Thursday night marks the start of the NFL season with the Cowboys and Eagles squaring off on Thursday Night Football. While there aren’t any former Tennessee football standouts on the active roster of either of those teams, there are plenty scattered out throughout the league.
This includes a handful of rookies who are set to make their professional career debuts this weekend. Here’s how to watch every VFL in action.
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Active Roster
TE Derek Barnett – Texans
- At UT: 2014-16
- Years in NFL: 9
- 2025 Season Opener: at Rams, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
DT Matthew Butler – Dolphins
- At UT: 2017-21
- Years in NFL: 4
- 2025 Season Opener: at Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
LS Morgan Cox – Titans
- At UT: 2005-09
- Years in NFL: 16
- 2025 Season Opener: at Broncos, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
QB Josh Dobbs – Patriots
- At UT: 2013-16
- Years in NFL: 9
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Raiders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
CB Kamal Hadden – Packers
- At UT: 2021-23
- Years in NFL: 2
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Lions, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
WR Jalin Hyatt – Giants
- At UT: 2020-22
- Years in NFL: 3
- 2025 Season Opener: at Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
S Theo Jackson – Vikings
- At UT: 2017-21
- Years in NFL: 4
- 2025 Season Opener: at Bears, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
WR Jauan Jennings – 49ers
- At UT: 2015-19
- Years in NFL: 5
- 2025 Season Opener: at Seahawks, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally – Titans
- At UT: 2023
- Years in NFL: 2
- 2025 Season Opener: at Broncos, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
RB Velus Jones Jr. – Saints
- At UT: 2020-2021
- Years in NFL: 4
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Cardinals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
RB Alvin Kamara – Saints
- At UT: 2015-16
- Years in NFL: 9
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Cardinals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
OG Cade Mays – Panthers
- At UT: 2020-21
- Years in NFL: 4
- 2025 Season Opener: at Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
S Jaylen McCollough – Rams
- At UT: 2019-23
- Years in NFL: 2
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Texans, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
QB Joe Milton III – Cowboys
- At UT: 2021-23
- Years in NFL: 2
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Eagles, Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
DT Omarr Norman-Lott – Chiefs
- At UT: 2023-24
- Years in NFL: 1
- 2025 Season Opener: at Chargers, Friday, 8 p.m. ET, YouTube
WR Josh Palmer – Bills
- At UT: 2017-20
- Years in NFL: 5
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Ravens, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
OLB James Pearce Jr. – Falcons
- At UT: 2022-24
- Years in NFL: 1
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Bucaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
RB Dylan Sampson – Browns
- At UT: 2022-24
- Years in NFL: 1
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
OG Trey Smith – Chiefs
- At UT: 2017-20
- Years in NFL: 5
- 2025 Season Opener: at Chargers, Friday, 8 p.m. ET, YouTube
CB Alontae Taylor – Saints
- At UT: 2018-21
- Years in NFL: 4
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Cardinals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
OLB Darrell Taylor – Texans
- At UT: 2015-19
- Years in NFL: 5
- 2025 Season Opener: at Rams, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. – Raiders
- At UT: 2023-24
- Years in NFL: 1
- 2025 Season Opener: at Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
WR Cedric Tillman – Browns
- At UT: 2018-22
- Years in NFL: 3
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
DT Shy Tuttle – Titans
- At UT: 2015-18
- Years in NFL: 7
- 2025 Season Opener: at Broncos, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
OT Darnell Wright – Bears
- At UT: 2019-22
- Years in NFL: 3
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Vikings, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
RB Jaylen Wright – Dolphins
- At UT: 2021-23
- Years in NFL: 2
- 2025 Season Opener: at Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
OLB Byron Young – Rams
- At UT: 2021-22
- Years in NFL: 3
- 2025 Season Opener: vs. Texans, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Practice Squad
OL Jerome Carvin – Jaguars
- At UT: 2018-22
- Years in NFL: 3
TE Princeton Fant – Cowboys
- At UT: 2017-22
- Years in NFL: 3
QB Hendon Hooker – Panthers
- At UT: 2021-22
- Years in NFL: 3
FB Jakob Johnson – Texans
- At UT: 2014-17
- Years in NFL: 8
DT Elijah Simmons – Cardinals
- At UT: 2019-24
- Years in NFL: 1
CB Dee Williams – Giants
- At UT: 2022-23
- Years in NFL: 2
