Nikko Reed Gets His Shot
The NFL's attrition game is creating opportunity for Fresno State alumni this week, and cornerback Nikko Reed is the latest Bulldog to cash in.
The New York Giants signed Reed off the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad ahead of their Monday night matchup against the Rams, adding cornerback depth at an urgent moment. New York's secondary was already stretched thin, with Tre'Davious Newsome, Deonte Banks, and Paulson Adebo all nursing injuries heading into the week. Facing a Rams receiving corps headlined by Puka Nacua and fellow Fresno State alum Davante Adams, the Giants needed bodies — and Reed provided one.
It's the kind of roster move that rarely makes back-page headlines, but for a player grinding through practice squads, a 53-man signing is everything. Reed, who came through the Chargers' system, now gets a legitimate shot to impress a Giants coaching staff in a high-visibility prime-time game.
Adams Under the Microscope
On the other sideline, Davante Adams faces a different kind of pressure — not the pressure to make the team, but the pressure to justify his place atop it.
Adams, still one of the most decorated wide receivers of his generation, has drawn scrutiny early in the 2026 season for failing to make enough of an impact as the Rams' WR2. With Puka Nacua commanding attention as Los Angeles's top target, Adams cannot afford to be a passenger. Analysts have flagged that the Rams' offense needs Adams to be a consistent, demanding presence — not a luxury option who disappears for stretches of games.
For Fresno State fans, it's a complicated watch. Adams remains the program's most prominent NFL ambassador, but the early narrative of the season has been one of unmet expectations. The Monday night spotlight against the Giants is exactly the kind of stage where Adams has historically thrived — and exactly the kind of game that could reset the conversation.
Around the Rest of the Bulldog Roster
Elsewhere in the Fresno State NFL diaspora, Dean Clark found his name in the news for a different reason. The Jets re-signed the safety to their practice squad — a move that signals veteran starter Minkah Fitzpatrick's injury may be more serious than initially reported, according to Sports Illustrated. Clark, listed as a free safety, gives New York insurance at a position that suddenly looks vulnerable.
DaRon Bland and the Cowboys dropped a 20-28 decision to the Giants in Week 1, while Nikko Remigio's Chiefs cruised past the Broncos 31-10 on Monday night. Neither player posted individual stats in the brief, but both remain active contributors on their respective rosters.
It's early in the season, but Fresno State's NFL footprint — from practice squad call-ups to starting-caliber veterans — is as wide as it's ever been. How Adams responds to the scrutiny and whether Reed can parlay his Giants opportunity into something lasting will be the storylines to watch as Week 2 unfolds.
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