It was a strong opening weekend for former Tennessee Volunteers across the NFL. Two VFLs set career-best marks while another made a clutch interception, highlighting the first week of play across the league.
Cordarrelle Patterson was masterful, kicking off his 10th season in the league. The Atlanta running back set a new career high in rushing yards, logging 120 yards on 22 carries. He also punched in a touchdown, his 15th-career rushing score. The 2022 season opener marked Patterson’s third career 100-yard rushing game, and he posted another 16 yards in the receiving game, hauling in three passes.
The featured back for Atlanta has blossomed in his role with the Falcons. Two of his 100-yard rushing games have come in the last two seasons as his previous career-best rushing day came on Nov. 28, 2021, when he had 108 yards at Jacksonville.
San Francisco’s Jauan Jennings also set a career-high on a rainy day in Chicago. The second-year man made a 44-yard reception early in the third quarter. It was the longest reception of his career, topping a 34-yard completion he made in the regular-season finale last season on Jan. 9 against the Rams.
On the other side of the ball, Cameron Sutton started the season with a bang for the Steelers, recording his first interception of the year halfway through the second quarter. The seventh-year defensive back has now made an interception in each of his last five seasons, and he added two passes defended and a pair of tackles in an overtime victory on the road for Pittsburgh.
A full recap of Vols around the league can be found below.
Micah Abernathy – S – Packers
Practice squad
Derek Barnett – DE – Eagles
Injured in Philadelphia’s season opener
Matthew Butler – DT – Raiders
Did not play
Marquez Callaway – WR – Saints
Saw action in the game but did not have a catch in the Saints’ opener
Justin Coleman – DB – Seahawks
Recorded five tackles in his first game with Seattle on Monday night
Morgan Cox – LS – Titans
Executed 11 snaps for the Titans in Week 1, consisting of six punts, three field goals and two extra points
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Browns
Did not play
Theo Jackson – DB – Titans
Practice squad
Ja’Wuan James – OL – Ravens
Graded as the Ravens’ top pass-blocker in the season-opener, according to PFF, making 24 snaps at left tackle and allowing no pressures or committing any penalties in his 63rd career start; injured
Jauan Jennings – WR – 49ers
Made four catches for 62 yards against the Bears, including a 44-yard completion, the longest catch-and-run of his career
Jakob Johnson – FB – Raiders
Tallied his first reception with the Raiders for one yard and played eight snaps, blocking on half of them
Velus Jones Jr. – WR – Bears
Did not play
Alvin Kamara – RB – Saints
Logged 39 yards on nine carried and added seven yards receiving after making three catches in the season opener
John Kelly – RB – Browns
Practice squad
Jonathan Kongbo – DE – Broncos
Practice squad
Cade Mays – OL – Panthers
Did not play
Khalil McKenzie – OL – Ravens
Practice squad
Emmanuel Moseley – CB – 49ers
Started in the secondary and made a pair of solo tackles against Chicago
Joshua Palmer – WR – Chargers
Started at receiver and made three catches for five yards and had a four-yard rush in the victory over Las Vegas
Cordarrelle Patterson – WR – Falcons
Had a career day on the ground, rushing for a career-best 120 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Added 16 yards through the air on three receptions
Jalen Reeves-Maybin – LB – Texans
Played his first game with Houston but did not record a tackle
Trey Smith – OL – Chiefs
Started at right guard for Kansas City in a 44-21 victory over Arizona
Cameron Sutton – CB – Steelers
Started the season strong, making an interception, defending two passes and recording two tackles in an overtime victory at Cincinnati
Alontae Taylor – CB – Saints
Made his professional debut in a 27-26 victory for New Orleans over Atlanta
Darrell Taylor – DE – Seahawks
Started on the defensive line for Seattle in a 17-16 victory Monday night
Shy Tuttle – DL – Saints
Started on the defensive line and made one solo tackle for the Saints
Kendal Vickers – DE – Raiders
Made one tackle in the season opener against the Chargers
-UT Athletics
