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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Seattle Seahawks
NFL Rebels Update: Week 1
9/14/2021 | Football
17 Former Rebels on Active NFL Rosters
OXFORD, Miss. – Here at OleMissSports.com, we are proud to update Rebel fans on the status of our former players who lace up their cleats on Sundays in the NFL. Ole Miss' presence in the league has continued to grow, with 24 former Rebels on NFL rosters (practice squad included), including 2020 Pro Bowlers A.J. Brown, Evan Engram, D.K. Metcalf and Laremy Tunsil.
It didn't take long for Brown and Metcalf to find the end zone, picking up right where they left off a season ago. Mike Hilton and Bobby Massie each made their debuts on new teams, the Bengals and Broncos, respectively, and a pair of rookies in Elijah Moore and Royce Newman saw their NFL dreams become a reality on Sunday, playing in their first career games in the league.
Overall, 14 of them played in the opening week of the 2021 regular season. Here's a rundown of how each NFL Rebel performed:
#25 Brandon Bolden | RB | New England Patriots
After opting out last season, Bolden returned to the Patriots for his ninth season in the league. He ran the ball once for five yards in the 17-16 loss to the Dolphins.
#11 A.J. Brown | WR | Tennessee Titans
Caught five passes for 49 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception, in the Titans' 38-13 loss.
#88 Evan Engram | TE | New York Giants
Engram was listed as inactive in Week 1.
#38 Myles Hartsfield | DB | Carolina Panthers
Back for his second season in the NFL, Hartsfield saw action as a reserve free safety. He recorded two total tackles and broke up one pass in the 19-14 win over the Jets. Hartsfield left Sunday's game with a wrist injury. Head Coach Matt Rhule expects Hartsfield to miss eight to 12 weeks.
#98 Marquis Haynes | DE | Carolina Panthers
Appeared on 15 snaps as a reserve defensive end, tallying an 11-yard sack and two quarterback hurries in the Panthers' 19-14 win over the Jets.
#21 Mike Hilton | CB | Cincinnati Bengals
In his Bengals debut, Hilton logged six total tackles as a starting cornerback, including one for a loss. Hilton and the Bengals went on to win 27-24 in overtime.
#93 D.J. Jones | DT | San Francisco 49ers
Started at defensive tackle and played 39 snaps in the 49ers' 41-33 win over the Lions.
#88 Dawson Knox | TE | Buffalo Bills
Caught all four of his targets for 41 yards in the Bills' 23-16 loss.
#75 Greg Little | OT | Miami Dolphins
Little was listed as inactive in Week 1.
#70 Bobby Massie | OT | Denver Broncos
Started at right tackle in his first game in a Broncos uniform, playing all 66 snaps on offense in the 27-13 win.
#14 D.K. Metcalf | WR | Seattle Seahawks
Hauled in five passes for 60 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown reception in Seattle's 28-16 victory.
#38 C.J. Moore | S | Detroit Lions
Primarily lined up on special teams in the 41-33 loss to San Francisco.
#8 Elijah Moore | WR | New York Jets
Lined up as a starting wide receiver in his first NFL game and recorded his first career reception in the 19-14 loss to the Panthers.
#70 Royce Newman | OL | Green Bay Packers
Started at right guard in his NFL debut for the Packers, playing all 57 snaps without allowing a sack in the 38-3 loss.
#27 Scottie Phillips | RB | Houston Texans
Phillips was listed as inactive in Week 1.
#78 Laremy Tunsil | OT | Houston Texans
Started at left tackle, playing all 78 offensive snaps without allowing a sack in the Texans' 37-21 win over the Jaguars.
#20 Jordan Wilkins | RB | Indianapolis Colts
Appeared on 14 snaps for special teams in the 28-16 loss to the Seahawks.
INJURED RESERVE
A.J. Moore | S | Houston Texans
PRACTICE SQUAD
Woodrow Hamilton | DT | Tennessee Titans
Benito Jones | DT | Miami Dolphins
Breeland Speaks | DE | Dallas Cowboys
Robert Nkemdiche | DL | Seattle Seahawks
Laquon Treadwell | WR | Jacksonville Jaguars
Kenny Yeboah | TE | New York Jets
It didn't take long for Brown and Metcalf to find the end zone, picking up right where they left off a season ago. Mike Hilton and Bobby Massie each made their debuts on new teams, the Bengals and Broncos, respectively, and a pair of rookies in Elijah Moore and Royce Newman saw their NFL dreams become a reality on Sunday, playing in their first career games in the league.
Overall, 14 of them played in the opening week of the 2021 regular season. Here's a rundown of how each NFL Rebel performed:
#25 Brandon Bolden | RB | New England Patriots
After opting out last season, Bolden returned to the Patriots for his ninth season in the league. He ran the ball once for five yards in the 17-16 loss to the Dolphins.
#11 A.J. Brown | WR | Tennessee Titans
Caught five passes for 49 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception, in the Titans' 38-13 loss.
SNATCHED🔥#NFLRebels | @1kalwaysopen_
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 12, 2021
📺: #AZvsTEN on CBSpic.twitter.com/PclrLgSLhS
#88 Evan Engram | TE | New York Giants
Engram was listed as inactive in Week 1.
#38 Myles Hartsfield | DB | Carolina Panthers
Back for his second season in the NFL, Hartsfield saw action as a reserve free safety. He recorded two total tackles and broke up one pass in the 19-14 win over the Jets. Hartsfield left Sunday's game with a wrist injury. Head Coach Matt Rhule expects Hartsfield to miss eight to 12 weeks.
#98 Marquis Haynes | DE | Carolina Panthers
Appeared on 15 snaps as a reserve defensive end, tallying an 11-yard sack and two quarterback hurries in the Panthers' 19-14 win over the Jets.
SACK BY MARQUIS HAYNES!!! pic.twitter.com/dkNIjnYstD
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 12, 2021
#21 Mike Hilton | CB | Cincinnati Bengals
In his Bengals debut, Hilton logged six total tackles as a starting cornerback, including one for a loss. Hilton and the Bengals went on to win 27-24 in overtime.
#93 D.J. Jones | DT | San Francisco 49ers
Started at defensive tackle and played 39 snaps in the 49ers' 41-33 win over the Lions.
#88 Dawson Knox | TE | Buffalo Bills
Caught all four of his targets for 41 yards in the Bills' 23-16 loss.
#75 Greg Little | OT | Miami Dolphins
Little was listed as inactive in Week 1.
#70 Bobby Massie | OT | Denver Broncos
Started at right tackle in his first game in a Broncos uniform, playing all 66 snaps on offense in the 27-13 win.
#14 D.K. Metcalf | WR | Seattle Seahawks
Hauled in five passes for 60 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown reception in Seattle's 28-16 victory.
DK's back in the end zone!💯#NFLRebels | @dkm14
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 12, 2021
📺: #SEAvsIND on FOXpic.twitter.com/crZyRKmq0l
#38 C.J. Moore | S | Detroit Lions
Primarily lined up on special teams in the 41-33 loss to San Francisco.
#8 Elijah Moore | WR | New York Jets
Lined up as a starting wide receiver in his first NFL game and recorded his first career reception in the 19-14 loss to the Panthers.
Getting the details right.@e_moore03 | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/Pd9RGWoF4w
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 12, 2021
#70 Royce Newman | OL | Green Bay Packers
Started at right guard in his NFL debut for the Packers, playing all 57 snaps without allowing a sack in the 38-3 loss.
#27 Scottie Phillips | RB | Houston Texans
Phillips was listed as inactive in Week 1.
#78 Laremy Tunsil | OT | Houston Texans
Started at left tackle, playing all 78 offensive snaps without allowing a sack in the Texans' 37-21 win over the Jaguars.
#20 Jordan Wilkins | RB | Indianapolis Colts
Appeared on 14 snaps for special teams in the 28-16 loss to the Seahawks.
INJURED RESERVE
A.J. Moore | S | Houston Texans
PRACTICE SQUAD
Woodrow Hamilton | DT | Tennessee Titans
Benito Jones | DT | Miami Dolphins
Breeland Speaks | DE | Dallas Cowboys
Robert Nkemdiche | DL | Seattle Seahawks
Laquon Treadwell | WR | Jacksonville Jaguars
Kenny Yeboah | TE | New York Jets
Players Mentioned
Pete Golding and Chris Malloy Join Paul Finebaum (04-29-26)
Wednesday, April 29
PRESSER | Oscar Bird (04-28-36)
Tuesday, April 28
PRESSER | Lucas Carneiro (04-28-26)
Tuesday, April 28
PRESSER | Pete Golding (04-27-26)
Monday, April 27