Virginia Tech Professional Athletes

Khalil Herbert didn't arrive in Atlanta with a starring role. He arrived with a résumé, a chip on his shoulder, and enough patience to wait for his moment — and against San Francisco on Sunday, that moment came.

The Virginia Tech product carried the ball and caught a pass out of the backfield in Atlanta's 29–20 win over the 49ers, finishing with 9 rushing yards and 19 receiving yards on a single reception. The numbers don't jump off the page, but the context does. Herbert stepped into meaningful action as a veteran presence in a Falcons backfield built around franchise cornerstone Bijan Robinson — and he delivered.

Herbert's Long Road to Atlanta

Herbert's path through the NFL has been anything but linear. After years of carving out a niche as a reliable change-of-pace option, he landed in Atlanta hoping to find stability. According to Sports Illustrated, he made the most of his opportunity against San Francisco and is gunning for a more permanent role with the organization.

The puzzle gets more complicated from a roster management standpoint. The Falcons entered the season with a Robinson-Robinson combination — Bijan Robinson as the featured back and Brian Robinson Jr. as a bruising veteran complement. Herbert's presence adds a third dimension: a versatile, experienced option who can catch passes and spell the starters without missing a beat. Per Heavy Sports, it was Herbert, not Brian Robinson Jr., who suited up and contributed against the 49ers, a sign that the coaching staff has real trust in the Virginia Tech alum when the situation calls for it.

For a player who has spent much of his career proving he belongs, that kind of in-game trust carries weight.

Tremaine Edmunds and the Giants' Reshuffling

Elsewhere in the NFL alumni landscape, Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is watching from the sidelines after a season-ending injury that has forced the New York Giants' defense to retool on the fly. Edmunds had been one of the anchors of that unit, and his absence leaves a significant void at linebacker. According to Yahoo Sports, the Giants' remaining defenders have shown resilience in stepping up, but the long-term picture remains uncertain as the team navigates the season without one of its most experienced leaders.

Edmunds was selected in the first round out of Blacksburg and has been one of the more decorated Hokies in the current NFL generation. His injury is a significant blow — both to the Giants and to a Virginia Tech fanbase that keeps a close eye on one of its most high-profile alumni.

The Broader Hokie Footprint

The Virginia Tech NFL family remains one of the more sprawling in the league, with alumni scattered across more than 25 rosters. From Divine Deablo's work at linebacker for the same Falcons squad where Herbert is finding his footing, to Hendon Hooker developing behind center in Tennessee, the Hokies continue to produce contributors at multiple levels.

But this week belongs to Herbert. A journeyman who has earned every snap the hard way, making plays in a nationally televised win — it's the kind of moment Virginia Tech fans were hoping for when the Falcons signed him. If Sunday is any indication, there may be more to come.

It was a week of highs and lows for Virginia Tech alumni in the NFL — one Hokie stole the show on an international stage while another had his season come to a painful, premature end.

Tuten Catches Fire in London

Bhayshul Tuten turned in the most electric performance of any Hokie this week, hauling in four receptions for 48 yards and two receiving touchdowns in Jacksonville's 31–34 loss to the Houston Texans in London in Week 7. The second-year running back added 39 rushing yards on the ground and became a brief social-media sensation when he leaned into a viral "tip-toeing" meme during a touchdown celebration that quickly spread across the internet.

The box score, however, didn't fully capture how productive Tuten actually was. A would-be rushing touchdown early in the second quarter was wiped off the board by a holding penalty that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence — who has grown visibly frustrated with Jacksonville's penalty woes — could only shake his head at. Had that call not come down, Tuten's day would have featured three touchdowns. Instead, backup Chris Rodriguez Jr. absorbed some of the carries while Tuten worked through the officiating frustrations alongside his offense. Jacksonville fell short in the end, but Tuten's receiving versatility in a pass-heavy game plan signaled a clear expansion of his role in the offense.

Edmunds Done for the Year

On the other side of the ledger, the news out of East Rutherford was as grim as it gets. Tremaine Edmunds, the Giants' veteran starting inside linebacker who signed a three-year deal to anchor New York's defense, is done for the 2026 season after suffering a right shoulder injury. The Giants placed him on injured reserve ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the Texans, with Micah McFadden sliding into the starting lineup in his absence.

New York had already lost quarterback Jaxson Dart and edge rusher Brian Burns to season-ending injuries before Edmunds went down, making this the third significant blow to a Giants team that somehow still sat atop the NFC East at 3-2-1 heading into the week. The team has maintained it has three starting-caliber inside linebackers on the roster — that depth is about to be tested the rest of the way.

Around the Rest of the Roster

It wasn't a banner week for other Hokies in game action. Divine Deablo exited Atlanta's Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears with an injury — the Falcons fell 23–31 in a game the Yahoo Sports recap called "catastrophic" — and his availability going forward remains in question. Fellow Virginia Tech safety Chamarri Conner logged a tackle in Kansas City's 22–6 win over the Chargers, a clean defensive performance for the Chiefs. Kicker Joey Slye was part of Tennessee's 26–20 win over Indianapolis, and center Brock Hoffman suited up for Pittsburgh's 26–19 victory over Tampa Bay.

The week belonged to Tuten's highlight reel and Edmunds' sobering IR placement — a snapshot of how quickly fortune can shift for Hokies across the league.

Bhayshul Tuten Is Making Jacksonville Believers

Virginia Tech's Bhayshul Tuten didn't just contribute in Jacksonville's Week 5 win over Philadelphia — he was the engine. The second-year running back racked up 72 rushing yards and added two receptions for 24 more, totaling 96 scrimmage yards in a 19–17 Jaguars victory. For a franchise still searching for its identity on offense, Tuten is starting to look like an answer.

The timing couldn't be better. With Jacksonville turning its attention to a divisional matchup against the Houston Texans, Tuten is already drawing serious attention as a potential X-factor. Sports Illustrated pegged him as one of three Jaguars most likely to tip the scales against Houston — a designation that reflects both his emerging production and the kind of backfield versatility that gives defensive coordinators headaches. His ability to hurt teams between the tackles and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield makes him genuinely difficult to scheme against.

Tuten came out of Blacksburg as a relatively unheralded prospect, but the Jaguars are clearly warming to the idea of building around his skillset. If Week 5 is any indication, Hokie fans should be watching Jacksonville's backfield very closely the rest of this season.

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Elsewhere Around the League

Tuten wasn't the only Hokie making noise in Week 5.

In Atlanta, linebacker Divine Deablo found himself in an uncomfortable spotlight after the Falcons surrendered a 23–30 loss to Baltimore. Rather than deflect, Deablo stepped forward and publicly took ownership of the team's run defense struggles — a leadership moment that drew notice even if the box score didn't flatter him. It's exactly the kind of accountability that builds credibility in an NFL locker room, and Deablo's willingness to wear it speaks to his standing among Atlanta's defensive core.

In East Rutherford, Tremaine Edmunds posted a sack in the Giants' 27–27 tie with Washington — a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating result for New York. The former first-round pick has had a complicated few seasons, but a sack is a sack, and Edmunds showed he can still be disruptive when opportunities arise.

Tyrod Taylor saw action for Green Bay in their dominant 31–7 win over Chicago, though his night included a modest minus-2 rushing yards — the kind of low-leverage appearance that comes with backup duty. The veteran Hokie QB remains a steady presence on the Packers' roster.

The broader picture for Virginia Tech in the NFL this week: a tight Jaguars win headlined by Tuten, a gutsy accountability moment from Deablo in a tough loss, and scattered contributions across the league from a remarkably deep alumni group. With a divisional showdown looming in Jacksonville, next week's Tuten watch party may already be on the calendar.

It was a week Virginia Tech alumni across the NFL would rather forget — at least for those in Washington and Pittsburgh. But in Jacksonville, one Hokie is quietly building a case for a bigger role.

Jaylin Lane's Season Is Over

The most gut-wrenching story out of Hokie Nation this week belongs to Commanders wide receiver and return specialist Jaylin Lane, whose season ended in the worst possible way — on a kick return at Wembley Stadium in London.

In the first quarter of Washington's Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts (13–30), Lane suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle after an awkward tackle by Colts defensive end Caden Curry. The injury was described as "graphic" on the broadcast, and Lane was carted off the field immediately. The Commanders have since confirmed he is done for the season.

Lane had carved out a vital role for Washington as a dual-threat wideout and special teams weapon. Losing him — particularly on an overseas stage with the team already banged up — is a significant blow to a Commanders squad trying to find its footing. The injury is a sobering reminder of the physical cost the game can exact in an instant.

Brock Hoffman in the Crosshairs

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, Steelers center Brock Hoffman is facing heat after a hit against the Cincinnati Bengals that at least one prominent former player has called "dirty" and worthy of suspension.

Hoffman drew the ire of ex-Steelers voices after the Week 4 contest. The nature of the hit — and the call for severe punishment — puts Hoffman in an uncomfortable spotlight heading into Week 5. Whether the league office weighs in with discipline remains to be seen, but the controversy is a distraction Pittsburgh's offense doesn't need.

Tuten's Stock Keeps Climbing in Jacksonville

For a brighter Hokie headline, look to Jacksonville. Running back Bhayshul Tuten turned in another productive outing in the Jaguars' Week 4 win over the Bengals (22–17), rushing for 73 yards and adding two receptions for 18 more. Sports Illustrated's Jaguars stock report named Tuten explicitly among players trending upward after the victory.

Tuten's blend of receiving ability out of the backfield and consistent ground production is making him harder to keep off the field. With Jacksonville's offense searching for reliable playmakers, the Virginia Tech product looks increasingly like a piece of the puzzle — not just a depth option.

Around the Rest of Hokie Nation

Chamarri Conner returned to his starting role at safety for the Chiefs in their Week 4 win over the Raiders (30–27), per snap-count analysis — a quiet but encouraging sign for the Kansas City defensive backfield. Tremaine Edmunds posted a sack in the Giants' 36–24 win over Arizona, a flash of the disruptive presence New York is counting on from the veteran linebacker. Christian Darrisaw, the Vikings' starting left tackle, entered concussion protocol after Minnesota's Week 4 game and has been ruled out for Week 5 — a significant development for an offensive line already absorbing major injury news.

It was a week that ran the full emotional spectrum for Virginia Tech's NFL contingent. Lane's injury is the one that stings longest.