University of Tennessee Athletics
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Vols in the NFL – Week 1
September 16, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A trio of former Tennessee standouts made notable contributions during the opening week of the 2026 NFL season, highlighted by Josh Palmer's game-winning touchdown catch for Buffalo, while several other Vols made their NFL debuts.
Palmer delivered one of the week's biggest plays, hauling in a 34-yard touchdown reception with 1:36 remaining to give the Bills a 36-31 victory over Houston.
Former Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith started at guard for the Kansas City Chiefs, playing all 69 offensive snaps in a 31-10 victory over Denver, while Darnell Wright logged 75 offensive snaps in the Bears' 59-37 victory over Carolina.
Several Tennessee products made their NFL debuts in Week 1. Giants cornerback Colton Hood played 18 total snaps in New York's 28-20 victory over Dallas, while Commanders outside linebacker Joshua Josephs saw 13 defensive snaps against Philadelphia.
Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor made his Tennessee debut, starting against the Jets and recording six tackles. Rams safety Jaylen McCollough notched six tackles against San Francisco in the NFL's first-ever game played in Australia.
A full recap of Tennessee's representatives across the league can be found below.
Joey Aguilar – QB – Jaguars
Practice squad.
Dominic Bailey – DT – Texans
Practice squad.
Derek Barnett – DE – Browns
Played 17 defensive snaps at Jacksonville.
Chris Brazzell II – WR – Panthers
Injured reserve.
Morgan Cox – LS – Titans
Snapped nine times in the Titans' season opener against the Jets.
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Lions
Did not see any action.
Bryson Eason – DT – Chiefs
Did not see any action.
Princeton Fant – TE – Cowboys
Injured reserve.
Kamal Hadden – CB – Packers
Made one tackle in the Packers contest at the Vikings.
Colton Hood – CB – Giants
Made his NFL debut in a 28-20 win over Dallas, playing 18 total snaps.
Hendon Hooker – QB – Titans
Practice squad.
Jalin Hyatt – WR – Giants
Practice squad.
Theo Jackson – DB – Vikings
Notched two tackles in Minnesota's 39-22 win over Green Bay.
Jauan Jennings – WR – Vikings
Played 31 offensive snaps on Sunday against the Packers.
Velus Jones Jr. – WR – Seahawks
Practice squad.
Joshua Josephs – OLB – Commanders
Made his NFL debut against the Eagles, playing 13 defensive snaps.
Alvin Kamara – RB – Saints
Did not see any action.
Cade Mays – C – Lions
Injured reserve.
Jaylen McCollough – S – Rams
Recorded six tackles as the Rams battled the 49ers in the NFL's first-ever game played in Australia.
Jermod McCoy – CB – Raiders
Did not see any action.
Jalen McMurray – CB – Titans
Practice squad.
Joe Milton III – QB – Cowboys
Practice squad.
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Chiefs
Injured reserve.
Josh Palmer – WR – Bills
Hauled in the game-winning 34-yard touchdown reception in Buffalo's 36-31 win over Houston with 1:36 remaining on the clock.
James Pearce Jr. – DE – Falcons
NFL exempt list.
Dylan Sampson – RB – Browns
Returned two kickoffs for 64 yards against the Jaguars.
Elijah Simmons – DT – Buccaneers
Did not see any action.
Jabari Small – RB – Lions
Practice squad.
Trey Smith – OG – Chiefs
Started and played 69 offensive snaps in a 31-10 win over Denver.
Alontae Taylor – CB – Titans
Made his Tennessee Titans debut, starting and making six tackles on Sunday vs. the Jets.
Dont'e Thornton Jr. – WR – Raiders
Injured reserve.
Cedric Tillman – WR – Saints
Practice squad.
Shy Tuttle – DT – Commanders
Played 16 defensive snaps, making one tackle against the Eagles.
Tyre West – DL – Lions
Practice squad.
Darnell Wright – OT – Bears
Started and played 75 offensive snaps in the Bears' 59-37 win over the Panthers.
Jaylen Wright – RB – Dolphins
Returned two kicks for 106 yards against Las Vegas.
Byron Young – OLB – Rams
Made one tackle in the Rams' divisional matchup against the 49ers.
Palmer delivered one of the week's biggest plays, hauling in a 34-yard touchdown reception with 1:36 remaining to give the Bills a 36-31 victory over Houston.
Former Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith started at guard for the Kansas City Chiefs, playing all 69 offensive snaps in a 31-10 victory over Denver, while Darnell Wright logged 75 offensive snaps in the Bears' 59-37 victory over Carolina.
Several Tennessee products made their NFL debuts in Week 1. Giants cornerback Colton Hood played 18 total snaps in New York's 28-20 victory over Dallas, while Commanders outside linebacker Joshua Josephs saw 13 defensive snaps against Philadelphia.
Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor made his Tennessee debut, starting against the Jets and recording six tackles. Rams safety Jaylen McCollough notched six tackles against San Francisco in the NFL's first-ever game played in Australia.
A full recap of Tennessee's representatives across the league can be found below.
Joey Aguilar – QB – Jaguars
Practice squad.
Dominic Bailey – DT – Texans
Practice squad.
Derek Barnett – DE – Browns
Played 17 defensive snaps at Jacksonville.
Chris Brazzell II – WR – Panthers
Injured reserve.
Morgan Cox – LS – Titans
Snapped nine times in the Titans' season opener against the Jets.
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Lions
Did not see any action.
Bryson Eason – DT – Chiefs
Did not see any action.
Princeton Fant – TE – Cowboys
Injured reserve.
Kamal Hadden – CB – Packers
Made one tackle in the Packers contest at the Vikings.
Colton Hood – CB – Giants
Made his NFL debut in a 28-20 win over Dallas, playing 18 total snaps.
Hendon Hooker – QB – Titans
Practice squad.
Jalin Hyatt – WR – Giants
Practice squad.
Theo Jackson – DB – Vikings
Notched two tackles in Minnesota's 39-22 win over Green Bay.
Jauan Jennings – WR – Vikings
Played 31 offensive snaps on Sunday against the Packers.
Velus Jones Jr. – WR – Seahawks
Practice squad.
Joshua Josephs – OLB – Commanders
Made his NFL debut against the Eagles, playing 13 defensive snaps.
Alvin Kamara – RB – Saints
Did not see any action.
Cade Mays – C – Lions
Injured reserve.
Jaylen McCollough – S – Rams
Recorded six tackles as the Rams battled the 49ers in the NFL's first-ever game played in Australia.
Jermod McCoy – CB – Raiders
Did not see any action.
Jalen McMurray – CB – Titans
Practice squad.
Joe Milton III – QB – Cowboys
Practice squad.
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Chiefs
Injured reserve.
Josh Palmer – WR – Bills
Hauled in the game-winning 34-yard touchdown reception in Buffalo's 36-31 win over Houston with 1:36 remaining on the clock.
James Pearce Jr. – DE – Falcons
NFL exempt list.
Dylan Sampson – RB – Browns
Returned two kickoffs for 64 yards against the Jaguars.
Elijah Simmons – DT – Buccaneers
Did not see any action.
Jabari Small – RB – Lions
Practice squad.
Trey Smith – OG – Chiefs
Started and played 69 offensive snaps in a 31-10 win over Denver.
Alontae Taylor – CB – Titans
Made his Tennessee Titans debut, starting and making six tackles on Sunday vs. the Jets.
Dont'e Thornton Jr. – WR – Raiders
Injured reserve.
Cedric Tillman – WR – Saints
Practice squad.
Shy Tuttle – DT – Commanders
Played 16 defensive snaps, making one tackle against the Eagles.
Tyre West – DL – Lions
Practice squad.
Darnell Wright – OT – Bears
Started and played 75 offensive snaps in the Bears' 59-37 win over the Panthers.
Jaylen Wright – RB – Dolphins
Returned two kicks for 106 yards against Las Vegas.
Byron Young – OLB – Rams
Made one tackle in the Rams' divisional matchup against the 49ers.
Players Mentioned
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