Deacs in the NFL Updates

The NFL announced final rosters and practice squads this week, and several former Deacons were included on these rosters.

Here are the Deacs who will be playing on Sundays this season, or helping their teams to prepare to play on Sundays via the practice squad.

Jessie Bates III

Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Position: Safety

Role: Starter

Season: 3rd

Bates enters his third year in the league as a starting safety for the Bengals, and could be their best player in the secondary.

Joe Looney

Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Position: Center

Role: Starter

Season: 9th

Looney enters his ninth season in the NFL, and looks to help anchor the Cowboy’s offensive line.

Phil Haynes

Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Position: Offensive Guard

Role: Injured Reserve (Hip-may return later in the season)

Season: 2nd

Haynes is injured for now, but I fully expect him to start when he comes back from injury later in the season.

Kevin Johnson

Team: Cleveland Browns

Position: Cornerback

Role: Backup Left Corner

Season: 6th

Johnson may be a backup, but he should still see plenty of action in the Browns’ secondary.

Kyle Wilber

Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Position: Linebacker

Role: Backup strongside linebacker

Season: 9th

Wilber may be a backup, but as a former start he should still see plenty of snaps at linebacker for the Raiders. He has also been named captain of special teams.

Duke Ejiofor

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Team: Houston Texans

Position: Outside Linebacker

Role: Injured Reserve (Torn ACL-season ending)

Season: 3rd

Ejiofor is out for the season for the second straight year.

Justin Herron

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Team: New England Patriots

Position: Offensive Line

Role: Third String Right Tackle

Season: Rookie

Herron is a backup, but could see action if anyone on the Patriots’ offensive line goes down.

John Wolford

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Team: Los Angeles Rams

Position: Quarterback

Role: Second String Quarterback

Season: 2nd

Wolford is THE backup quarterback for the Rams. If Jared Goff goes down, Wolford takes control of the offense. This could be exciting and we can start up the John Wolford hype train again.

Essang Bassey

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Team: Denver Broncos

Position: Cornerback

Role: 3rd String Right Cornerback

Season: Rookie

Bassey made the roster as an undrafted free agent after having a strong fall camp. He could see some action in the Broncos’ secondary.

Justin Strnad

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Team: Denver Broncos

Position: Linebacker

Role: Injured Reserve (Wrist-season ending surgery)

Season: Rookie

Strnad suffered a bad injury in fall camp and ended up having season-ending surgery.

Scotty Washington

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Position: Wide Receiver

Role: Practice Squad

Season: Rookie

Washington made the practice squad after having a good fall camp.

Amari Henderson

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Position: Cornerback

Role: Practice Squad

Season: Rookie

Henderson made the practice squad after performing well in fall camp.

Nate Gilliam

Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Team: Los Angeles Chargers

Position: Offensive Guard

Role: Practice Squad

Season: Rookie

Gilliam was cut and then re-signed to the practice squad after a good camp performance.

Alex Bachman

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Team: New York Giants

Position: Wide Receiver

Role: Practice Squad

Season: 2nd

Bachman was signed to the Giants’ practice squad after serving as a member of the practice squad for part of last season as well.

Former Wake Forest quarterback and wide receiver Kendall Hinton was in the last round of cuts made by the Denver Broncos.

Best of luck to all of our Deacs in the NFL. Here’s hoping they all have great seasons, and all of the injured players get well soon! And get ready for the John Wolford hype train!!! Go Deacs!!!