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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners in the NFL: Preseason Week 3
August 31, 2016 | Football
While week three of the 2016 NFL preseason started with 42 former Sooners on a team's roster, only 39 remained after teams were forced to get down to 75 players by 3 p.m. Tuesday. The next deadline to get to a final 53-man roster is Sept. 3.
Bradford Continues to Shine in Preseason
Quarterback Sam Bradford added to his already stellar preseason play with a strong performance in Philadelphia's 33-23 win at Indianapolis. Bradford completed 17 of his 20 passes (85%) for 167 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Eagles improved to 3-0.
In three preseason games, he's competed 80 percent of his passes (32-40) for 285 yards and two touchdowns to one interception.
Former Sooners Released in Roster Cuts
Three former Sooners who all went undrafted were released by their teams as part of the 75-man roster cuts as Denver released wide receiver Durron Neal and linebacker Frank Shannon, while linebacker Eric Striker was let go by Buffalo.
Neal played in all three preseason games but his only stats came last week when he caught three passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. Shannon, meanwhile, did not appear in the Broncos' 17-9 win over Los Angeles and had no stats in the first two preseason games he played in.
Striker saw playing time in all three preseason games, but only made one tackle in the preseason opener.
Knee Injury Sidelines Hanna
Tight end James Hanna has not played yet in the postseason due to surgery on his knee. That absence will extend into the regular season now as Dallas placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list Tuesday, meaning he will have to sit out the first six weeks of the season.
Rookie Update
Sterling Shepard, a second-round pick for the New York Giants, had just one catch for one yard in the team's 21-20 win over the New York Jets. In three preseason games he has two catches for 25 yards, but is expected to be part of the Giants' three wide receiver sets once the regular season begins.
Carolina fifth round selection Zack Sanchez assisted on a tackle in Carolina's 19-17 loss to New England. Sanchez is listed as the No. 2 left cornerback on the Panthers' depth chart and has three tackles and an interception in three preseason games.
Selected in the fourth round by Dallas, Charles Tapper has missed all three of the Cowboys' preseason games due to a low-back strain, but he could be returning soon. He's currently slotted in as the No. 3 right defensive end on the team's depth chart.
Sixth-round linebacker Devante Bond did not play in Tampa Bay's 30-13 win over Cleveland because of a hamstring injury. However, he's expected to be back for the regular season opener. He's currently tabbed as the backup “Sam” linebacker on the Buccaneers' depth chart.
In the Browns' loss to Tampa Bay undrafted linebacker Dominique Alexander had one tackle for Cleveland. In three preseason games he's recorded 10 tackles and is currently slotted in as a third-string inside linebacker.
Guard Nila Kasitati, another undrafted player, ranked eighth among Washington offensive lineman by playing on 24 offensive snaps (33 percent) in Washington's 21-16 win over the Buffalo Bills. He's now played in all three games and is currently listed as the third-string right guard on Washington's depth chart.
Notable Performances
Landry Jones bounced back from a tough week three performance with an impressive 19-22 outing with 206 yards and a touchdown as Pittsburgh beat New Orleans 27-14 … DeMarco Murray ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on eight carries as Tennessee defeated Oakland, 27-14 … for the Raiders, Stacy McGee tallied four tackles … Damien Williams scored his second touchdown of the preseason, gained 17 yards on five carries and caught two passes for two yards, while Kenny Stills had a team-high 46 receiving yards on four receptions in a 17-6 win over Atlanta … Chris Chester started on the offensive line for the Falcons in the game … Chuka Ndulue had two tackles, including a strip sack, for San Diego in the Chargers' 23-10 loss to Minnesota … defensive tackle Gerald McCoy had two tackles, including half a sack, in Tampa Bay's victory over Cleveland … tight end Blake Bell caught two passes for a team-high 25 yards as San Francisco lost to Green Bay, 21-10 … safety Julian Wilson tallied four tackles as Baltimore knocked off Detroit, 30-9 … defensive end Geneo Grissom recorded a tackle and a quarterback hurry as New England defeated Carolina, 19-17 … after sitting out the first two games because of injury, Trent Williams made his preseason debut with a start at left tackle, while Tress Way averaged 53.3 yards on six punts in Washington's win over Buffalo … defensive tackle Casey Walker made three tackles in the Bills' loss … defensive back Jamell Fleming logged two tackles, defensive tackle David King added another and James Winchester served as the team's long snapper as Kansas City topped Chicago 23-7 … for the Bears, defensive back Demontre Hurst came away with two tackles, including a tackle for loss … tight end Jermaine Gresham had one catch for 10 yards and safety Tony Jefferson made one tackle in Arizona's 34-24 setback against Houston … cornerback Aaron Colvin had one tackle in Jacksonville's 26-21 win over Cincinnati … Donald Stephenson started at right tackle for Denver in its win against Los Angeles
This and That
The following players appeared in game action but did not record any stats: offensive lineman Gabe Ikard (Detroit), offensive lineman Lane Johnson (Philadelphia), linebacker Corey Nelson (Denver), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (Miami), offensive lineman Tyrus Thompson (New Orleans) and offensive lineman Daryl Williams (Carolina)
The following players did not play: fullback Trey Millard (Kansas City), running back Adrian Peterson (Minnesota) and fullback Aaron Ripkowski (Green Bay)
Players Mentioned
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