Former Tennessee edge rusher Joshua Josephs wasted no time making his presence felt in the NFL preseason.
In Detroit’s 17-13 win over Washington on Saturday, Josephs turned a strip sack into a defensive touchdown less than a minute into the game. The quarterback on the other end of the play was another former Tennessee signal-caller, Josh Dobbs, who put the ball on the turf and watched Josephs scoop it up in the end zone.
Dobbs settled in after the rough opening snap and finished 7-of-12 for 74 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He also added two carries for 53 yards and a rushing score.
Josephs’ night came with plenty of Tennessee flavor. The Commanders highlighted the play, and Tennessee Football followed with its own post celebrating the rookie’s touchdown.
A four-year player at Tennessee, Josephs built a strong résumé before heading to Washington. He finished his college career with 104 total tackles, eight pass deflections, 9.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. His senior year was his most productive on paper: 33 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown across 11 games.
Even with James Pearce Jr. drawing the spotlight as Tennessee’s top EDGE in 2024, Josephs stayed busy. He played in all 13 games that season, including the College Football Playoff loss to Ohio State, and logged 39 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Washington drafted Josephs in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 147th overall pick, and he’s now trying to carve out a rotational role on the Commanders’ defense.
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Through two preseason games, Aguilar has completed 10 of 11 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, a start that keeps him firmly in the mix. He still has one more exhibition game to strengthen his case, and for a Jaguars team sorting out the back end of the quarterback room, his rise has made that final evaluation a tougher one. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vol Joey Aguilar Is Making A Real NFL Roster Push
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Aguilar completed 9 of 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 29-yard scoring strike to rookie wide receiver Trebor Pea. For a quarterback trying to force his way onto the Jaguars' roster, it was the kind of efficient performance that gets attention in a crowded competition, even if the final call still has to be made. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Scrimmage Put One Key Vols Battle Back In Focus
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Faizon Brandon also flashed the running ability that can add another layer to Tennessees offense, but the job still appears unsettled at right tackle. Ory Williams and Jesse Perry remain locked in a competition there, and it is the sort of battle that can quietly shape how smooth everything else looks once the season starts. For now, the Vols have a few encouraging signs and at least one starting-caliber decision still waiting to be made. [Read more 🡒]