Baylor Alumni NFL Preseason Roundup | Aug. 9–15, 2026
Two Baylor alumni are generating NFL buzz this preseason for very different reasons — one is getting a fresh start, and the other is chasing a healthy one.
Hasty Heads Back to New England
JaMycal Hasty is returning to familiar territory. The Baylor product re-signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent, giving the franchise a veteran backfield option ahead of the preseason opener. Hasty, who previously suited up for New England, was one of two running backs the Patriots added in the same roster move, with Hassan Haskins joining alongside him.
The dual signing signals a genuine competition for depth roles in New England's backfield. For Hasty, it's an opportunity to carve out a roster spot on a team that already knows what he brings — his versatility as a pass-catcher out of the backfield being his most marketable trait. The Patriots don't hand out roster spots on nostalgia alone, so Hasty will need to perform in the preseason slate to lock down a spot. The timing of the signing, coming right before the preseason opener, suggests the team wanted to evaluate him in live reps as quickly as possible.
Bernard Fighting for Bounce-Back Season in Buffalo
The stakes are different — and arguably higher — for Terrel Bernard. The Bills linebacker has endured back-to-back injury-plagued seasons, and Buffalo is now asking a pointed question: can No. 8 finally stay healthy?
Bernard showed enough early in his NFL career to earn legitimate expectations. When healthy, he has flashed as a rangy, instinctive linebacker capable of operating as a key piece in Buffalo's defense. But durability has undermined his ability to build on that promise, and the Bills enter 2026 needing answers at a position that can't afford another gap-filled season.
Preseason will be telling. If Bernard can get through camp and the exhibition schedule intact, it at least puts to rest the immediate fitness concerns. Whether his level of play matches the Bills' needs is a separate question — but one that can't even be asked until he proves his body will hold up. The organization has remained invested in his development, which itself signals internal belief that the talent is still there. Bernard, now entering what should be a prime window for an NFL linebacker, has the motivation and the opportunity to make 2026 the season that resets the narrative.
The Bigger Picture
Baylor's NFL alumni list runs deep — from Jalen Pitre anchoring the Texans' secondary to Xavien Howard in Indianapolis and Tyquan Thornton pushing for targets in Kansas City — but this week's most compelling storylines belong to Hasty and Bernard. One is betting on familiarity to extend a career; the other is betting on health to finally unlock his ceiling. Both Bears have something to prove when the pads go on.
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