Purdue in the Pros: Entering Week 1

While Purdue looks to bounce back in West Lafayette, several former Boilermakers will look to make an impact on Sundays this fall. Some figure to play prominent roles, while others are scratching their way through training camp. Today, GoldandBlack.com looks at how former Purdue players have fared in the preseason and provides a brief outlook on their upcoming year.

DERRICK BARNES – DETROIT LIONS

Barnes enters the season as a second-team linebacker according to the Lions’ most recent unofficial depth chart. He played in three games last season before a knee injury cost him the remainder of the year. Detroit signed him to a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension in March.

DAVID BELL – CLEVELAND BROWNS

Bell will begin the season on the “active/non-football injury” list. His designation: “hip/undisclosed.” He dislocated his right hip in September, which ended his 2024 season early on. By all accounts, Bell did not practice in the preseason. His placement on the non-football injury list will require him to miss at least the first four games, but no timeline for his return has been provided.

PAYNE DURHAM – TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Durham holds the second team tight end spot on the Buccaneers’ most recent depth chart. He enters his third season in Tampa after seeing an increased workload in year two. He enters year three with 16 receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns as a professional.

JALEN GRAHAM

Graham was waived by the 49ers as final cuts were made. He’s spent the bulk of his two NFL seasons on practice squads in San Francisco and Washington.

GUS HARTWIG

Hartwig suffered a knee injury while in Jets training camp and will miss the 2025 season. Subsequently, New York placed him on waivers, and he cleared.

CHARLIE JONES – CINCINNATI BENGALS

“Chuck Sizzle” has seen limited action in a crowded Bengals wide receiver room through two seasons, but he’s spent time serving as the primary return man. He caught a touchdown pass during time with the first team offense in a preseason game, and he’s currently listed on the second team on the depth chart.

SANOUSSI KANE – BALTIMORE RAVENS

Kane carved out a nice special teams role during his rookie season in Baltimore, but he saw limited action at safety. Currently, he’s listed as the second team strong safety and projects to continue playing a high volume of special teams snaps.

GEORGE KARLAFTIS – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

After playing in his third Super Bowl in as many years, Karlaftis inked a massive four-year, $93 million extension with the Chiefs. He finished in the league’s top five in pressure rate last season, and Kansas City will count on him as a starting defensive end once again this season.

MARCUS MBOW – NEW YORK GIANTS

The rookie tackle has turned heads early in New York. After falling to the fifth round of the draft, he appears as the second team right tackle on the depth chart after impressing during training camp and the preseason.

RONDALE MOORE – MINNESOTA VIKINGS

For the second consecutive year, a preseason injury will cost Moore his season. In 2024, a dislocated right knee was the culprit. This year, he’s undergone left knee surgery after an early training camp injury.

RAHEEM MOSTERT – LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Purdue’s longest-tenured pro, Mostert made the Raiders’ roster and is in a position battle for the number two tailback spot in Sin City behind high draft pick Ashton Jeanty. This will be the speedster’s 11th NFL season following a six-year run in San Francisco and a three-year run in Miami.

AIDAN O’CONNELL – LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

O’Connell suffered a fractured right wrist in the Raiders’ final preseason game, forcing him to miss the start of the season. The early outlook indicates that he will miss six-to-eight weeks with the injury, though he did not get placed on injured reserve When he returns, he will compete with Kenny Pickett to serve as Geno Smith’s backup.

COREY STEWART

The former Ball State transfer signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent, but he did not make the 53-man roster, falling victim to the final round of cuts.

REESE TAYLOR

After spending his first two NFL seasons on the practice squad, Taylor was limited in training camp due to a hamstring injury. Subsequently, he was waived by Denver in the final round of roster cuts.

TYRONE TRACY JR. – NEW YORK GIANTS

Tracy burst onto the scene with 839 yards as a rookie in 2024, and he currently holds the top running back spot on New York’s depth chart as the regular season nears. He’ll look to build off his rookie season success in year two.

CORY TRICE JR. – PITTSBURGH STEELERS

A knee injury in training camp ended Trice’s rookie season before it began in 2023. In 2024, he saw six games of action after missing several weeks in the middle of the season with an injury. Now fully healthy, he projects as a second team corner and special teams contributor after making the final cut for the 53-man roster.