12 Former Kentucky Wildcats on Active NFL Rosters to Kick Off 2025 Season

The 2025 NFL season is here. Prepare for Sundays cozied up on a couch, watching your favorite former Kentucky Wildcats shine on the gridiron.

There are 12 former Wildcats active on opening day rosters. Another dozen are on injured reserve or practice squads.

It’s a big year for a couple of former Kentucky running backs. The Washington Commanders traded away Brian Robinson, giving Chris Rodriguez an opportunity to be RB2 for a team that made it to the NFC Championship a year ago. Ray Davis is in a similar spot with the Buffalo Bills, the preseason favorites to win the Super Bowl.

Josh Hines-Allen has been through plenty of peaks and valleys during his time in Jacksonville. He’s getting a fresh start with a new coach, former Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen, on an experienced roster that has the chops to win the division.

The New York Giants have the most difficult schedule in the NFL and a crazy quarterback room. It could be chaos for Brian Daboll. Two players who should provide consistency are former Cats. DB Dru Phillips and WR Wan’Dale Robinson will both be starters for the G-Men in 2025.

Kentucky Wildcats on NFL Rosters

Buffalo Bills
Ray Davis, RB (2023)
Deone Walker, DL (2022-24)

Carolina Panthers
Trevin Wallace, LB (2021-23)

Green Bay Packers                    
Darian Kinnard, OT (2018-21)
Carrington Valentine, DB (2020-22)

Jacksonville Jaguars                       
Josh Hines-Allen, DE/LB (2015-18)

LA Chargers
Bud Dupree, OLB (2011-14)

New Orleans Saints
Luke Fortner, C (2017-21)

New York Giants
Dru Phillips, DB (2020-23)
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR (2021)

Pittsburgh Steelers
Brandin Echols, CB (2019-20)   

Washington Commanders
Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB (2019-22)

Injured former Kentucky Wildcats

Josh Paschal can’t avoid the injury bug. He overcame quite a bit of adversity during his Kentucky career and beat cancer en route to an All-SEC season during the Wildcats’ 10-win campaign. Once he got to the NFL, an injury hobbled him throughout his rookie year. He was able to play in 14 games last fall for the Lions, but is now on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list after an undisclosed injury required more surgery. Hopefully, there is enough time for him to return to Detroit in 2025.

Maxwell Hairston had an injury scare in the first weeks of training camp. Fortunately, it was not a season-ender, but it will sideline the Bills’ first round draft pick until at least week 5.

Will Levis lost his starting job to No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. He tried to rehab his shoulder through an injury, but ultimately elected to have surgery that is expected to sideline the quarterback for the entire 2025 season.

It looked like Lonnie Johnson‘s time in the NFL was winding down, but the Raiders loved what they saw in training camp. Unfortunately, a collision with Maxx Crosby in a scrimmage broke his right fibula. Pete Carroll is optimistic that Johnson can return to the Raiders’ secondary four or five weeks into the season.

Landon Young has been a vital part of the offensive line rotation in New Orleans. He will not be a part of it this fall after he suffered an ankle injury in the preseason finale. Young underwent surgery and was placed on IR, ending his season before it started.

Practice Squad Players

Practice squad life isn’t too bad in the NFL. Players in their first two years of their careers are expected to earn $13,000 a week in the 2025 season, while vets will earn $17,500 a week, waiting for an opportunity to climb onto the active 53-man roster.

Cleveland Browns
Brenden Bates, TE (2019-23)

Houston Texans
*Eli Cox, OL (2020-24)

Green Bay Packers
*Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB (2024)

Dallas Cowboys
Zion Childress, DB (2022-24)

Denver Broncos
Keidron Smith, DB (2022)

Seattle Seahawks
Quinton Bohanna, DL (2017-20)

Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Edwards, S (2015-18)

Mike Edwards won Super Bowls with the Chiefs and Buccaneers. During his seventh season, the former Kentucky defensive back split time with the Chiefs and the Bills. He was waived during training camp, but re-signed with Kansas City, giving the vet an opportunity to move up onto the active if depth becomes an issue in the secondary.