#ProTops: Former Toppers in NFL Week 1 Preseason Action
You can almost smell it, can’t you? The crisp, cool air that comes with autumn evenings, the hint of smoke to accompany the crackle of fire in the distance, and the sounds of whistles blowing and pads colliding as football season is back.
Tonight kicksoff the first full slate of presesaon games around the NFL, with the Falcons and Broncos officially opening games last week in the Hall of Fame game.
At the outset of the 2019 campaign, eight former Hilltoppers have homes around the league and that number shouldn’t fluctuate too much as we move into the regular season, and even throughout the regular season.
The combination of a young roster on the field in 2018 and the lack of a ton of success (also on the field) a season ago made for one of the quietest ProTops offseasons for football in a while; as it stands, the lone new ProToppers in the NFL is Mik’Quan Deane, who signed as an undrafted free agent with Cleveland, and anyone who currently is on a roster is ether firm on the 53-man or is an asset seen too valuable to lose off a practice squad by their squad.
So, with all of that said, lets get a reminder of who is where and take a look at where everyone will be playing this week, the first of the preseason.
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (Thursday, August 8, 6 p.m. CT)
The elder statesman of former Hilltoppers in the NFL is Jack Doyle, who is coming off an injury-riddled 2018. He saw the field in just six games a season ago and is coming into 2019 a big banged up, having undergone knee surgery and still dealing with an injured hip.
His place atop the depth chart is undoubted, however, so he’ll see limited action throughout the late summer, if any at all. Pro Football Reference says Doyle should be a-okay to open the season against the Chargers.
Mik’Quan Deane, Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Redskins (Thursday, Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m. CT)
The lone new Hilltopper to the ProTops fray is Deane, who is new to the Browns after a brief stint with the Seahawks.
In the first depth chart of the season, Deane sits as TE4 and could easily play his way into a practice squad spot to position himself for a deep-depth chart position (maybe TE3?) in the coming weeks or months. As for how much he’ll play this week, that still remains to be seen, but any news is good news on the Deane front this weekend.
George Fant, Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos (Thursday, Aug. 8, 9 p.m. CT)
After missing all of the 2017 campaign due to an injury suffered early in that preseason slate, George Fant played in all 16 games for the Seahawks a year ago, but made just seven starts, with guys like Germain Ifedi and Duane Brown showing stability for Seattle at the left and right tackle positions, leaving Fant needing to fight for his shot for playing time.
Make no mistake; he’s a sure-fire lock to make the 53-man, but he may not be as prominent on the Seahawks o-line as we’d like to see.
However, if Field Gulls is to be believed, Fant could be a sneaky option to place at TE.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders (Saturday, Aug. 10, 7 p.m. CT)
The last time we saw Tyler Higbee, he was making a bit of history, becoming just the second ever former Hilltopper to play in a Super Bowl.
However, that excitement was quickly dampened when he was targeted zero times in one of the most lackluster NFL title games in recent memory.
At the top we talked about how Jack Doyle is firmly TE1 with the Colts and that wont change anytime soon. While it’s a similar situation for Higbee, he’s not nearly the offensive threat he could be with the attack the Rams have built for themselves, what with Branin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Todd Gurley.
Having said that, with guys like Gerald Everett and Johnny Mundt behind Higbee on the depth chart…I’m not worried.
Higbee should only see a couple of drives this weekend, if that.
Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers (Thursday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m. CT)
Iggy spent a majority of his rookie campaign seeing special teams snaps and will hopefully be able to show enough in the preseason to earn him some playing time in the Bears’ linebacking corps.
Iggy enters the beginning of his second season behind Roquan Smith and Nick Kwiatoski on the depth chart, meaning he’ll see a fair amount of action this month and could get some regular season defensive snaps (at the very least, more than last year).
Bear Goggles On’s Parker Hurley says Iggy saw his stock rise this past off season, citing Kwiatoski’s looming free agency as something to watch: Hurley says the Bears could deal him before he hits free agency at the end of the year, meaning Iggy will get in-game opportunities.
Forrest Lamp, Los Angeles Charges at Arizona Cardinals (Thursday, Aug. 8, 9 p.m. CT — NFL Network)
Lamp is one of two games to be on national TV this week.
Forrest has had one of the more frustrating early careers of any former Hilltopper. Rookie season injury aside, the Chargers held him out of opportunities to play last season, seemingly for no reason.
And now, LAC head coach Anthony Lynn is now citing lack of experience as for a reason why Lamp might not get a ton of looks this year.
Just play the damn man. A quick Twitter search of his name will show you that Charger fans are ready to see him in action.
Taywan Taylor, Tennessee Titans at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday, Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m. CT)
Each of Taywan’s first two seasons, we were all waiting for…more.
Across 29 career games so far, he’s been targeted 84 times for 53 receptions. But, it always feels disappointing. Each year, we’re always wondering when he’ll get more looks from Marcus Mariota, especially since the Titans offense doesn’t have that many major playmakers outside of Taylor (maybe Corey Davis?).
However, Taywan isn’t getting “WR1” type of snap numbers, either — last year, he saw the field for just 446 snaps, or 45.2% of the Titans’ offensive plays. Compare that to the aforementioned Davis: It’s nearly doubled (872 snaps, 88.4% of plays).
Heading into week one, Taywan is atop one of the WR slots on the depth chart. If he’ll stay there, and if the Titans will act like he’s a WR1 type of option, remains to be seen.
Mike White, Dallas Cowboys at San Francsisco 49ers (Saturday, Aug. 10, 8 p.m. CT — NFL Network)
Mike White’s rookie campaign was the utmost of double-edge swords: On one hand, he was on the 53-man roster all year long, as the Cowboys ran three-deep. Which tells me, at least, that Dallas likes what they have in him and don’t want to risk losing him.
On the other, he was the only Dallas QB not to see a regular season snap in 2018.
This preseason will once again be the Rush vs. White show for QB2 behind Dak in Big D.
Here’s a beauty from Mike in practice on Wednesday, though.
Darrell Williams, Jr., Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Thursday, Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m. CT)
The only former Hilltopper to be on a different team in 2019 than they were on 2018 is Darrell Williams, Jr., who spent almost the entirety of 2018 on the Rams’ practice squad.
Now a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Williams is RG2 on the first depth chart of the season.
Deon Yelder, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Saturday, August 10, 7 p.m. CT)
Yelder was essentially gifted a 53-man roster spot for a majority of the back half of the season last year with the Chiefs and even found his way into three games.
Year two should be a big step for Yelder; he enters Saturday vs. Cincy as TE2, meaning he’ll get a fair amount of playing time, and with the type of high-powered offense KC likes to run, you can never have enough weapons.
Enter: Yelder.
