Each week Rocky Top Insider will recap the performances of former Tennessee Volunteers in the NFL.
Below is a comprehensive list of Week 4’s VFLs in the NFL, including statistics and observations.
Micah Abernathy – Atlanta Falcons – S
Abernathy was key in a muffed punt touchdown recovery for the Falcons and had two tackles in Atlanta’s 26-24 win over New Orleans. Abernathy was the first to jump on the ball in the endzone before it fell to KhaDarel Hodge for the touchdown.
FALCONS RECOVER A MUFFED PUNT IN THE ENDZONE!! TOUCHDOWN!!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/kAiovKwcqk
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 29, 2024
Derek Barnett – Houston Texans – DE
Barnett ended the day with two tackles in Houston’s 24-20 win over Jacksonville. On one of the tackles, Barnett came off the edge and blew up the Jaguar’s right guard as he was pulling, hitting him so hard that the offensive lineman collided with the running back and they both went down.
Derek Barnett (95) collisioning the puller Brandon Scherff at the POA pic.twitter.com/rwSaJQoxaU
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) September 30, 2024
Morgan Cox – Tennessee Titans – LS
Cox snapped the ball 12 times for the Titans special teams unit and recorded a tackle in their 31-12 win over Miami on Monday Night Football. On the play where Cox recorded his tackle, the long snapper was the last line of defense, saving a likely touchdown on Dolphins punt returner Braxton Berrios’s 27-yard return.
Joshua Dobbs – San Francisco 49ers – QB
Dobbs did not see the field in the 49ers’ 30-13 win over the New England Patriots. The Patriots are coached by VFL Jerod Mayo.
Kamal Hadden – Green Bay Packers – DB
Hidden was elevated from the practice squad as the Packer’s secondary deals with injuries. This was the NFL debut for the former Tennessee cornerback, as the Packers fell to the undefeated Vikings.
Hendon Hooker – Detroit Lions – QB
Hooker once again did not see the field in Detroit’s Monday Night Football game versus the Seattle Seahawks. The Lions came away with a 42-29 victory.
Jalin Hyatt – New York Giants – WR
Hyatt did not see the field for much of the game in the Giants’ 15-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The backup wide receiver only lined up on 13 snaps in all four quarters. There were claims of Hyatt requesting a trade out of New York, however, those claims were later refuted by Hyatt. Regardless, Hyatt is seen as underutilized by media and front-office members across the league, making him a potential trade target as the NFL’s injury bug continues to run rampant.
Theo Jackson – Minnesota Vikings – DB
Jackson continues to contribute on special teams as he played 22 special teams snaps in the Viking’s 31-29 win over the Packers.
Jauan Jennings – San Francisco 49ers – WR
Coming off of an explosive Week 3, Jennings returned to earth as star pass catchers Deebo Samuel Jr. and George Kittle returned from injury. Still, Jennings had three receptions for a total of 88 yards as San Francisco defeated New England 30-13.
Jakob Johnson – New York Giants – FB
Johnson got the start on Thursday night as he lined up at Fullback for the Giant’s first offensive snap against Dallas. The Giants came away with a 15-20 loss.
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints – RB
Although the Saints lost for the second straight week, Kamara still played his part. The elite running back had over 100 all-purpose yards for the fourth straight week. He rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and caught seven passes for 42 yards.
Jaylen McCollough – Los Angeles Rams – DB
McCollough recorded one tackle and played on 15 special teams snaps for the Rams.
Joe Milton III – New England Patriots – QB
Milton has yet to see any action for the Patriots this season. This did not change in the Patriots 30-13 loss to San Francisco.
Josh Palmer – Los Angeles Chargers – WR
After being inactive in Week 3, Palmer hauled in three of his four targets for 36 yards in the Chargers 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cordarrelle Patterson – Pittsburgh Steelers – RB
Patterson recorded three carries for 43 yards, as well as two receptions for 19 yards in Pittsburgh’s 27-24 loss to the Colts.The Steelers were previously unbeaten.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin – Detroit Lions – LB
Reeves-Maybin had two tackles for the Lions in their 42-29 victory over Seattle Sunday night.
Jabari Small – Tennessee Titans – RB
Small was elevated to the active roster for the Titans, but did not see any action.
Trey Smith – Kansas City Chiefs – OL
Smith continues to play an important role in protecting superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs offense was not firing on all cylinders, still, they put a notch in the win column with a 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Alontae Taylor – New Orleans Saints – CB
Taylor continued his stellar play in the secondary, as he broke up two passes and made four tackles. The impressive pass break-ups can be seen in the videos below. The Saints lost 26-24 on a last-second field goal to the Falcons.
#Saints Alontae Taylor (slot) strong finish on this rep against Drake London. London runs a good route but the ball is a little behind him, giving Taylor the opportunity to punch it out. pic.twitter.com/cGMcJxoE1R
— NFL Shock (@NFLShock) October 1, 2024
1st and 10
7 man protection and 7 step drop off of PA
Drake isn’t a burner, he gets a step on Alontae Taylor and leaves plenty of room between him and the sideline. Kirk’s got time and room to step up in the pocket but leaves this one short. Need to see Kirk put this further… pic.twitter.com/ZfoiAs744N
— FalconsAll22 (@Falcons_All_22) October 1, 2024
Darrell Taylor – Chicago Bears – OLB
Taylor had one tackle, one QB hit, and a pass defensed in the Bear’s 24-18 win against the Rams. The quarterback hit led to Stafford throwing an interception to the Bears secondary and can be seen below.
Final play – Darrell Taylor with a great win inside using a spin, getting a hit on Stafford and forcing a poor throw to Brisker pic.twitter.com/zGfGcudfxw
— Mike Faltas (@chi_faltas) October 1, 2024
Cedric Tillman – Cleveland Browns – WR
Tillman continues to play reserve snaps for the Browns receiving core, totaling nine offensive snaps for the Browns in their 16-20 loss to the Raiders.
Dee Williams – Seattle Seahawks – RS
Williams returned two kickoffs for a total of 54 yards in the Seahawks’ 24-29 loss to the Lions.
Darnell Wright – Chicago Bears – OL
Wright played 60 snaps for Chicago in their 24-18 win over the Rams. Wright continues to try to keep number 1 pick and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams upright.
Jaylen Wright – Miami Dolphins – RB
Wright has started to get more touches as the season rolls on and he has returned from injury. On Monday night, Wright had nine carries for 32 yards against the Titans.
Byron Young – Los Angeles Rams – OLB
Young recorded three tackles as the Rams fell to the Bears on Sunday.
Inactive:
Velus Jones Jr. – Chicago Bears – WR/RB
Shy Tuttle – Carolina Panthers – DL
Practice Squad:
Matthew Butler – Las Vegas Raiders – DT
Princeton Fant – Dallas Cowboys – TE
Gabe Jeudy-Lally – Tennessee Titans – DB
John Kelly Jr. – Baltimore Ravens – RB
Ramel Keyton – Las Vegas Raiders – WR
Cade Mays – New York Giants – OL
Kendal Vickers – New Orleans Saints – DL
Injured Reserve:
Emmanuel Moseley – Detroit Lions – CB
NFL Commissioner’s Exempt List:
Cameron Sutton – Pittsburgh Steelers – CB
