Wake Forest Professional Athletes

Wake Forest's NFL footprint stretches from Minnesota to Green Bay this week, but it's a pair of young Demon Deacons — one already in hot water, one on the verge of his debut — who are driving the headline.

Claiborne's Roster Grip Loosening in Minnesota

The honeymoon is over fast for Demond Claiborne. The Vikings rookie RB arrived with legitimate preseason buzz, but heading into Week 2 against the Bears, Minnesota's patience is already being tested. According to Sports Illustrated, Claiborne is facing an uphill battle to get back into the team's good graces — a striking development this early in a first-year career. Heavy Sports confirmed the Vikings made their final determination on Claiborne's status for the Bears game, with the situation hinging partly on the addition of veteran Jordan Mason to the backfield mix.

For a rookie trying to carve out a role behind an established depth chart, getting leapfrogged by a veteran acquisition is a red flag. Claiborne's path to meaningful snaps just got steeper.

Bako-Bewele Eyeing His NFL Moment in New York

Across the NFC, fellow Demon Deacon Zach Bako-Bewele is chasing a milestone of a different kind. The Packers offensive tackle is on track for his NFL debut as Green Bay heads to MetLife Stadium to face the Jets in Week 2, per Sports Illustrated's final injury report breakdown. The report specifically flagged Bako-Bewele as a player to watch, suggesting he's in the mix to see live action against New York's defensive front. After the Packers fell to the Vikings 22-39 in Week 1 — a game in which Bako-Bewele was on the roster — stepping onto the field in Week 2 would mark a meaningful step forward for the Wake Forest product.

Dortch Gets a Special Teams Lifeline in Buffalo

Greg Dortch is making the most of a second chance in Buffalo. The Bills are expected to bench veteran Dee Alford from punt return duties and insert Dortch — a move that could give the Wake Forest wideout a defined role on special teams heading into the meat of the season. Dortch appeared in both Buffalo games this week, including the Bills' 36-31 win over Houston on Sunday and their 41-31 victory over Detroit on Thursday, suggesting he's already embedded in the game-day rotation. Earning the punt returner job would cement his roster value well beyond depth chart considerations.

Around the League

Blake Whiteheart contributed a 14-yard reception in Cleveland's 10-34 loss to Jacksonville in Week 1 — a quiet box-score line, but the Browns tight end showed up in a tough outing. Branson Combs registered a tackle for the Jaguars in that same game, Jacksonville's dominant 34-10 road win. Jessie Bates III and the Falcons dropped a 13-20 decision to Pittsburgh in Week 1, with Atlanta's secondary still searching for answers in a young season.

The broader Wake Forest alumni corps spans nearly every NFC and AFC roster, but the stories that matter most right now belong to Claiborne and Bako-Bewele — one trying to keep his grip, one trying to get it.

Greg Dortch's NFL journey takes a sharp turn — back home

Few roster moves this preseason generated as much buzz as Greg Dortch's unexpected release from the Detroit Lions, and the Wake Forest alum wasted no time making his feelings known. After the Lions cut the eighth-year veteran following the preseason — ending a reunion with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing that never quite got off the ground — Dortch publicly called out Detroit for what he described as an abrupt and surprising dismissal.

The Lions had signed Dortch to a one-year deal earlier in the offseason, but the partnership didn't survive final cuts. Dortch didn't stay on the market long. The Buffalo Bills came calling almost immediately, signing him and stashing him on the practice squad — with a clear promotion path in sight.

The fit makes more than football sense. Dortch is originally from the greater Rochester, New York, area, making the Bills a homecoming of sorts. He's described the opportunity as a chance to play in front of family and friends after a career that has taken him across the league, and told Sports Illustrated he's grateful his "unique NFL path" led him back to western New York.

On the field, Buffalo has a specific plan for him. The Bills are widely expected to elevate Dortch off the practice squad and hand him the starting punt returner role in Week 1 — a high-visibility assignment that underscores exactly why they circled back to him after Detroit let him walk. His value as a returner and slot weapon in the passing game has kept him employed through a career full of roster twists, and the Bills are betting that skill set is exactly what they need heading into the 2026 season.

---

Kobie Turner navigates the Aaron Donald factor in L.A.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Wake Forest defensive end Kobie Turner is dealing with an unusual locker room dynamic in Los Angeles. The Rams are buzzing over Aaron Donald's comeback, but that excitement comes with uncertainty for the players who built roles in his absence.

Turner is among the Rams defensive linemen whose playing time and contract trajectory could be affected by Donald's return. Head coach Sean McVay has said he won't push Donald into the Week 1 opener, leaving Turner's exact role for the start of the season still in flux. It's a situation worth monitoring — Turner's development over the past two seasons has been one of the quieter success stories on that roster, and how the Rams manage the Donald reintegration will go a long way toward determining his usage in 2026.

---

Other Deacs around the league: Wake Forest continues to place alumni at a steady clip across the NFL. Branson Combs is with the Jaguars at linebacker, where he's in a position battle that drew attention in Jacksonville's post-cut mailbag. Jessie Bates III remains with the Atlanta Falcons at free safety. Zach Tom holds down the left side of the Green Bay Packers' offensive line. The Deacons' NFL footprint spans 20-plus active roster spots leaguewide heading into the 2026 regular season.