The first full week of NFL preseason action arrives Thursday, and the University of Utah footprint is everywhere. There are 39 former Utes on NFL rosters, including nine rookies and four players selected in the 2026 NFL draft.
That means this preseason is going to be packed with Utah connections. Out of 48 preseason games over the next three weeks, 44 will feature at least one former Ute.
Some of the established names figure to stay light on the field, if they play at all. Garett Bolles, Jaylon Johnson and Devin Lloyd fall into that category. But for the rookie class - including first-round picks Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu - these games are a chance to get noticed before the regular season starts.
Week 1 begins Thursday, Aug. 13, with Sione Vaki and the Detroit Lions facing the Cincinnati Bengals at 5 p.m. MDT.
The same day also brings Thomas Yassmin and the Green Bay Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 5 p.m. MDT on NFL Network, followed by Caleb Lomu and the Indianapolis Colts at the New England Patriots at 5:30 p.m.
MDT.
Later Thursday, Braeden Daniels and Matt Gay will be with the Arizona Cardinals at the Las Vegas Raiders at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN Unlimited.
Lander Barton and the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Houston Texans at 6 p.m. MDT.
Then Cody Barton and Mohamoud Diabete of the Tennessee Titans meet Jack Bouwmeester and the San Francisco 49ers at 7 p.m. MDT on NFL Network.
Friday’s slate keeps the Utah presence rolling. The Denver Broncos - with Dallen Bentley, Garett Bolles, Jonah Elliss, Caleb Lohner, Karene Reid and Kyrese Rowan - play Clark Phillips III and the Atlanta Falcons at 5 p.m.
MDT on ESPN Unlimited. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the New York Jets, where Tim Patrick and Junior Tafuna are listed, at 5 p.m.
MDT on NFL Network. Also at 5 p.m.
MDT, Miles Battle and the Miami Dolphins take on Tanoa Togiai and the Washington Commanders.
Saturday, Aug. 15, opens with Devin Lloyd and the Carolina Panthers against Cole Bishop, Dalton Kincaid and Mitch Wishnowsky of the Buffalo Bills at 11 a.m. MDT.
At the same time, the Cleveland Browns - with Logan Fano, Spencer Fano and Carsen Ryan - play the Chicago Bears, who list Jaylon Johnson, Jaren Kump and Nephi Sewell. Zemaiah Vaughn and the Minnesota Vikings meet Leki Fotu and the New York Giants at 11 a.m.
MDT on ESPN Unlimited.
The afternoon continues with Julian Blackmon, Terrell Burgess and Devaughn Vele on the New Orleans Saints against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 2 p.m. MDT on ESPN Unlimited.
Britain Covey and JaQuinden Jackson with the Philadelphia Eagles face Tyler Huntley and the Baltimore Ravens at 5 p.m. MDT on ESPN Unlimited.
Connor O’Toole and the Seattle Seahawks close out the day against the Dallas Cowboys at 6 p.m. MDT on NFL Network.
Week 2 starts Thursday, Aug. 20, with Daniels and Gay on the Raiders against the Texans at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN, followed by Bouwmeester and the 49ers against Barton and the Chargers at 8 p.m. MDT on NFL Network.
On Friday, Aug. 21, Patrick and Tafuna with the Jets meet the Steelers at 5 p.m.
MDT on NFL Network. Lloyd and the Panthers play the Jaguars at 5:30 p.m.
MDT on ESPN Unlimited. The Packers and Yassmin then go against Bentley, Bolles, Elliss, Lohner, Reid and Rowan on the Broncos at 7 p.m.
MDT on NFL Network.
Saturday’s Week 2 schedule includes Vaki and the Lions against Togiai and the Commanders at 10 a.m. MDT.
Bishop, Kincaid and Wishnowsky with the Bills take on Logan Fano, Spencer Fano and Ryan with the Browns at 11 a.m. MDT on NFL Network.
Phillips and the Falcons face the Colts at 11 a.m. MDT, while Huntley and the Ravens play Vaughn and the Vikings at the same time on ESPN Unlimited.
Blackmon, Burgess and Vele with the Saints meet the Rams at 2 p.m. MDT on ESPN Unlimited.
Fotu and the Giants take on Battle and the Dolphins at 2 p.m. MDT on NFL Network.
Johnson, Kump and Sewell with the Bears face the Bengals at 5 p.m. MDT, and Covey and Jackson with the Eagles play Lomu and the Patriots at 5 p.m.
MDT on NFL Network.
The week wraps Sunday, Aug. 23, with O’Toole and the Seahawks at the Titans, where Cody Barton and Diabete are listed, at 6 p.m. MDT on Fox.
Week 3 begins Thursday, Aug. 27, with the Steelers at the Bills, who list Bishop, Kincaid and Wishnowsky, at 5 p.m. MDT on NFL Network.
Lomu and the Patriots then face Logan Fano, Spencer Fano and Ryan with the Browns at 6 p.m. MDT on Prime Video.
Bouwmeester and the 49ers meet Daniels and Gay with the Raiders at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN Unlimited, and Barton and the Chargers play the Rams at 8 p.m.
MDT on NFL Network.
Friday, Aug. 28, brings Togiai and the Commanders against Huntley and the Ravens at 4 p.m. MDT on NFL Network.
Phillips and the Falcons play Battle and the Dolphins at 5 p.m. MDT.
Lloyd and the Panthers face the Texans at 5 p.m. MDT.
Fotu and the Giants meet Patrick and Tafuna with the Jets at 5:30 p.m. MDT.
Blackmon, Burgess and Vele with the Saints play the Cowboys at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN Unlimited.
Yassmin and the Packers face the Cardinals at 6 p.m. MDT, while O’Toole and the Seahawks meet the Chiefs at 6 p.m.
MDT on ESPN Unlimited. Covey and Jackson with the Eagles take on the Bengals at 6 p.m.
MDT on CBS. Vaughn and the Vikings then play Bentley, Bolles, Elliss, Lohner, Reid and Rowan with the Broncos at 7 p.m.
MDT on NFL Network.
The preseason closes Saturday, Aug. 29, with Vaki and the Lions against the Colts at 11 a.m. MDT on NFL Network, and Johnson, Kump and Sewell with the Bears facing Cody Barton and Diabete with the Titans at 4 p.m. MDT on NFL Network.
As of Wednesday, Aug. 12, the full list of former Utah players on NFL rosters spans 23 teams, from Bolles in Denver to Covey and Jackson in Philadelphia, with rookies, veterans and special teams contributors all set to get their preseason work in.
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