Temple Professional Athletes

Ten seasons is a long time to protect anyone's blind side. For Dion Dawkins, the Temple product who arrived in Buffalo as a second-round pick in 2017, that decade of continuity with the Bills is itself a statement — one that places him among the franchise's most durable figures on either side of the ball.

Dawkins enters the 2026 campaign at what Yahoo Sports describes as a "pivotal stage" of his Bills career, a phrase that carries real weight for a player who has outlasted coordinators, quarterbacks' rooms, and full roster overhauls. As the starting left tackle, he remains the cornerstone of an offensive line charged with keeping Josh Allen upright and the Bills' Super Bowl window open.

The stakes around him have only sharpened this preseason. Buffalo resolved its left guard competition ahead of the week, naming a starter to line up directly beside Dawkins — a decision that brings cohesion to the left side of the line just as the regular season approaches. That interior stability matters: Dawkins' effectiveness as a pass protector is amplified when the guard beside him can hold his assignment, and the Bills clearly prioritized getting that pairing settled early.

At Temple, Dawkins was a two-year starter who earned enough NFL attention to go 63rd overall. What the Owls couldn't have scripted was this: a decade of starting-caliber production for a perennial AFC contender. For a program that doesn't routinely produce decade-long NFL starters, Dawkins is the outlier in the best possible sense.

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Ya-Sin Stands Out in Detroit

Dawkins isn't the only Temple alum making noise during the league's final preseason week. Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, now with the Lions, turned heads at Detroit's 17th training camp practice. Ya-Sin was specifically flagged in Lions camp observations for a strong showing, a notable development for a veteran corner fighting to carve out his role on a Detroit defense with genuine championship aspirations.

Ya-Sin, originally a first-round pick of the Colts in 2019, has bounced through multiple rosters since leaving Indianapolis. A strong camp finish with the Lions could be the foothold he needs heading into a competitive 53-man cut.

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The Broader Temple Footprint

Beyond Dawkins and Ya-Sin, Temple alumni are scattered across rosters from Jacksonville to Las Vegas — Haason Reddick with the Buccaneers, Brandon McManus handling kicking duties in Green Bay, and Matt Hennessy snapping for the Cowboys among them. The sheer volume of active NFL players from a program outside the traditional power-conference pipeline is a credit to Temple's development track.

But this week belongs to Dawkins. Ten years, one team, one side of the line. That's not a footnote — that's a career.

Temple's NFL alumni had a week of contrasts: one Owl earning respect in the trenches, another watching his season outlook cloud over.

Dawkins Holds His Own Against a Rising Star

Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins came away from Buffalo's joint practices with the Cleveland Browns this week with a new appreciation for one of the league's most dangerous young pass rushers — and apparently the feeling was mutual.

Dawkins went head-to-head with Browns defensive end Jared Verse in what, by all accounts, were some of the more competitive individual matchups of the joint sessions. Rather than downplay the battles, Dawkins was candid in his admiration afterward, saying the two brought out the best in each other. It's the kind of acknowledgment that carries weight: a veteran starting tackle on a perennial AFC contender vouching for a young edge rusher's credentials is meaningful bulletin-board currency — and it reflects just as well on Dawkins for the competition he provided.

Now in his ninth season in Buffalo, Dawkins remains a cornerstone of one of the AFC's most complete offenses. His performance in joint practices, which typically draw sharper evaluation from scouts than padded preseason games, will only reinforce his standing heading into what the Bills hope is a deep playoff run.

Oweh's Injury Status Raises Red Flags in Washington

The news is less encouraging on the other side of the ledger. Odafe Oweh, the former Temple standout now with the Washington Commanders, is listed among a cluster of Washington defenders dealing with ailments as the preseason rolls on. Oweh's injury status was flagged alongside several other Commanders defenders in a report that also noted linebacker Jordan Magee — another Temple alum on Washington's roster — as banged up.

The specifics of Oweh's injury have not been detailed publicly, but the timing is concerning. Training camp and the preseason are the window for edge rushers to establish themselves within a new system or push for expanded roles, and missed reps are missed opportunities. Washington's defensive front has genuine upside if healthy; Oweh was brought in to be part of that equation.

Magee's situation bears watching as well, though his role on the depth chart makes the stakes somewhat lower in terms of immediate impact.

Around the Owls

Elsewhere in the Temple diaspora, center Michael Niese was mentioned in Detroit Lions injury updates following the team's second preseason game — a situation worth monitoring as the Lions' offensive line depth gets tested. And in Green Bay, kicker Brandon McManus was released by the Packers after the team opted to roll with sixth-round rookie Trey Smack as their sole kicker, ending McManus's brief stint in Wisconsin.

It was a week that captured the NFL preseason in miniature for Temple alumni: a veteran proving he still belongs, a key player's health suddenly uncertain, and the roster bubble claiming another familiar name.

The 2026 NFL preseason is barely underway, and Temple alumni are already generating headlines — from a fresh signing in the desert to a surprise starting opportunity in Buffalo.

Myarick Lands in Las Vegas

Chris Myarick is back in the league. The Raiders signed the veteran tight end ahead of training camp, adding a reliable depth option with legitimate NFL pedigree. Myarick, a Temple product who has bounced between rosters across his career, gives Las Vegas a seasoned presence at a position that rewards experience. The signing is a depth move for now, but Myarick has shown throughout his career that he can carve out a role when given the opportunity.

Franklin Jr. Steps Into the Starting Lineup in Buffalo

The more eye-catching development belongs to Sam Franklin Jr. The Bills safety earned starting reps during Monday's practice after C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down with an injury — a meaningful vote of confidence from Buffalo's coaching staff in a player who has long operated as a core special-teamer. Franklin Jr. stepping into a defensive starting role is the kind of opportunity that can redefine a player's trajectory. For now, he's seized the opportunity earning first-team reps in a preseason practice — no small thing for a player looking to expand his role.

Dawkins Situation Worth Watching

Meanwhile, one of Temple's most established NFL names faces some quiet uncertainty. Dion Dawkins, the Bills' veteran left tackle, is entering a contract situation that could grow complicated. With Buffalo committing long-term money to guard O'Cyrus Torrence, analysts have flagged that the Bills may struggle to retain Dawkins when his deal comes up in 2027. Nothing is imminent, but for Owls fans keeping tabs on one of Temple's most durable NFL linemen, it's a storyline worth monitoring as the offseason financial picture firms up.

Rock Ya-Sin Getting His Moment in Detroit

On the other side of the ball, cornerback Rock Ya-Sin is drawing attention as part of a Lions roster profile spotlighting under-the-radar contributors. The Temple alum is among the players Detroit is leaning on as the franchise works to solidify its identity as a legitimate contender. Ya-Sin's ability to contribute in a competitive secondary makes him one of the more intriguing Temple names to watch as the preseason unfolds.

Four alumni, four distinct storylines — Temple's NFL presence in the 2026 preseason window is anything but quiet.