Sooners in the NFL: Preseason Week 1

The 2016 NFL preseason began last week with 42 former Sooners on an active NFL rosters, including nine rookies and six with new teams. See below to read up on how they performed in the first week of the preseason.

Rookies Make Pro Debuts

With four draft picks and five undrafted free agents, nine former Sooners made their professional debuts in week one of the NFL preseason.

The Sooners' highest draft pick was Sterling Shepard, who was taken in the second round by the New York Giants. He's already opening eyes in training camp, and furthered showed his skills with this 24-yard diving grab in the team's 27-10 loss to Miami.

Selected in the fourth round by Dallas, Charles Tapper has a chance to crack the defensive line rotation for the Cowboys this year. Unfortunately, he missed the Cowboys' preseason opener against Los Angeles due to back soreness.

Fifth round selection Zack Sanchez did not record any stats for Carolina in a 22-19 loss to Baltimore. He's been working at nickel back for the Panthers.

Linebacker Devante Bond saw playing time as Tampa Bay fell to Philadelphia, 17-9, though he did not record any stats. According to ESPN, Bond, who was taken in the sixth round, has been getting first-team reps and is an option for the near future.

Undrafted linebacker Dominique Alexander had five tackles, including one for loss, in Cleveland's 17-11 loss to Green Bay. As of last week, he was working primarily on the third-team defense.

Fellow undrafted linebacker Eric Striker had one tackle for Buffalo in a 19-18 setback to Indianapolis. He's currently in a position battle for a backup linebacker spot.

Guard Nila Kasitati, another undrafted player, saw action for Washington in a 23-17 loss to Atlanta. Sooners fans are well aware of Kasitati's talents on and off the field, but his teammates witnessed his singing prowess for the first time early in camp.

Undrafted wide receiver Durron Neal had just one catch in Denver's 22-0 win over Chicago, but his 21-yard grab was called back because of a penalty. Teammate Frank Shannon had one tackle for the Broncos.

Same Faces, New Places

Of the six former Sooners playing elsewhere in 2016, the biggest move involved DeMarco Murray being traded to Tennessee in March. Murray wasted little time showing his skills in the Titans' 27-10 win over San Diego. He ran for a game-high 93 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown, on six carries.

Donald Stephenson signed a three-year contract with Denver in the offseason and started the team's preseason opener against Chicago.

After spending last season with Dallas, defensive tackle Casey Walker signed with Buffalo on July 30. In his first preseason game he had two tackles in a loss to Indianapolis.

Still recovering from a torn ACL in his senior season at OU, Trey Millard was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers a year ago but was cut during fall camp. After sitting out the 2015 season, he was signed by Kansas City and appeared in the team's preseason-opening loss to Seattle. He saw action, but did not record any stats.

Offensive lineman Tyrus Thompson bounced around three different teams in 2015 after being drafted by Minnesota. In addition to the Vikings, he also spent time with Jacksonville and Detroit. He was signed by New Orleans this spring and had 46 snaps at right tackle in the team's 34-22 loss to New England.

Gabe Ikard spent last season with Tennessee but moved to Detroit in the offseason. He had been the team's No. 2 center but has since slipped down the depth chart.

Notable Performances

Sam Bradford started at quarterback and Lane Johnson opened at right tackle for Philadelphia in its win over Tampa Bay but played only one series; Bradford completed one pass for three yards ... Gerald McCoy started at defensive tackle for the Buccaneers, but did not have any stats ... Landry Jones threw for 55 yards on 6-12 passing and a touchdown as Pittsburgh lost to Detroit, 30-17 ... Kenny Stills started and caught one pass for seven yards, while Jordan Phillips started at defensive tackle and Damien Williams rushed seven times for 13 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 10 yards in Miami's win over the New York Giants ... David King had a sack, and Jamell Fleming and James Winchester made one tackle each in a 17-16 loss for Kansas City to Seattle ... Geneo Grissom had two tackles, including a sack, for New England in its win over New Orleans ... Chris Chester started at right guard for Atlanta in its win over Washington ... Tress Way averaged 53.7 yards per punt and put four of his seven kicks inside the 20-yard line for Washington ... tight end Blake Bell caught two passes for seven yards as San Francisco lost to Houston, 24-13 ... Chuka Ndulue made four tackles for San Diego in the Chargers' loss to Tennessee ... cornerback Aaron Colvin recorded two tackles and broke up a pass for Jacksonville in its 17-13 loss to the New York Jets ... safety Tony Jefferson produced two tackles as Arizona fell to Oakland, 31-10 ... linebacker Corey Nelson made one tackle in Denver's victory over Chicago ... Demontre Hurst had three tackles for the Bears in their loss to Denver

This and That

The following players appeared in game action but did not record any stats: tight end Jermaine Gresham (Arizona), defensive tackle Stacy McGee (Oakland), fullback Aaron Ripkowski (Green Bay), offensive tackle Daryl Williams (Carolina) and cornerback Julian Wilson (Baltimore)

The following players did not play: tight end James Hanna (Dallas), running back Adrian Peterson (Minnesota) and offensive tackle Trent Williams (Washington)?

Rookies Make Pro Debuts

Same Faces, New Places

Notable Performances

This and That

Players Mentioned

Dominique Alexander

Devante Bond

Nila Kasitati

Durron Neal

Zack Sanchez

Frank Shannon

Sterling Shepard

Eric Striker

Charles Tapper

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics