Florida A&M Professional Athletes

Florida A&M's most closely watched NFL story this week came wrapped in an injury report — and ended with a settlement check.

Running back Terrell Jennings, who had been considered the frontrunner for New England's third running back spot heading into training camp, was placed on injured reserve by the Patriots on August 13 before the team's preseason opener. The move came before Jennings ever got a chance to audition under game conditions, cutting short what had looked like a legitimate path to a roster spot.

The Patriots didn't just absorb the loss — they pivoted fast, signing two additional running backs to fill out the depth chart and give themselves fresh competition options at the position. The message was clear: the No. 3 job is back up for grabs, and Jennings won't be part of that conversation.

The situation resolved quickly. New England reached an injury settlement with Jennings, resulting in his release from the roster. Injury settlements allow teams to part ways with injured players in exchange for a negotiated portion of their contract, effectively closing the door on any return to the 53-man roster this season. The third-year back out of FAMU now heads to the open market, timeline to return from his injury unspecified.

For Rattler fans tracking his NFL journey, the arc stings. Jennings had done enough in camp to position himself as the clear leader for that backup role — only to see a preseason that never started become a preseason that ended his tenure entirely.

The rest of FAMU's NFL contingent remains active heading into the thick of the preseason. Markquese Bell and Isaiah Land are both in Dallas competing for spots on the Cowboys roster, with Land drawing attention as a pass-rush specialist at linebacker. Xavier Smith continues his push with the Rams at wide receiver. None of the three had notable transactions during the August 9–15 window, but all three remain in camp with legitimate shots at making their respective rosters.

For a program that has steadily pushed talent into the league, the Jennings news is a reminder of how thin the margin is — and how quickly fortune can turn. He arrived in New England as a legitimate candidate. He left before the first snap of the preseason. The next chapter for the FAMU product will depend entirely on how quickly he heals and whether another team comes calling.

Florida A&M's footprint in the NFL is quiet but real — and this week, it got a little louder in New England.

Jennings Gets the Call in New England

The Patriots activated running back Terrell Jennings this week in a roster move that carries weight for the FAMU pro alumni community. Jennings, who made the roster in New England, is one of four active NFL players from the Tallahassee program — a number that speaks to the Rattlers' continued ability to develop professional-caliber talent outside of the Power Four spotlight.

The activation is more than a footnote. For a program like Florida A&M, which competes at the HBCU level and produces NFL contributors without the recruiting machinery of major conference schools, every roster spot is a statement. Jennings' move off the roster exemption and into the active mix is the kind of development FAMU fans have learned to track closely.

The Bigger Picture: Four Rattlers on NFL Rosters

Jennings isn't alone. Three other FAMU alumni are currently on NFL rosters heading into the 2026 preseason:

• Markquese Bell (Dallas Cowboys, FS) — The hard-hitting safety has carved out a role in Dallas's secondary and is one of the more established names from the FAMU pipeline.
• Isaiah Land (Dallas Cowboys, LB) — Land joins Bell in the Cowboys' defensive corps, giving FAMU a two-man presence in Dallas.
• Xavier Smith (Los Angeles Rams, WR) — Smith is on the West Coast with the Rams, adding a pass-catching option to a receiving room that rarely lacks for talent.

Two Rattlers on the same NFL roster — Bell and Land, both Cowboys — is a notable clustering that underscores how FAMU's defensive talent translates to the professional level.

What to Watch

With preseason games on the horizon, all four players face the usual August pressure of proving their roster value. For Jennings specifically, the timing of his activation suggests the Patriots see enough in him to warrant an active roster spot during the evaluation window. How he performs in preseason action could determine whether he sticks when the real cuts begin.

FAMU fans have reason to keep multiple scoreboards open this August.