Gamecocks in the NFL: Preseason Week 1

Week one of the NFL preseason wrapped up Sunday evening with five of South Carolina’s 36 NFL players facing off in a contest between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New Orleans Saints. 

On Aug. 3, the Jacksonville Jaguars placed offensive lineman Dennis Daley on the reserve/retired list. The South Carolina native played six years in the NFL after spending 2017-18 at South Carolina. 

Here is an update on where every former Gamecock in the league stands entering week two of preseason action.

Get GamecockCentral for $1 your first week. As a bonus, your membership includes a complimentary year of The Athletic.

AFC West

Kyle Kennard – EDGE/outside linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers

Kennard made his preseason debut during the annual Hall of Fame Game. However, the rookie exited the game early with a collarbone injury after recording one tackle. He did not dress out in Sunday’s game against New Orleans. 

Raheim Sanders – Running back, Los Angeles Chargers

Sanders missed the Hall of Fame Game, sidelined with an injury suffered on the second day of practice. However, Sanders made his preseason debut against the Saints, recording 10 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. Sanders’ longest rush went for 14 yards. Sanders also made one reception for 11 yards. 

Dalevon Campbell – Wide receiver, Los Angeles Chargers

Campbell made one reception for 12 yards in his preseason debut with the Chargers. In his second game against the Saints, Campbell made a team-high three receptions for 62 yards. 

Nate Adkins – Tight end, Denver Broncos

Adkins did not dress in the Broncos’ preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers. 

Nick Gargiulo – Guard, Denver Broncos

Gargiulo played the majority of Saturday’s game against the 49ers at right guard. The sophomore guard took 22 snaps at right guard and 11 at left, grading as one of the Broncos’ highest according to PFF (84.0).

Darius Rush – Cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs

After missing the first week of padded practice, Rush joined fellow defensive back Eric Scott on the IR. 

Tonka Hemingway – Defensive tackle, Las Vegas Raiders

Hemingway earned reps with the first team defense in practice after recording three tackles and a pass deflection in his NFL preseason debut against Seattle. 

AFC East

Marcellas Dial Jr. – Cornerback, New England Patriots

Dial tore his ACL during 11-on-11 drills in practice, which the Patriots then placed him on the injured reserve on Aug. 5. 

TJ Sanders – Defensive tackle, Buffalo Bills

Sanders forced solid pressure on the Giants’ quarterbacks, recording quarterback hits on Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart. However, the rookie tackle failed to record a tackle in Saturday’s contest. 

Alex Huntley – Defensive end, Miami Dolphins

Huntley did not record a stat in Sunday’s preseason opener against the Bears. 

Cam Smith – Cornerback, Miami Dolphins

Smith did not dress for the Dolphins’ preseason opener against the Bears due to injury. 

AFC North

Gage Larvadain – Wide receiver, Cleveland Browns

Larvadain made two catches for 23 yards in his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers. The rookie wideout also recorded one carry for four yards and a touchdown. 

Demetrius Knight II – Linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals

Knight recorded two tackles in his preseason debut with the Bengals. 

NFC South

Jovaughn Gwyn – Center, Atlanta Falcons

Gwyn started the Falcons’ preseason opener at center on Friday. 

Joshua Simon – Tight end, Atlanta Falcons

Simon caught two passes for a total of nine yards in his preseason debut. 

Jaycee Horn – Cornerback, Carolina Panthers

Horn did not play in the Panthers’ preseason opener against Cleveland. The NFL’s highest-paid cornerback was reportedly involved in a minor car accident on his way to practice. Horn suffered no significant injuries in the accident. 

Xavier Legette – Wide receiver, Carolina Panthers

Legette was ejected from Friday’s preseason opener after being involved in a fight with Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins. Since he was tossed so early on in the game, he didn’t record any stats.

DJ Wonnum – Outside linebacker, Carolina Panthers

Wonnum recorded one tackle and one quarterback hit in his preseason opener against Cleveland. Wonnum was among the lowest graded Panthers per PFF from Friday’s game (34.9).

Rico Dowdle – Running back, Carolina Panthers

Dowdle had three carries for seven yards with a long of three in his preseason debut with the Panthers. 

Bam Martin-Scott – Inside linebacker, Carolina Panthers

Martin-Scott recorded four tackles in Friday’s game against Cleveland. The linebacker graded at a meager 29.6 by PFF. 

Spencer Rattler – Quarterback, New Orleans Saints

Rattler threw 11 passes in his preseason opener against the Chargers, completing seven for 53 yards. While the second-year quarterback did not throw an interception, he also failed to throw for a touchdown. Rattler also had a team-high 22 yards rushing on three carries.

Torricelli Simpkins III – Guard/Center, New Orleans Saints

Simpkins played at center in the Saints’ preseason opener after Will Clapp left the game with an injury. 

NFC North

Keisean Nixon – Cornerback, Green Bay Packers

Nixon started in Saturday’s preseason opener; however, the NFL vet struggled, failing to record a tackle. 

Kingsley Enagbare – Defensive end, Green Bay Packers

Enagbare recorded five tackles, including one for loss, in a loss to the Jets in his preseason opener. 

Zacch Pickens – Defensive tackle, Chicago Bears

Pickens recorded three tackles and one sack in the Bears’ preseason opener against the Dolphins. 

Vershon Lee – Guard/Center, Minnesota Vikings

Lee played snaps at center in his preseason debut with the Vikings. With the absence of the injured Zeke Correll, he is likely to take more snaps there.

NFC East

Israel Mukuamu – Safety, Dallas Cowboys

Mukuamu caught an impressive interception from Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett in the Cowboys’ preseason opener. The fifth-year safety also recorded two tackles and a pass deflection. 

Jalen Brooks – Wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys

Brooks caught two passes on three targets in his preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. 

O’Donnell Fortune – Cornerback, New York Giants

Fortune recorded a key tackle after being beaten for a 58-yard reception that limited a Bills drive to a field goal. He finished Saturday’s win with three total tackles. 

Dante Miller, Running back, New York Giants

Miller recorded 10 carries for 22 yards, with a long of 10, in Saturday’s win over the Bills. 

Nick Muse – Tight end, Philadelphia Eagles

Muse caught one pass for six yards on his only target in the Eagles’ preseason opener. 

Deebo Samuel – Wide receiver, Washington Commanders

Samuel was inactive in the Commanders’ preseason opener against the Patriots.

Javon Kinlaw – Defensive tackle, Washington Commanders

Kinlaw was one of 30 players listed inactive for the Commanders’ preseason opener. 

NFC West

Nick Emmanwori – Safety, Seattle Seahawks

Emmanwori played 11 snaps in his preseason debut, all in the slot. The rookie safety recorded one tackle in the tie against Las Vegas. 

Ernest Jones IV – Inside linebacker, Seattle Seahawks

Jones missed the Seahawks’ preseason opener after traveling home to Georgia to attend his father’s funeral. As of Aug. 10, he has yet to return to practice. 

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!