Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason opened with four former NC State players getting work, and the most intriguing name in the group was Cian Slone.
The former Wolfpack linebacker kept pushing his case for a Raiders roster spot in Las Vegas’ 22-20 win over the Houston Texans. Slone finished with two tackles and one quarterback hit in 22 snaps, and he earned a 65.5 PFF grade. He also entered the game listed as a third-string linebacker on the Raiders’ depth chart, which is a notable spot for an undrafted free agent at this stage.
Slone’s night came on the heels of another strong showing in Week 1, when he logged three tackles, a sack and a 68.6 PFF grade in 21 snaps against Arizona. Through two preseason games, he has put together a clean little resume:
Week 1: 3 tackles, 1 sack, 68.6 PFF grade, 21 snaps
Week 2: 2 tackles, 1 QB hit, 65.5 PFF grade, 22 snaps
The Raiders also got work from another former NC State defender, Brandon Cleveland. The seventh-round pick recorded one tackle in 19 snaps and posted a 50.3 PFF grade.
Cleveland was listed as a third-stringer as well, so he’s still in the same fight for a 53-man roster spot. In Las Vegas’ first preseason game, he posted a 57.8 PFF grade across 23 snaps.
AJ Cole, meanwhile, remains on much firmer ground. The former NC State punter, now long established as Las Vegas’ starter, was busy against Houston and punted seven times while averaging 51.4 yards per punt.
Across the field, former NC State defensive end Sabastian Harsh made his NFL debut for the Texans. Harsh, who also entered the league as an undrafted free agent this spring, recorded two tackles in 25 snaps and received a 57.5 PFF grade. He did not play in Houston’s first preseason game, so this was his first chance to put NFL tape together.
Another former Wolfpack receiver, Wesley Grimes, was inactive for San Francisco in the other preseason game of the night. The 49ers beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-17, but Grimes did not see the field after catching one pass for seven yards in San Francisco’s first preseason game.
Here’s the full Pack Pro rundown from night one of Week 2:
Cian Slone, Raiders: 2 tackles, 1 QB hit, 65.5 PFF grade
Brandon Cleveland, Raiders: 1 tackle, 50.3 PFF grade
AJ Cole, Raiders: 7 punts, 51.4-yard average
Sabastian Harsh, Texans: 2 tackles, 57.5 PFF grade
Wesley Grimes, 49ers: DNP
Of the group, Slone is the one worth watching closest as the preseason rolls on. He’s undrafted, buried on the depth chart, and still finding ways to make noise. That’s exactly the kind of August story that can turn into something real.
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Corrigan made clear that NC State is still sorting through those possibilities rather than racing toward the first deal on the table, and he said the department is not close to a jersey sponsorship. As other schools continue landing corporate arrangements that can reshape the way athletic departments operate, the Wolfpack is trying to balance urgency with the kind of relationship that actually pays off for the university beyond the uniform. [Read more 🡒]