The first round of the NFL Playoffs is wrapped up, which means that some former Tennessee Vols are heading home while others are advancing to the next round of action.
Six Vols found action in the first round of the playoffs while one did not play and another had a first-round bye:
- Chiefs: OG Trey Smith – Went sleeveless in win over Dolphins
- Texans: DE Derek Barnett – 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss in win over Browns
- Browns: WR Cedric Tillman – 2 receptions for 13 yards in loss to Texans
- Rams: DE Byron Young – 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss in loss to Lions
- Lions: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin – 2 total tackles in win over Rams
- Lions: CB Cam Sutton – 2 total tackles in win over Rams
- Lions: QB Hendon Hooker – DNP
- 49ers: WR Jauan Jennings – First-Round BYE
The losses from the Rams and the Browns eliminates rookies Byron Young and Cedric Tillman from their first NFL playoff opportunities.
The San Francisco 49ers had the top seed in the NFC which resulted in a bye during the first week of action. Former Vol wide receiver Jauan Jennings has been in concussion protocol since Week 18 but looks like he could be making his return to the field against the Green Bay Packers this weekend.
The Niners will host the Vol-less Green Bay Packers on Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Pro Bowl special teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin, cornerback Cam Sutton, and the Detroit Lions are looking for a second straight playoff victory this Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. ET when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Hendon Hooker is also active on the Lions’ roster but would need a miracle to play as the rookie is listed in the third-string spot on the Detroit roster.
While he started the season with the Eagles – who are now eliminated from the playoffs – former Vol Derek Barnett is looking to help a young and gritty Houston Texans squad on their playoff run. Barnett picked up two tackles for loss against Cleveland in the Wild Card round as the Texans will now take on No. 1-seed Baltimore this Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. ET.
And, lastly, Super Bowl champion Trey Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Buffalo Bills in the final game of the weekend on Sunday afternoon at 6:30 p.m. ET. There’s not too much to say about Smith, the Chiefs’ reliable starting offensive lineman, except for the fact that he didn’t wear sleeves in the Ice Bowl 2.0 this past Saturday in Kansas City. That’s some manly stuff, man.
No former Tennessee player will be taking on another former Tennessee player in the divisional round, unlike wild-card weekend. While it’ll take an upset or two, there is a chance that all Tennessee players could advance to the conference championship weekend if the 49ers, the Lions, the Texans, and the Chiefs all win.
More from RTI: Where Outgoing Tennessee Football Transfers Landed
Saturday
4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC – (4) Houston Texans at (1) Baltimore Ravens
- Texans: Barnett
8:15 p.m. ET on FOX – (7) Green Bay Packers at (1) San Francisco 49ers
- 49ers: Jennings
Sunday
3:00 p.m. ET on NBC – (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (3) Detroit Lions
- Lions: Reeves-Maybin, Sutton, Hooker, Emmanuel Mosley (season-ending injury)
6:30 p.m. ET on CBS – (3) Kansas City Chiefs at (2) Buffalo Bills
- Chiefs: Smith
