The NFL preseason wrapped up Saturday, and a handful of former Oregon Ducks were still working to make one last impression before rosters get cut to 53 players on Sunday and practice-squad spots are filled after that.
For Indianapolis rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher, the finish was strong. In the Colts’ 25-16 home loss to Detroit, he logged five tackles on defense, three of them solo, and added a tackle plus a forced fumble on special teams.
That gave Boettcher 12 defensive tackles for the preseason, including five solo stops and one tackle for loss. The fourth-round pick isn’t projected to crack the starting lineup, but he does appear to have locked down a backup job.
Another Ducks rookie, Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman, started for the third time this preseason in the Bears’ 24-15 win at Tennessee. The first-round selection didn’t put up any statistics, but the start itself kept him in the mix heading into roster decisions.
Friday night brought a quieter slate for the rest of the group. Houston Texans running back Noah Whittington, an undrafted rookie free agent, did not play in the Texans’ 16-13 loss at Carolina.
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Emmanuel Pregnon also sat out, missing the Jaguars’ 19-0 home win over Tampa Bay after starting the preseason opener. He was not listed on any injury reports, and he also didn’t play in last week’s 34-17 home loss to Carolina.
Kansas City defensive back Jadon Canady, a fourth-round pick, saw limited action but made the most of it in the Chiefs’ 9-9 home tie with Seattle. He finished with one tackle in four defensive snaps and added 10 special teams plays. Denver Broncos long snapper Luke Basso was also on the field, handling eight special teams snaps in Denver’s 34-6 home win over Minnesota.
On Thursday night, Los Angeles Chargers guard Alex Harkey, a sixth-round pick, didn’t start in the Chargers’ 20-18 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but he still saw a heavy workload with 49 offensive snaps. Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Malik Benson didn’t catch a pass in the Raiders’ 18-12 home loss to San Francisco. The sixth-round pick was targeted once in 28 snaps and also returned two punts, with both going for no gain.
In Other News...
Oregon Transfer Andrew Olesh Opens Up About The Game That Changed Everything
Andrew Olesh arrived in Eugene with a pretty clear memory of what Oregon looked like from the other sideline. The former Penn State tight end, once a top recruit, pointed back to the Ducks double-overtime win over the Nittany Lions during his freshman year as a moment that stuck with him, and it is part of the backdrop to his move to Oregon. Now he is trying to carve out a role in a tight end room led by Jamari Johnson, where the immediate task is straightforward enough: earn backup snaps and fit into a program that has already made a strong impression on him.
Dan Lannings track record was always going to matter in a decision like this, but Olesh also cited the personal connection he felt with the Oregon coach as a major factor in choosing to transfer. For a player still early in his college career, that mix of winning, trust and familiarity can be hard to ignore, especially when the destination is a team that already showed him something memorable in one of the games he watched most closely. The next question is whether that connection helps him turn a fresh start into a real foothold in Oregons offense. [Read more 🡒]
Former Ducks Are Turning NFL Roster Cuts Into A Real Debate
The early NFL roster churn has already put a few former Oregon Ducks back in the spotlight, and not always in the way they would have hoped. Dillon Gabriel closed the preseason with a strong showing for the Cleveland Browns, throwing three touchdowns, while Bryce Boettcher turned heads with his play for the Indianapolis Colts and safety Dillon Thieneman flashed enough in three games with the Chicago Bears to stay on the radar.
Jabbar Muhammad also did enough in Jacksonville to make the conversation more interesting, even if the Jaguars ultimately went another direction when they set their 53-man roster. With Gabriel currently on injured reserve, the bigger question for Oregon fans is which of these ex-Ducks can turn a good summer into something more permanent once the regular season pressure starts shaping real opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons 2026 Hopes May Rest On 3 Huge Swing Players
Oregons offseason conversations are already turning toward 2026, and a few of the biggest reasons for optimism come from the players who can change a game in a hurry. Receiver Evan Stewart is working his way back after missing the 2025 season, linebacker Devon Jackson is heading into his final year with the kind of speed and physical edge that can alter the tone of a defense, and kicker Gage Hurych is being groomed for the sort of high-pressure moments that tend to decide tight Pac-12-style games.
For the Ducks, the intrigue is less about whether those three can contribute and more about how big their roles can become once the new season arrives. Stewarts return adds another layer to an offense that will want more explosive plays, Jackson gives the defense a veteran presence with real burst, and Hurychs preparation suggests Oregon is taking special teams seriously in the places where seasons often turn. If those pieces come together the way the staff hopes, the Ducks could have three swing players who matter far beyond their individual spots on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]