Twenty-Two Wildcats Open Season with NFL Franchises
LEXINGTON, Ky. – As National Football League Week One kicks off, 22 Kentucky Wildcats currently are on NFL club 53-man rosters, injured reserved or practice squads with two additional players with other league roles.
In all, 16 former Wildcats will open the season on active 53-man rosters. Another six remain with NFL franchises either on injured reserve or practice squads.
Six franchises carry multiple Wildcats in the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Giants.
The Bills lead the league with four Cats on their roster. Running back Ray Davis, defensive back Maxwell Hairston and defensive tackle Deone Walker are on the active roster, while undrafted free agent wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin made the practice squad. The Bills open the season at Houston on Sept. 13.
Seventeen former Wildcats have captured 21 Super Bowls in the program’s history.
The two Wildcats in other roles with the NFL include Austin Moss (DE -2006-09), vice president of player development and team dynamics with the San Francisco 49ers and Corey Peters (DL – 2006-09), a college scout with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The full list of Kentucky Wildcats on NFL Week One rosters is below.
Atlanta Falcons
Za’Darius Smith, DE/LB (2013-14)
Buffalo Bills
Ray Davis, RB (2023)
Maxwell Hairston, DB (2022-24)
Ja’Mori Maclin, WR (2024-25) Practice Squad
Deone Walker, DL (2022-24)
Carolina Panthers
Zion Childress, DB (2022-24) Practice Squad
Luke Fortner, OL (2017-21)
Detroit Lions
Kendrick Law, WR (2025) Reserve/Injured List
Green Bay Packers
Jager Burton, OL (2021-25)
Carrington Valentine, DB (2020-22)
Indianapolis Colts
Jalen Farmer, OL (2024-25)
Seth McGowan, RB (2025)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Eli Cox, OL (2020-24) Practice Squad
Josh Hines-Allen, DE/LB (2015-18)
Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB (2019-22)
Los Angles Chargers
Bud Dupree, OLB (2011-14)
New Orleans Saints
Alex Wollschlaeger, OL (2020-25) Practice Squad
New York Giants
Darian Kinnard, OL (2018-21) Practice Squad
Dru Phillips, DB (2020-23)
New York Jets
Trevin Wallace, LB (2021-23)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Brandin Echols, CB (2019-20)
Tennessee Titans
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR (2021)
