The NFL season is finally here, and there’s a full baker’s dozen of former UCF players scattered across league rosters and practice squads as opening weekend gets rolling. Some are lining up as starters, others are waiting for their chance, and a few are stuck on the shelf before the first snap is even taken.
Ricky Barber is in position to help right away in Washington. The Commanders’ defensive tackle is the primary backup at his spot to open the year, aided by injuries in that group, and Washington starts on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox.
Kalia Davis’ season, meanwhile, begins with a setback. After a career year with San Francisco in 2025, the Browns defensive tackle is on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury and won’t be eligible to play until at least mid-October.
Cleveland opens against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
Tylan Grable is healthy and ready to be part of Buffalo’s offensive line mix. The Bills have him penciled in as one of their top backup linemen behind Spencer Brown and Dion Dawkins, and they’ll open as slight favorites against the Houston Texans on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS from Reliant Stadium.
RJ Harvey enters year two in Denver still behind J.K. Dobbins on the depth chart, but the Broncos expect to use him on passing downs. Denver’s first test comes on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the season’s first Monday Night Football game on ESPN and ABC.
Mike Hughes is set for a starting role in Atlanta. The veteran cornerback is listed as one of the Falcons’ two starting boundary corners as they head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
That game kicks off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on Fox, one day after the Knights play the Panthers on the same field.
Brandon Johnson is back on Pittsburgh’s practice squad after spending camp with the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s his fourth overall stint with the Steelers, and Pittsburgh hosts Atlanta on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.
Nyjalik Kelly flashed in the preseason for Green Bay, posting two sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and six total tackles. He didn’t crack the Packers’ 53-man roster, but he did land on the practice squad.
Green Bay travels to Minneapolis on Sunday for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings on CBS.
Amari Kight is on Seattle’s injured reserve list entering opening weekend. He reportedly reached an injury settlement with the Seahawks last week, which makes him eligible to sign with another team once he’s healthy.
Malachi Lawrence is set for his first regular season game as a second-string outside linebacker for Dallas. The Cowboys visit the New York Giants in the first Sunday night game of the year, with kickoff set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
Mac McWilliams is back for his second NFL season with Philadelphia and is listed as the backup nickel defensive back. The Eagles open at home against Washington at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox.
Myles Montgomery’s rookie season will start on injured reserve after a training camp injury in New England. The Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks Wednesday night at 8:20 on NBC (Peacock) and Telemundo.
Paul Rubelt was waived by Tampa Bay at final cuts, then quickly brought back on the practice squad. Because he came through the NFL’s International Player Pathway, he does not count against the usual 16-player practice squad limit. The Buccaneers head to Cincinnati to face the Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX.
Alex Ward won the Raiders’ long snapping job after signing a one-year deal in the offseason, giving Las Vegas another former Knight on a Week 1 roster. The Raiders host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox.
In Other News...
UCF And USF Are Still Far Apart On War On I-4
The War on I-4 has been dormant since 2022, but the bigger issue now is that UCF and USF still are not even close to bringing it back. UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir has made clear the Knights are approaching future scheduling with a very specific financial and competitive model, while USF athletic director Rob Higgins has continued to press for a reunion in whatever form might work.
Higgins has already shown a willingness to get creative, including a home-and-home option that could begin as early as 2031 and a broader four-game setup with neutral-site dates in Orlando and Tampa. UCF, though, has not moved off its position, leaving one of the states most recognizable rivalries in limbo and the path back to the series still unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Sincere Edwards Gives UCF A New Twist Before Pitt Showdown
UCFs defense came out of the Bethune-Cookman game with plenty to feel good about, holding the Wildcats under 200 yards while generating sacks and turnovers. A big part of that effort was junior EDGE Sincere Edwards, who was active around the line of scrimmage and finished with five tackles while helping the Knights set a more disruptive tone on defense.
Edwards now gets a different kind of spotlight with Pittsburgh next on the schedule, and the matchup adds a personal layer to an already important test for UCF. The former Panther is expected to be a key piece again when the Knights line up against his old program, giving UCF a familiar face with a little extra motivation in a game that should carry some edge of its own. [Read more 🡒]
UCFs Defensive Depth Faces A Much Bigger Test Against Pitt
UCFs dominant opening win over Bethune-Cookman gave the Knights a chance to sort through the bottom of the defensive rotation, and a couple of unlikely names made the most of it. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch came away impressed by EDGE Quentin Hatch and freshman walk-on defensive back Tyce Porcher, two players who found real value in limited snaps during the 73-6 rout.
Now the challenge gets a lot more serious. Pittsburgh brings a tougher test in quarterback Mason Heintschel, and UCFs defense is shifting from a game of evaluation to one of execution, with depth pieces like Hatch and Porcher suddenly part of a larger conversation about how the Knights handle a much better offense. [Read more 🡒]