Baylor Professional Athletes

It was a good week to be a Baylor Bear in the NFL. Three alumni made headlines across the league — a rookie scored his first professional touchdown, a veteran linebacker sealed a dramatic divisional win, and a journeyman lineman found a new home on a roster looking for depth.

Cameron Announces Himself in Jacksonville

Josh Cameron didn't waste any time introducing himself to the NFL. The Jaguars rookie wideout hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence late in the first quarter of Jacksonville's season opener against Cleveland — a 34–10 blowout win — finishing with 2 receptions for 20 yards and that first career score. The moment had added significance for Lawrence, who happened to notch the 100th passing touchdown of his NFL career on the very same play. Cameron was a nobody on most fantasy rosters and highlight reels heading into Week 1. He won't be anymore.

Bernard Comes Up Clutch for Buffalo

Terrel Bernard had a week worth writing home about. First, the Bills linebacker cleared an injury scare to suit up against the Houston Texans on Sunday — a game Buffalo needed him for badly. He delivered. With the Bills clinging to a 36–31 lead in the dying seconds, Greg Rousseau strip-sacked Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, and it was Bernard who fell on the fumble to seal the win. Bernard then followed that up with another strong outing Thursday night as the Bills beat the Detroit Lions 41–31, giving the Waco product back-to-back standout performances to open the season.

Newman-Johnson Lands with New England

Xavier Newman-Johnson's free agency saga had a resolution this week. After being released from the New York Jets' practice squad, the veteran guard drew interest from the New England Patriots, who hosted him for a visit Wednesday with interior O-line depth running thin due to a knee injury to one of their top reserves. New England wasted little time pulling the trigger, signing Newman-Johnson to their practice squad before their Week 2 matchup against Pittsburgh. It's a modest transaction, but for a former Big 12 champion lineman trying to stick in the league, it's another opportunity.

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Three players. Three different storylines. One common thread: Baylor alumni continuing to carve out real roles — and real moments — on the NFL's biggest stage in 2026.

Baylor's Pro Pipeline Stays Hot as 2026 NFL Season Kicks Off

Two Baylor alumni have secured spots on the Chicago Bears' 53-man roster, while a third is carving out a role with the reigning-dynasty Kansas City Chiefs — giving Bears Nation a legitimate reason to track three green-and-gold products when the 2026 season gets underway.

Lynch and Sanborn Lock Down Chicago Spots

Defensive tackle James Lynch and linebacker Jack Sanborn are both back in the fold for Chicago after the Bears officially re-signed the duo and added them to the 53-man roster, according to Pro Football Talk. The moves came alongside a pair of tough injury designations — cornerback Coby Bryant and tight end Hayden Large were placed on IR — signaling that Lynch and Sanborn weren't just depth pickups but genuine contributors the front office wanted locked in.

Lynch, a former fourth-round pick, has spent his NFL career in Chicago developing into a rotational interior piece along a defensive line that needs reliable depth. Sanborn, undrafted out of Baylor in 2022, has quietly become one of the better reclamation stories in the Bears' recent history, grinding his way onto the roster year after year through special teams value and linebacker depth contributions. Their simultaneous re-signings reflect what Baylor has built at the collegiate level — productive, coachable defenders who stick.

Allen Developing in Kansas City

Meanwhile, wide receiver Cyrus Allen is working to earn a role with the Chiefs, though his development isn't without hurdles. Kansas City's WR coach publicly acknowledged that one remaining obstacle stands between Allen and consistent contributions, pointing to the complexity of the Chiefs' play-calling system as the key adjustment the young receiver needs to master, per Heavy Sports.

Allen is operating in an already-crowded receiver room that includes established names like Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Baylor teammate Tyquan Thornton — yes, another Bear — making his path to snaps genuinely competitive. The Chiefs have noted that their wide receiver corps has underperformed in recent seasons despite the talent on the depth chart, which means opportunity exists for players who can get up to speed schematically. Whether Allen clears that mental hurdle could determine whether he's a roster fixture or a developmental casualty before the season finds its rhythm.

The Bigger Picture

Baylor's NFL footprint continues to stretch well beyond this three-player cluster. A scan of the league's rosters reveals alumni on numerous teams, from Terrel Bernard anchoring Buffalo's linebacker corps to Jalen Pitre patrolling the Texans' secondary and Siaki Ika providing interior push in Cleveland. The program's ability to produce professional-caliber defenders in particular — Lynch, Sanborn, Bernard, Pitre, and more all fit the mold — speaks to a developmental identity that has translated under consistent coaching.

For Baylor alumni tracking the 2026 season, though, the Bears represent the most concentrated storyline heading into Week 1: two former Bears on the 53, one more developing with the league's model franchise. It's a good week to be a Baylor product in the NFL.