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Pack Pros: QB Russell Wilson impresses with 80-yard pass in New York Giants preseason win

image_6483441 (3)by: Noah Fleischman08/18/25fleischman_noah
Russell Wilson
Aug 16, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes against the New York Jets during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Former NC State quarterback Russell Wilson loves to throw the deep ball. His ability to uncork a pass that sails through the air as if it were following a rainbow is uncanny, but that’s what separates the signal-caller from the rest of the league.

The Pack Pro has named those passes a “moon ball,” and well, he was able to put one on full display in the New York Giants’ 31-12 win over the New York Jets in Week 2 of the NFL preseason. 

Wilson, who played much of the first half as he prepares to be the Giants’ Week 1 starter, launched one of his patented passes with ease on the team’s first drive of the game. Standing on his own 11-yard line, Wilson fired his high arching-pass that wideout Beaux Collins reeled in just inside the Jets’ 30 and was tackled at the 1-yard line.

That deep ball set up a Giants rushing touchdown, which seemingly set the tone for the rest of the night as the franchise improved to 2-0 this preseason. Wilson finished the night 4-of-7 passing for 108 yards and an interception before giving way to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

While Wilson was back in action, he wasn’t the only Pack Pro to take the field this week in the NFL’s preseason. Here’s a look at the rest of the former NC State players that played this past weekend.

NC State Pack Pros: Preseason Week 2

OT Anthony Belton (played at NC State from 2021-2024), #71 Green Bay Packers: Belton played 62 snaps at right tackle in the Packers’ 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He allowed five quarterback pressures, resulting in four quarterback hurries and a hit, in 33 pass-blocking opportunities.

C Garrett Bradbury (2014-18), #65 New England Patriots: Bradbury logged 15 total snaps in the Patriots’ 20-12 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He did not allow a quarterback pressure in seven-pass blocking chances against his former team.

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), #7 Arizona Cardinals: Brissett was 6-of-8 passing for 57 yards with a touchdown in the Cardinals’ 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos. He averaged 7.1 yards per attempt and posted a near-elite 133.9 passer rating. Brissett’s lone touchdown toss was completed to wide receiver Simi Fehoko on the second drive of the game — the quarterback’s final series of the game.

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), #2 Miami Dolphins: Chubb didn’t play in the Dolphins’ 24-17 win over the Detroit Lions.

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), #6 Las Vegas Raiders: Cole logged one put for 47 yards in the Raiders’ 22-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

C Zeke Correll (2024), #63 Minnesota Vikings: NC State’s starting center from the 2024 campaign was putting together a strong training camp before he suffered an ankle injury in the preseason opener. He was waived by the Vikings with an injury settlement last Tuesday.

DT Cory Durden (2021-22), #69 New York Giants: Durden logged one tackle in the Giants’ 31-12 win over the New York Giants. The nose tackle logged 18 total snaps in the battle between the two New York-based franchises.

OT Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), #79 Carolina Panthers: Ekwonu played just one series — seven total snaps — in the Panthers’ 20-3 loss to the Houston Texans. He allowed one quarterback pressure on the drive, which resulted as a quarterback hurry.

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), #92 Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals are in action tonight at the Washington Commanders (8 p.m., ESPN).

S Tanner Ingle (2018-22), #34 Los Angeles Rams: Ingle posted one tackle with a hard-hitting pass defended in the Rams’ 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Check out this clip of his big play:

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), #93 Arizona Cardinals: Jones didn’t play in the Cardinals’ 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos. He is dealing with a knee injury suffered at practice.

LB Vi Jones (2019-21), #53 Arizona Cardinals: Jones logged five tackles, including three solo stops, in the Cardinals’ 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos. He played 32 total snaps on defense in the defeat.

RB Zonovan Knight (2019-21), #35 Arizona Cardinals: Knight logged one carry for four yards with a catch for one yard in the Cardinals’ 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos. The running back only played five total snaps on offense against the Broncos.

OL Timothy McKay (2019-2024), #68 Washington Commanders: McKay and the Commanders will square off with the Cincinnati Bengals tonight (8 p.m., ESPN).

C Dylan McMahon (2019-23), #63 Los Angeles Rams: McMahon did not appear in the Rams’ 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers due to a training camp ankle injury.

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), #54 Detroit Lions: McNeill didn’t play in the Lions’ 24-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last season. He’s expected to return to the field during the 2025 regular season campaign.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), #16 Las Vegas Raiders: Meyers recorded one catch for four yards in the Raiders’ 22-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The wideout played just 13 snaps on offense in the team’s second preseason tune-up.

RB Nyheim Miller-Hines (2015-17), #31 Los Angeles Chargers: Miller-Hines was targeted once, but didn’t record a catch, in the Chargers’ 23-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He played 10 total snaps on offense in the defeat. Miller-Hines did record two kickoff returns for 45 yards — averaging 22.5 yards per attempt — and one punt return for 15 yards.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), #52 Los Angeles Rams: Murchison logged three tackles, including one solo stop, in the Rams’ 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), #57 Las Vegas Raiders: Pratt posted one tackle in the Raiders’ 22-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The linebacker played 12 total snaps in the preseason tilt.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), #93 Atlanta Falcons: Street recorded one tackle in the Falcons’ 23-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He played 26 total snaps on defense in the defeat.

WR Thayer Thomas (2017-22), #89 Minnesota Vikings: Thomas caught one pass for eight yards in the Vikings’ 20-12 loss to the New England Patriots. The wideout played 26 total snaps, including 25 on offense, in the defeat.

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), #42 Seattle Seahawks: Thomas logged four tackles, including two solo stops, in the Seahawks’ 33-16 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He played 23 snaps on defense with 12 of them in coverage in the victory.

OL Joe Thuney (2011-15), #62 Chicago Bears: The Bears beat the Buffalo Bills 38-0 on Sunday night. 

LB Payton Wilson (2018-23), #41 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson logged one quarterback pressure in the Steelers’ 17-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played 19 total snaps on defense in the defeat.

QB Russell Wilson (2007-10, finished at Wisconsin), #3 New York Giants: Wilson was 4-of-7 passing for 108 yards and an interception in the Giants’ 31-12 win over the New York Jets. 

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), #62 Carolina Panthers: Zavala didn’t play in in the Panthers’ 20-3 loss to the Houston Texans due to a knee injury. Carolina hopes he can return for the team’s final preseason game next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

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