Red Raiders raid the NFL

LUBBOCK, Texas – The 2022 NFL season kicks off on Thursday, and 20 former Red Raider football players will be seen on rosters heading into week one whether active 53-man, practice squad or injured reserve. From the 2021 team, four made it on respective rosters including fourth-round selection Erik Ezukanma (Miami Dolphins) and Dawson Deaton (Cleveland Browns). Ezukanma is listed behind Jaylen Waddle and Trent Sherfield on the current Dolphins' depth chart while Deaton was placed on injured reserve last month after suffering an injury in training camp. Both DaMarcus Fields (New Orleans Saints) and Kaylon Geiger Sr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) were signed to practice squads. Entering week one of the 2022 NFL season, there will be 10 former Red Raiders active on 53-man rosters:

Jack Anderson, OL (2017-20), New York Giants
Jordyn Brooks, LB (2016-19), Seattle Seahawks
Cody Davis, DB (2009-12), New England Patriots
Sam Eguavoen, LB (2011-14), Miami Dolphins
Erik Ezukanma (2019-21) Miami Dolphins
Kerry Hyder, DL (2009-13), San Francisco 49ers
Patrick Mahomes II, QB (2014-16), Kansas City Chiefs
Zech McPhearson, DB (2019-20), Philadelphia Eagles
Terence Steele, OL (2016-19), Dallas Cowboys
Broderick Washington Jr., DL (2016-19), Baltimore Ravens

Years in parenthesis indicate time played at Texas Tech

The most veteran player of the group is Cody Davis entering his 10th NFL season, followed by Patrick Mahomes entering his sixth season. Jordyn Brooks, who ranked second in the NFL in tackles with 184 last season returns for his third season with the Seahawks. Brooks and Mahomes were both first-round draft picks who are representing Texas Tech in the NFL. Seven former Red Raiders signed on to respective NFL practice squads after 2022 training camps:

Dakota Allen, LB (2015, 2017-18), Cleveland Browns
Cameron Batson, WR (2014-17), Atlanta Falcons
Le'Raven Clark, OL (2012-15), Philadelphia Eagles
Keke Coutee, WR (2015-17), Indianapolis Colts
DaMarcus Fields, DB (2016-21), New Orleans Saints
Kaylon Geiger Sr., WR (2021), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Davis Webb, QB (2013-15), New York Giants

This group includes more veterans with experience than those with none such as newcomers to the NFL Fields and Geiger. Allen, Batson, Clark, Coutee and Webb all saw game action during the 2021 season. Webb's alma mater on the Giants' roster is California, but the gunslinger played three seasons for the Red Raiders and earned a degree before grad-transferring to Cal for one season. Three enter the 2022 season on the injured reserve:

Dawson Deaton, OL (2018-21), Cleveland Browns
Jakeem Grant, WR (2012-15), Cleveland Browns
Antoine Wesley, WR (2016-18), Arizona Cardinals

Grant was placed on the IR on Aug. 10 while Deaton was placed on the IR on Aug. 16. Wesley found himself on the IR as of Sept. 1 WEEK ONE NFL SCHEDULE Thursday, Sep. 8 | 7:20 p.m. Buffalo at LA Rams Sunday, Sep. 11 | 12 p.m. New Orleans at Atlanta San Francisco (Hyder Jr.) at Chicago Pittsburgh at Cincinnati New England (Davis) at Miami (Eguavoen, Ezukanma) Baltimore (Washington) at NY Jets Jacksonville at Washington Cleveland at Carolina Indianapolis at Houston Philadelphia (McPhearson) at Detroit Sunday, Sep. 11 | 3:25 p.m. NY Giants (Anderson) at Tennessee Green Bay at Minnesota Kansas City (Mahomes) at Arizona Las Vegas at LA Chargers Sunday, Sep. 11 | 7:20 p.m. Tampa Bay at Dallas (Steele) Monday, Sep. 12 | 7:15 p.m. Denver at Seattle (Brooks)