The second week of NFL preseason action gave a handful of former Syracuse players a chance to flash, and a few of them delivered in a big way.
Alijah Clark and Andre Cisco both turned in strong outings, while Trebor Pena and Kyle McCord also made their presence felt as nearly two dozen former Orange players continued working through preseason rosters around the league. With the 2026-27 regular season getting closer, the big question is which of those ex-Syracuse standouts will still be around when roster cuts come.
Clark was everywhere for Dallas in a 34-13 win over Arizona. The safety finished with a team-high nine total tackles, including three solo stops.
Justin Barron also chipped in for the Cowboys, posting five total tackles with four solo tackles in the same game. Garrett Williams did not play for Arizona as he continues recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered in December 2025.
Cisco came up with one of the cleanest stat lines of the weekend for the New York Jets. In a 17-0 win over Pittsburgh, he logged two total tackles, one solo tackle, one pass breakup and an interception.
On offense, McCord got a solid run for Green Bay in a 33-13 win over Denver. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 118 yards, with no touchdowns, no interceptions and one sack. Franklin added three total tackles, one solo tackle and one tackle for a loss in that same Packers victory.
Pena made the most of his chance for Jacksonville despite the Jaguars’ 34-17 loss to Carolina. He caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. LeQuint Allen Jr. did not play because of an injury.
There were other productive performances scattered across the slate. Jackson Meeks led Detroit with four catches for 33 yards in a 17-13 win over Washington.
Dan Villari caught one pass for 24 yards in the Rams’ 34-0 rout of New Orleans. Fadil Diggs recorded five total tackles, including one solo tackle, for the Saints in that game.
In Baltimore’s 13-3 win over Minnesota, Dion Wilson Jr. played but did not record any statistics. Da'Metrius Weatherspoon also saw action in Buffalo’s 31-7 win over Cleveland, while Andre Szmyt converted his lone extra-point attempt for the Browns.
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II had two catches for 24 yards in a 41-17 loss to San Francisco. Devin Grant added two total tackles and a pass breakup, and Marlowe Wax Jr. posted three total tackles, including two solo stops.
Kevin Jobity Jr. finished with one total tackle for Pittsburgh in the loss to the Jets. Riley Dixon helped Tampa Bay edge Kansas City 16-15 with five punts, a long of 53 yards and a 47.0-yard average, while also placing two kicks inside the 20. Ifeatu Melifonwu added two total tackles and a pass breakup in that win.
Matthew Bergeron also saw action for Atlanta in its 34-6 win over Indianapolis, according to reports.
In Other News...
Syracuse Is Bringing A Program Legend Back At The Perfect Time
Syracuses training camp will get a familiar boost later this week when Fran Brown said Dwight Freeney will be around for a practice session as the Orange continue getting ready for their season opener against New Hampshire. It is the kind of reminder that still carries weight in this program, because Freeneys name means a lot in Syracuse, where he starred before building a decorated NFL career.
The timing makes sense, too, with Brown trying to sharpen the roster in the final stretch before game week. Freeney has remained connected to the program over the years, from having his jersey retired to showing up for a coaching clinic, so his return to the field fits into a long-running relationship with Syracuse. The bigger question is what kind of impact his presence will have on a team that is trying to make its last camp reps count. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Could Get Pulled Deeper Into A New Ross-Simmons Fight
The transfer and draft landscape around college football may be shifting again, and Syracuse has a direct stake in it because of Justus Ross-Simmons. The wide receiver was initially ruled eligible to return, a development that mattered for a team trying to manage its roster and keep experienced depth in place, but that status changed after an NCAA stay. Now the broader conference conversation is starting to move in the same direction as the Big Ten, which has already passed legislation preventing professional football players from coming back to college.
The ACC is reportedly weighing similar rules, and if that happens it could drag Syracuse further into the middle of the Ross-Simmons situation rather than settling it. The conference is looking at language that would make players who declared for the NFL Draft or signed pro contracts ineligible to return, a framework that would only sharpen the uncertainty around cases like this one. For Syracuse, the issue is no longer just about one players path, but about how quickly the rules around that path may harden around the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Fran Brown Settled Syracuse's QB Race But One Orange Question Remains
Fran Brown has taken one big item off Syracuses offseason checklist by naming Steve Angeli the starter for the 2026 season opener. Browns confidence in Angeli has been clear, and the coach pointed to the quarterbacks leadership and detailed approach as signs the Orange have a steady hand leading the offense after Angeli worked his way back from an Achilles tendon injury.
Justus Ross-Simmons, meanwhile, remains part of the larger conversation around Syracuses roster as Brown addressed the wide receivers eligibility situation and voiced support for him while he continues working toward his degree. With the quarterback decision settled, the attention now shifts to how the rest of the offense comes together, and whether the Orange can get one more key piece sorted before camp arrives. [Read more 🡒]