Tennessee Professional Athletes

Dylan Sampson's Return Steals the Show

The most Tennessee game of Week 7 wasn't played in Knoxville. When the Cleveland Browns hosted the Titans on Oct. 25, it was a full Vol reunion — and the biggest name in orange came out a winner.

Dylan Sampson, activated off the injury list just days before kickoff, wasted no time reminding the NFL why it drafted him. The rookie running back finished with 77 all-purpose yards — 45 rushing and 32 receiving on three catches — as the Browns edged Tennessee 27-24. It was his first action since suffering a knee injury, and by all accounts it looked like he'd never left. Cleveland's front office had taken a calculated risk activating Sampson into a crowded backfield that also included Quinshon Judkins, Audric Estime, and Jaleel McLaughlin. It paid off.

On the other sideline, Vol cornerback Alontae Taylor returned from the injury report to suit up for Tennessee. Taylor, whose role in the Titans' secondary has been the subject of position-change discussions under Robert Saleh's defensive scheme, was active after being listed as questionable heading into the week. His return headlined a relatively healthy Titans roster — not that it was enough to overcome Sampson and the Browns.

Derek Barnett, another Vol on Cleveland's defensive line, was also in uniform for the win, though no stat line was recorded for him on the day.

Kamara's Clock Is Ticking in New Orleans

Alvin Kamara is still a Saint — for now. With the Nov. 10 trade deadline looming, the veteran running back is at the center of a crowded backfield situation in New Orleans that the front office appears ready to blow up. The Saints' 2-5 record after a 16-10 loss to Pittsburgh in Paris in Week 7 accelerated the urgency, and multiple reports indicate the team is weighing moves involving as many as two running backs from a room that includes Travis Etienne, Kendre Miller, and CJ Donaldson alongside Kamara.

Against Pittsburgh, Kamara totaled 62 yards from scrimmage — 57 receiving on seven catches and just five rushing — a performance that underscored both his continued value as a pass-catcher and a broader question about where he fits in a rebuilding Saints offense. Multiple teams are reportedly circling, and the deadline math is simple: if he moves, it happens by Nov. 10 or not at all this season.

Jennings' Minnesota Future in Doubt

Former Vol Jauan Jennings signed an $8 million one-year deal with the Vikings this offseason to become a legitimate third receiver. So far, the season hasn't delivered on that promise. In Minnesota's 16-10 win over Indianapolis on Oct. 25, Jennings caught two passes for 34 yards — functional, but not the kind of output that quiets trade speculation.

New England has emerged as a potential destination, with multiple outlets flagging the Patriots as a suitor as the deadline nears. The Vikings, who already moved J.J. McCarthy to the Giants for draft capital, appear willing to operate as a seller on certain roster spots even while remaining competitive in the NFC.

Around the Vol Nation

Elsewhere, Rams defensive end Byron Young recorded a sack in Los Angeles' 35-21 dismantling of the Raiders on Oct. 25. Velus Jones Jr. had eight rushing yards before being knocked out of Seattle's Sunday Night Football win over Kansas City with a hamstring injury, adding another health concern to an already complicated season for the former Vol. Vol DT Omarr Norman-Lott continues his return from a torn ACL with the Chiefs, taking steps toward a potential in-season comeback.

Tennessee's NFL alumni had a week that spanned two continents and ran the full emotional range — from a historic statistical moment to injury uncertainty to a pair of homecomings in the Motor City.

Kamara Hits a Milestone, Then the Injury Report

Alvin Kamara gave Saints fans something to celebrate Sunday in New Orleans' 34–27 win over the Giants, joining an exclusive NFL club with a rare statistical milestone — the kind that puts his name alongside running back royalty. His numbers on the day were modest on paper (34 rushing yards, two catches for 35 yards, and a receiving touchdown), but the milestone itself underscored what Kamara has quietly been building toward across a career that started on Rocky Top.

The celebration didn't last long. Kamara was listed as limited in practice Thursday, casting real doubt over his availability for one of the most anticipated regular-season games in NFL history: the Saints' Paris showdown against the Steelers. New Orleans, already limping at 2–4 with Tyler Shough under center, could ill afford to have its offensive centerpiece compromised in front of a global audience. The Saints listed 11 players on their Thursday injury report, and Kamara's name sat near the top of the concern list. He remained limited heading into the week, with no clear resolution before kickoff in France.

For Tennessee fans watching from afar, it's a familiar tension — Kamara as both the draw and the question mark.

Two Lions Return from the Injured List

While the Paris storyline dominated headlines, a quieter but meaningful development unfolded in Detroit. The Lions activated both center Cade Mays and safety Brian Branch ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the Green Bay Packers — a marquee NFC North clash at Ford Field.

Mays, who signed a $25 million deal with Detroit this offseason, hadn't played a regular-season snap yet after a wrist injury wiped out most of his training camp and the first six weeks of the year. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Mays' availability for Sunday, putting the former Vol back in the middle of what is already one of the league's best offensive lines. His return gives Detroit a significant boost in a divisional game with real standings implications.

Branch's comeback carries equal weight. The Pro Bowl safety hadn't appeared in a game since before the season started, and Detroit's defense had been navigating without one of its most versatile pieces. His return against Green Bay — a team the Lions need to keep at arm's length in the NFC North — is the kind of news that shifts game-week momentum.

Heavy Sports noted the dual return made Green Bay's goal of beating Detroit "more difficult," and it's hard to argue otherwise.

Around the League

Joshua Palmer chipped in a 37-yard reception as Buffalo outlasted Las Vegas 33–30 in a thriller on Sunday. Shy Tuttle recorded a sack Monday night as Washington fell to San Francisco 17–23. Both performances kept a pair of Vols in relevant roles, if not starring ones, during a busy Week 7 slate.

It was a chaotic week in the NFL for Tennessee alumni, with roster moves rippling from Philadelphia to Seattle and trade buzz building around Minneapolis.

Joe Milton III: From Cowboy to Eagle

The biggest story out of Knoxville's NFL diaspora: Joe Milton III was poached off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad by the Philadelphia Eagles, becoming one of the most-talked-about backup quarterbacks of Week 6. The move came after Eagles starter Jalen Hurts was ruled out with a superficial blood clot stemming from a calf injury, pushing Philadelphia to raid a division rival for emergency depth.

Milton joins Tanner McKee and rookie Cole Payton in the Eagles' QB room, with Hurts's status raising the specter of an injured reserve designation down the line. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer publicly reacted to the loss, and Dallas was left scrambling for a third quarterback — a bruising sequence for the NFC East team that had been stashing Milton as a developmental asset. For the former Vol signal-caller, it's the highest-profile opportunity of his NFL career, and the NFL world took notice.

Velus Jones Jr.: Seattle Shows Him the Door

Velus Jones Jr.'s time with the Seattle Seahawks is over. The former third-round pick of the Chicago Bears was released by Seattle, capping a brief and unproductive stint with the NFC West club. Jones had appeared in games for the Seahawks during the period — logging 20 rushing yards in a Thursday loss to Denver — but the release signals the team saw no path forward for the running back and returner. Jones now hits the open market looking for a new home.

Jauan Jennings: Trade Rumors Swirl in Minnesota

Jauan Jennings, who signed with the Vikings in the offseason on a deal worth up to $13 million, finds himself at the center of a messy situation in Minnesota. Despite the team's 5-0 start, Jennings has struggled to carve out a meaningful role in the offense, and his Week 6 performance against New Orleans drew pointed criticism. Reports indicate the Vikings have sent Jennings a clear message about his future with the club, and league-wide trade interest is building — with the Pittsburgh Steelers among the teams identified as potential suitors, needing receiver help in the wake of Michael Pittman Jr.'s injury. Bleacher Report noted Jennings is drawing attention from multiple wideout-needy teams ahead of the trade deadline.

Around the Rest of the Vol Alumni

Cordarrelle Patterson, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, made headlines off the field after being arrested Saturday morning on a domestic assault charge, per TMZ. He was booked into Sevier County Jail in his native Tennessee. No further details were reported.

On the injury front, Browns defensive end Derek Barnett returned to practice Friday ahead of Cleveland's showdown with Baltimore, offering a boost to a Cleveland defense that needed bodies. Browns running back Dylan Sampson was also mentioned in fantasy football injury reports, with his availability in flux heading into Week 6. Alvin Kamara suited up for New Orleans against Minnesota but managed just 12 rushing yards and negative receiving yardage in a 13-23 loss — a rough afternoon for the veteran Saint.

Colton Hood of the Giants was ruled out for New York's Week 6 game against Washington, per the team's final injury report.

Alvin Kamara Is on the Doorstep of NFL History

The biggest Tennessee story in the NFL this week isn't just a good performance — it's a milestone closing in fast. Alvin Kamara scored two rushing touchdowns in the Saints' Monday Night Football loss to the Atlanta Falcons (24-45), adding 23 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards on five catches to his ledger. The production itself was vintage Kamara, but the context is bigger: the veteran running back is on the verge of joining an exclusive group in NFL history for combined career contributions, according to Heavy Sports.

The catch? Kamara's path to the record came with real drama attached. He was a non-participant at Saints practice early in the week and was listed as questionable heading into Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings, before ultimately being cleared as limited. With Travis Etienne already on injured reserve, New Orleans can't afford to lose Kamara — a reality that makes every snap he takes feel more consequential than it might otherwise.

The milestone will have to wait at least one more week, but the two-TD night against Atlanta made clear Kamara still has enough left to get there.

Darnell Wright Inherits a Crown

Lane Johnson's retirement didn't just close a Hall of Fame-caliber career — it reshuffled the hierarchy at right tackle across the entire league. Sports Illustrated made the case this week that Chicago Bears OT Darnell Wright now stands as the NFL's best right tackle following Johnson's departure.

That's a significant designation for the third-year pro out of Tennessee, and one that reflects how quietly dominant Wright has become in Chicago. He wasn't even the top offensive tackle taken in his draft class, but his ascent has been steady and his ceiling, apparently, is now the top of the position.

Jauan Jennings: The Uncomfortable Conversation

It's been a rough start to the season for Jennings in Minnesota. The former 49er signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Vikings in the offseason, but through three games has managed just two catches for nine yards — including a single catch for eight yards in Minnesota's Week 4 win over Miami. Head coach Kevin O'Connell acknowledged the slow start publicly after the Odell Beckham Jr. addition further complicated the wide receiver rotation.

The noise around Jennings has grown louder. A San Francisco insider floated the idea of a reunion with the 49ers, and the Green Bay Packers were identified in a trade pitch as a potential suitor. Whether that speculation has any legs remains to be seen, but it's clear the Vikings are not yet getting what they paid for — and Jennings is running out of runway to change the narrative.

James Pearce Jr. Takes a Step Forward

Atlanta Falcons pass rusher James Pearce Jr. — who racked up 10.5 sacks a season ago — has returned to the team facility, a meaningful development after a suspension sidelined him. His path back to the field remains limited for now, per Heavy Sports, but the mere fact that he's back in the building is a positive sign for a Falcons defense that could use his presence off the edge.

Around the Rest of the Roster

Byron Young had a strong showing for the Rams in their 24-20 win over Philadelphia, recording two sacks. Joshua Palmer remains under pressure in Buffalo — he managed just one catch for three yards against New England, and analysts have floated the idea of benching him in favor of rookie Skyler Bell. Cade Mays returned to practice for the Lions after missing time with an injury.