Saturday’s NFL preseason slate brings another wave of former Tennessee football players into the spotlight, with a few rookies and familiar names spread across the day’s schedule.
The headliners include quarterback Joey Aguilar, who is set to take the field for the Jacksonville Jaguars while trying to carve out a roster spot, and Joe Milton III, who could see significant work for the Dallas Cowboys as the team’s No. 2 quarterback.
There are several other former Tennessee players on the board, too. Rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell is listed with the Carolina Panthers but will not play because of injury. Cornerback William Wright is with the Chicago Bears, cornerback Colton Hood is with the New York Giants, and defensive lineman Jaxson Moi is with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Panthers open against the Buffalo Bills at 1 p.m. ET, with Brazzell sidelined and Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer also in that game.
The Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears meet at 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network, featuring Browns running back Dylan Sampson and wide receiver Cedric Tillman, along with Bears right tackle Darnell Wright and Wright.
The Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants also kick off at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited.
Later in the day, the Rams face the Kansas City Chiefs at 4 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
That matchup includes Rams safety Jaylen McCollough, Moi and outside linebacker Bryon Young, plus Chiefs defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott and guard Trey Smith.
At 4 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited, the Jaguars visit the New Orleans Saints, where Aguilar is slated to play.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens follow at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited, with neither team listing a former Tennessee player.
The night ends with the Cowboys at the Seattle Seahawks at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network, where Milton could get extended action.
In Other News...
Tennessees QB Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Needed To See
Tennessees quarterback competition remains one of the biggest storylines hanging over the run-up to the season opener against Furman, with five-star freshmen Faizon Brandon and George McIntyre still battling for the job. Josh Heupel came away encouraged by both quarterbacks development after a recent scrimmage, but the staff has not yet settled on a starter, keeping the Volunteers most watched position group in a holding pattern for now.
The intrigue only grew after the scrimmage, when an insider in attendance suggested Brandon had the momentum in the race. Even so, Tennessee has not made anything official, and with an opener approaching, the Vols are still waiting for the final call on who will take the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Heupels First Scrimmage Put Tennessees Biggest Camp Questions In Focus
Josh Heupel stepped to the microphone after Tennessees first fall camp scrimmage with the kind of questions that naturally define August in Knoxville. The Vols are in the middle of a broad defensive reset under new coordinator Jim Knowles, and the change brings a new staff, new transfer pieces and a new standard for how quickly the unit can come together. On the other side of the ball, the biggest camp conversation remains centered on a quarterback battle that is still sorting itself out.
For Tennessee, the scrimmage offered an early checkpoint more than any final answer, and Heupel spent his time pointing toward the areas that will keep drawing attention as camp unfolds. The defense has to learn fast under Knowles, while the offense waits for clarity at quarterback, giving the Vols a pair of high-stakes issues to monitor through the rest of the month. Rocky Top Insider will continue tracking both stories as fall camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Faizon Brandon Is Making Tennessees Quarterback Battle A Real Debate
Quarterback battles can linger through camp, but Tennessees has turned into one of the more intriguing ones in the SEC. Freshman Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre are both in the mix, giving the Volunteers a genuine decision to make as they sort out who gives the offense the best chance to open the season. Brandon has already flashed enough in practice to keep the conversation alive, which is exactly what a staff wants from a young quarterback even if it complicates the depth chart.
The wider quarterback picture around the league only adds to the attention on this race, with Alabama and Vanderbilt also sorting through their own competitions among highly ranked recruits. Tennessee has not made a choice yet, and the longer that goes on, the more every practice rep matters for Brandon and MacIntyre alike. For now, the battle remains unresolved, which is part of what makes it worth watching as camp moves forward. [Read more 🡒]