Cardinals
Jason Croom – TE – Eagles
Injured Reserve
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Steelers
Injured Reserve
Malik Jackson – DT – Browns
Started against the Chiefs making three tackles and having one pass breakup
Ja'Wuan James – OL – Ravens
Injured Reserve
Jauan Jennings – WR – 49ers
Played but did not record any statistics in a 41-33 win at Detroit
Alexander Johnson – LB – Broncos
Started at linebacker making two tackles and one pass breakup in a 27-13 win against the Giants
Jakob Johnson – FB – Patriots
Saw time in the backfield in a 16-17 loss against Miami
Alvin Kamara – RB – Saints
Had 20 carries for 83 yards and added three receptions for eight yards and a touchdown in a 38-3 win against Green Bay
John Kelly – RB – Browns
Practice Squad
Kahlil McKenzie – DT – Ravens
Practice Squad
Emmanuel Moseley – CB – 49ers
Did not play against Detroit due to injury
Michael Palardy – P – Dolphins
Had four punts for 180 yards against New England with a long of 50 yards
Joshua Palmer – WR – Chargers
Made his NFL debut and had one reception for 17 yards in a 20-16 win over Washington
Cordarrelle Patterson – WR – Falcons
Started and made two catches for 13 yards, added seven rushes for 54 yards against Phladelphia, now has 2100 career receiving yards
Kyle Phillips – DL – Jets
Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
Jalen Reeves-Maybin – LB – Lions
Played in a reserve role making one tackle agaist the 49ers
Trey Smith – OL – Chiefs
Made his NFL debut, playing all 65 offensive snaps and only allowing one pressure
Cameron Sutton – CB – Steelers
Started at cornerback and tied a career high with five tackles, also broke up two passes in a 23-16 win over Buffalo
Darrell Taylor – DE – Seahawks
Two tackles and a sack in a 28-16 win at Indianapolis
Shy Tuttle – DL – Saints
Made two tackles as a reserve defensive lineman in New Orleans' win
Kendal Vickers – DE – Raiders
Practice Squad
Nigel Warrior – DB – Seahawks
Injured Reserve
Ethan Wolf – TE – Saints
Practice Squad
Players Mentioned
FB | Jesse Perry Media Availability (10.13.25)
Monday, October 13
FB | Jalen McMurray Media Availability (10.13.25)
Monday, October 13
FB | Josh Heupel Press Conference (10.13.25)
Monday, October 13
FB | Aguilar, Josephs, Ross Postgame vs. Arkansas (10.11.25)
Saturday, October 11