Tennessee Professional Athletes

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.

Two Tennessee alumni are commanding attention in the NFL this week — for very different reasons. Jauan Jennings is fighting to salvage his first season in Minnesota, while Alvin Kamara is being handed the keys to a New Orleans backfield he never fully surrendered.

Jennings on Thin Ice in Minnesota

The Vikings signed Jennings to be a difference-maker, and through three weeks, he's been anything but. His Week 3 line against Tampa Bay told the whole story: one catch, one yard, in a game Minnesota won 23–16. That's not a complementary receiver helping stretch a defense — that's a ghost.

The buyer's remorse chatter is already circulating around the organization, and it's hard to argue against it. Jennings' early-season struggles have been described as "abysmal" by those covering the team, and with Justin Jefferson sidelined heading into Week 4, the window to prove himself is wide open — and closing fast. If Jennings can't produce with Jefferson out of the picture, the questions about his fit in Minnesota will get louder.

Adding an ironic twist: the 49ers — the team Jennings left — are reportedly interested in trading a pick back to get him. San Francisco is banged up at receiver and hasn't fully replaced Jennings in their system, suggesting the fit in his former city was better than either side realized.

Kamara's Opening

Across the league in New Orleans, Kamara is staring at a different kind of opportunity. The Saints placed Travis Etienne Jr. on injured reserve this week after he aggravated a hamstring injury in Sunday's 35–27 loss to Las Vegas — a game in which Kamara managed 36 rushing yards and a single reception for five yards in a limited role.

That limited usage had already raised eyebrows. In Week 2, Kamara saw 10 first-half touches. By Week 3, he was barely involved early. The Saints were clearly managing their workload with Etienne in the picture. Now, with Etienne out indefinitely, that calculus changes.

The two-time All-Pro is the veteran leader of New Orleans' backfield, and the expectation is that he'll step into the featured role. But it won't be entirely uncomplicated — how much work Kamara actually sees will depend on the development and usage of Kendre Miller and CJ Donaldson alongside him. The Saints aren't handing over all the carries by default; they'll manage the committee.

Still, for Kamara, this is the clearest path to consistent, meaningful production he's had this season.

Around the Vols

Elsewhere, Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright continues to generate buzz in Miami's restructured backfield following De'Von Achane's season-ending ACL tear. Wright returned to practice this week, putting his status ahead of the Vikings in Week 4 in a far better position than feared — a development that directly impacts how New Orleans prepares its defense.

Lions center Cade Mays remains sidelined but is expected to return after Detroit's bye. The Lions are 2–1 despite his absence, crediting Juice Scruggs for holding the line steady in the interim.

For Tennessee's NFL alumni class, the Week 4 spotlight belongs to Jennings and Kamara — one needing a breakout, one needing to remind the league he still has plenty left in the tank.

Tennessee's NFL alumni footprint is impossible to ignore this week. From a potential roster poaching to a locker-room rivalry brewing in Jacksonville, Vols are making noise across the league — and not just for what they've done on the field.

Joe Milton: Cowboys' Practice Squad Could Become Giants' Gain

The biggest Tennessee story of the week doesn't involve a box score. Dallas Cowboys developmental quarterback Joe Milton is at the center of an NFL intrigue: with New York Giants starter Jaxson Dart injured in Week 2, the Giants are reportedly set to make a move for a QB "soon" — and Milton is squarely in their sights.

Milton had a legitimate preseason, going 29-of-43 for 378 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions across three games, showing marked improvement converting his elite physical tools into actual quarterback play. Dallas still went with the more experienced Sam Howell as QB2, landing Milton on the practice squad — which now makes him an appetizing target for a Giants team in emergency mode.

If New York pulls the trigger, it would be a significant moment for the former Vol, moving from developmental commodity to a legitimate NFL roster spot. Cowboys fans, understandably, are not thrilled at the prospect.

Aguilar and Ewers: A Tennessee-Texas Cold War in Jacksonville

The Tennessee-Texas college football rivalry has spilled into an NFL locker room. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Joey Aguilar — who once ran Tennessee's offense — shares a building with former Texas signal-caller Quinn Ewers, and with the two programs colliding in college football this week, the Jaguars' locker room has apparently taken sides.

According to reporting, the two quarterbacks have exchanged jokes, friendly wagers, and bold score predictions on the outcome. It's a light moment for Aguilar, who is carving out his NFL path in Jacksonville, and it puts a uniquely fun spin on one of college football's marquee weekly matchups. Vols fans will want Aguilar to have bragging rights come Monday morning.

Trey Smith: Protecting the Body That Protects the Quarterback

Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith — one of the best offensive linemen in football — is being equally methodical about preserving his career as he is about pancake-blocking pass rushers. Smith revealed this week that he has adopted a strict new diet and a recovery regimen that includes personalized protein plans, enriched oxygen therapy, and stem cell treatments.

Smith's commitment to longevity is the kind of story that gets taken seriously in Kansas City, where he's a foundational piece of a perennial Super Bowl contender. It's also a testament to how seriously the former Vol has approached his professional development since arriving in the league.

Jennings Returns, Vikings Need Him to Deliver

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings is back at Vikings practice after missing time due to a personal matter, and Minnesota's timing couldn't be better — or the need more urgent. The Vikings are dealing with a wave of receiver injuries heading into their Week 3 matchup against Tampa Bay, and Jennings has been identified as a potential X-factor who could step into a larger role.

Jennings has played in just one game this season, so rust is a legitimate concern. But Sports Illustrated's breakdown of Minnesota's receiver situation makes clear that the Vikings may have little choice but to lean on the former Vol if they want to keep their offense functional.

Around the Board

Elsewhere, Byron Young had a sack in the Rams' dominant 28-6 Monday night win over the Giants — the same game that accelerated New York's QB crisis and set the Milton speculation in motion. Colton Hood drew the start for New York at CB with Deonte Banks inactive, getting his shot on the big stage. And Alvin Kamara continued to be central to New Orleans' offense, racking up five receptions and 15 rushing yards in a Week 2 road win over Baltimore — though his usage distribution relative to Travis Etienne remains a topic of debate around the league.

Tennessee's NFL alumni had a week of sharp contrasts: one Vol emerging as a late-game weapon, another watching his season likely end before it began.

Palmer: Buffalo's Clutch Factor

Joshua Palmer is making a case to be the most important receiver the Bills didn't know they needed. The former Vol caught just one ball in each of Buffalo's first two games — but both came when it mattered most.

In Week 1 against Houston, Palmer hauled in a touchdown with under two minutes to go as the Bills escaped with a 36–31 win. The score was the difference, and the Texans could only watch their opener slip away on the final drive. Palmer followed that up in Week 2 — a Thursday night matchup against Detroit — with another single catch, this time a 43-yard gain that included yet another touchdown, helping Buffalo cruise to a 41–31 victory.

Two games, two game-altering TDs. Palmer isn't putting up counting stats, but he's developing a knack for the moment — the kind of role that can define a receiver's career in a winning offense.

Sampson: Season-Altering Blow

On the other side of the ledger, Dylan Sampson's NFL story hit a brutal early chapter. The Browns' running back suffered what the team is calling an expected long-term knee injury during Cleveland's Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars — a game that ended in a lopsided 34–10 defeat. Cleveland placed Sampson on the injured list and moved quickly to fill the vacancy in the backfield.

Sampson, who made the Browns' roster as one of their more intriguing young skill players, now faces a lengthy rehabilitation. The injury adds to what is shaping up as a bleak early stretch for Cleveland.

Around the Rest of the Alumni Board

The Vol Nation's NFL footprint extends well beyond the headlines. In Minnesota, Jauan Jennings and Theo Jackson suited up in the Vikings' dominant 39–22 win over Green Bay in Week 1, though neither posted notable individual stats. Jennings was ruled out — not merely questionable — for Week 2 against the Bears, forcing the Vikings into a significant decision at wide receiver.

In New York, Colton Hood found himself in line for a significant opportunity. With the Giants thin at cornerback — Paulson Adebo already on IR and Deonte Banks questionable — the rookie Tennessee product was being looked at as a potential starter against the Rams on Monday night.

Alvin Kamara missed Week 1 as the Saints fell 31–30 in overtime to Detroit, but the veteran back practiced fully ahead of Week 2 and was widely expected to return against Baltimore. Head coach Kellen Moore struck a measured tone about workload, signaling Kamara wouldn't automatically reclaim his full bellcow role.

In Chicago, Darnell Wright opened the week on the injury report after missing practice Wednesday before being upgraded Thursday — a minor scare for a Bears offense that leaned heavily on its offensive line to fuel the NFL's top rushing attack in Week 1.

Trey Smith of the Chiefs, meanwhile, was hit with a fine from the league following Kansas City's Week 1 win over Denver after being flagged for a chop block — a footnote for a lineman who remains one of the better guards in football.