NFL preseason is underway, and a long list of former Orange are already trying to carve out roles as the 2026 season gets rolling.
In Green Bay, Kyle McCord made one of the louder early statements. He finished 12-of-16 passing for 102 yards and added three carries for 10 yards against the Steelers.
With Kyron Drones now released, McCord looks likely to hold onto the No. 3 quarterback job. Zaire Franklin also made his lone tackle count, turning it into his first sack with the Packers.
The Texans moved on from Jack Stonehouse, who was waived by Houston. Jawhar Jordan remains on the list of former Orange trying to hang on there as well.
A few other offensive players put work on film in the opener. Jackson Meeks caught one pass for 17 yards for Detroit against the Bengals.
Trebor Pena gave Jacksonville a little bit of everything, finishing with three receptions for 58 yards, one carry for 8 yards and an 8-yard punt return against the Saints. Oronde Gadsden had two catches for 21 yards for the Chargers against the Texans, while Dan Villari saw time on offense and special teams for the Rams as he continues pushing for a roster spot with his versatility.
On defense, several former Syracuse players were active around the ball. Justin Barron had four tackles for Dallas as he tries to make the active roster after a strong camp.
Alijah Clark added one tackle for the Cowboys against Seattle. Fadil Diggs delivered five tackles and a sack for New Orleans against Jacksonville.
Kevin Jobity logged one tackle for Pittsburgh against the Packers. In Buffalo’s game against Carolina, Da’Metrius Weatherspoon played four snaps as he works toward a practice squad role.
There were also a few quieter box scores that still matter in camp battles. Dion Wilson didn’t record any stats for Baltimore against the Eagles, but he could be in line for a practice squad spot.
Andre Szmyt was perfect on his lone field goal try for Cleveland, drilling a 50-yarder against the Bears. On the other side of the league, Tommy DeVito started for New England against the Colts and went 13-of-22 for 138 yards and a touchdown.
The Chargers got useful snaps from their Syracuse contingent, too. Marlowe Wax and Devin Grant each made three tackles against Houston, and Wax posted a 92.2 grade per PFF. In New Orleans, the Saints also got a look at their young pieces, while the Jets welcomed back Cisco, who made one tackle against Tampa Bay.
A few more names rounded out the weekend’s action: Garrett Williams is expected to miss a majority of the 2026 season after rupturing his Achilles late last year, and Matthew Bergeron played just eight snaps for Atlanta in the opener, though his recent extension means he is not fighting for a job. Iffy Melifonwu started at strong safety for Tampa Bay and had five tackles in the loss to New England, while Sean Tucker was also listed for the Buccaneers. Enrique Cruz, Jr. played 33 offensive snaps for San Francisco against Tennessee.
In Other News...
JJ Starling Just Put Syracuse In The Middle Of A Bigger Fight
JJ Starlings Syracuse tenure may not be finished in the broadest sense, even if his next step is no longer tied to the Orange. The former Syracuse guard has joined a California lawsuit involving players from the 2022 high school graduating class who are seeking an extra year of NCAA eligibility, a move that puts him squarely in the middle of the sports ongoing fight over how much time athletes should really be allowed to compete.
Starling also has entered the NCAA transfer portal, which keeps his basketball future open while he sorts through his options. He averaged 10.9 points per game last season, and with professional opportunities still on the table, his next decision carries real weight for him and for programs that could be watching the same eligibility battle play out in court. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Is Bringing A New Money Reality To The Dome
Syracuse athletics is part of a new on-field marketing push with Progressive Insurance, adding the Orange to a group of 13 FBS programs across all four power conferences. The deal includes Progressives logo on fields along with game-day digital and social media integrations, another sign of how college footballs money game keeps moving closer to the center of the product.
Syracuse has not formally announced the partnership, but the move fits a school that has already been willing to lean into sponsorship revenue in creative ways. The Orange previously worked with SRC, Inc. on a sponsored home game relocated to Yankee Stadium, and this latest step shows the program is continuing to adapt to the new business reality around the Dome. [Read more 🡒]
Perry Eliano Has Syracuse's Secondary Facing One Big Question
Perry Eliano arrived in January and immediately stepped into a secondary with some real pieces already in place, including Chris Peal and Demetres Samuel Jr. For Syracuse, that made his job as defensive backs coach less about starting from scratch and more about figuring out how to blend established talent into a defense that can handle different looks. Eliano has leaned into the relationship side of the position, stressing trust as the foundation for developing versatility, especially at safety.
The good news for the Orange is that the group has moved forward since his arrival, enough for the staff to start shifting players into different roles and seeing what fits. The lingering question is the one every secondary coach eventually has to answer: who actually settles into the starting spots when the dust clears? Syracuse is still sorting that out, and until the lineup is finalized, the back end remains one of the more interesting parts of camp. [Read more 🡒]