Vita Vea, Washington Huskies NFL.
In 2021 PNWS once again looks at former Washington Huskies playing in the NFL. One week a month, we update the NFC, followed by the AFC the following week.
Start with the NFC, the conference of the hometown Seahawks. Then, we start with the West Division and the Hometown Seattle Seahawks.
Ben Burr-Kirven middle linebacker and special teams player. One of the popular players while at Washington, BBK, tore an ACL at the beginning of Seattle’s second preseason game. As a result, he will miss the whole 2021 season.
On Monday, August 30, the Seahawks traded for former Husky cornerback Sidney Jones. A former second-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, Jones spent three injury-riddled years with the Eagles. He signed as a free agent with Jacksonville after being released by the Eagles last fall.
With the Jags, Jones had his best season in 2020. Despite his good play, Jacksonville sent him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick. The Seahawks have a lack of depth at cornerback. Seattle hopes they found something with Jones like they did with D.J. Reed last year. New to the team, he was inactive in the opener.
Injuries slowed tight end Will Dissly since he joined Seattle as a fourth-round pick in 2018. Even so, he is a favorite of QB Russell Wilson when healthy. This year, it will be interesting how Dissly will work out in the Seahawks’ offense under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
Often Dissly will be used in two-tight end formations with Gerald Everett. In the opening game on September 12, Everett caught a touchdown pass for the Seahawks. However, Dissly was able to snag three catches for 37 yards, embarrassing a would-be tackler in the process.
Last year Budda Baker signed a four-year contract extension. At the time, it was the highest payout for a safety (recently eclipsed by the Seahawks Jamal Adams). He had five tackles in Arizona’s win over Tennessee last week.
Andre Baccellia initially made the Cardinals roster out of camp. Impressive for an undrafted free agent. Unfortunately, the wide receiver was waived before the season started and re-signed to their practice squad.
Tight end Darrell Daniels tight end enters his third season with the Cardinals. Last year was his best as a pro. He started eight games and had eight catches, including a touchdown. Daniels played in the opener despite a toe injury but did not have a reception.
Cornerback Byron Murphy entered the season with 31 games played and 23 starts since Arizona drafted him in the second round of 2019. He had an outstanding preseason, and the Cardinals expect good things this year. In the season opener, Murphy had four tackles along.
Ezekiel Turner is an inside linebacker and outstanding special teams player. He played in the opener but did not have any tackles.
Veteran offensive lineman Senio Kelemete spent the previous three seasons with Houston. He signed with San Francisco in June and is on the 49ers’ practice squad.
Entering his third NFL season, the Rams are looking for improvement from Gaines in his third year. In 2020. the nose tackle had 13 tackles in 10 games. He had no solo tackles in the Rams opening win against the Chicago Bears but did get a QB hit.
Safety Taylor Rapp comes off a disappointing 2020. Last year Rapp played in only nine games as his season ended early due to injury. In the opener, Rapp had eight tackles, including four solos.
Coleman Shelton is going into his third season with the Rams. He came off the COVID-19 list and played six snaps on special teams on Sunday. The Rams usually dress nine offensive linemen so Coleman could play in other spots on the line aside from his natural center position.
The Bears released former Pro-Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant at the end of camp. He missed time this summer because his father was ailing then passed away. His departure leaves Chicago with no Huskies on their roster.
Detroit drafted defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike this year in the second round. Despite struggling through the pre-season with a back injury, he played well when given a chance in the Lions’ exhibition games. Last week Onwuzurike was inactive, but I expected him to make his pro debut soon.
Tight end Hunter Bryant currently is on Detroit’s Non-Football Injury list. It’s uncertain when he will return to active duty.
Kevin King is one of the Packers’ starting cornerbacks. So far, King has had trouble staying healthy in his four seasons with the Packers. He started and played in 11 games last season.
In Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans, the Saints weren’t afraid to throw at King. First, he gave up a 17-yard pass to Deonte Harris, then later a 55-yard touchdown strike to Harris. As a result, King is now on the hot seat. If he Doesn’t play better Next Monday night against Detroit Lions, King may lose his starting job.
Jake Browning spent two seasons on Minnesota’s practice squad since turning pro in 2019. However, they waived him on cut-down day, leaving the Vikings with no Washington alumni.
Atlanta has Kaleb McGary starting at right tackle for the third year in a row. Known as a good run blocker, McGary improved each season. The Falcons lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 32-6. Despite a big loss, the Falcons ran for 124 yards.
Shaq Thompson is going into his seventh season as an outside linebacker. In 2020, he had his second consecutive 100+ tackles season. Shaq got off to a good start in 2021. During Carolina’s 19-14 win over the New York Jets, he had 10 tackles, a sack, and an interception.
The Panthers drafted cornerback Keith Taylor in the fifth round this year. Taylor begins his rookie season as a backup in his rookie season. He played last week but had no tackles or interceptions.
Running back Dwayne Washington enters his fourth year with the Saints. Listed as the fourth running back on New Orleans’ depth chart, Washington thrives on special teams. In the Saints win over Green Bay, Washington did play 14 special teams plays, but none on offense.
Josiah Bronson signed a three-year contract with New Orleans as going undrafted this year. The defensive tackle currently is on the Saints practice squad.
Following his departure from Detroit, Desmond Trufant signed last week with New Orleans. Trufant, though new to the Saints, got into the game and made a tackle.
The Bucs are glad to have nose tackle Vita Vea back after breaking a leg in last season’s fifth game. A first-round draft pick in 2018, Vea has been Tampa Bay’s starting nose tackle since 2019. Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud said Vea was the Buccaneers’ most dominant defensive player in the opening game win over Dallas even though he didn’t make the stat sheet.
This year the Buccaneers drafted outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in the first round. He may be listed as a linebacker, but he’s more of an edge rusher, similar to his position with the Washington Huskies. Tampa used the rookie in different spots on the field in the opening game against Dallas. He made two tackles.
Jaydon Mickens returned to Tampa for his third season. Originally part of the practice squad this year, Mickens was promoted to the main roster before the opener. Plying exclusively on special teams, Mickens had three kick returns for 92 yards and two punt returns for 21 yards.
Benning Potoa’e, a defensive end, is on the Buccaneers practice squad as he was in 2020.
The Cowboys again this year do not have any former Huskies on their roster.
Neither does the Washington Football Team.
Philadelphia finds themselves Husky-less in 2021
Former Cleveland Browns first-round pick (2015) Danny Shelton signed with New York in the spring. After three years in Cleveland, he spent two more in New England before playing in 2020 with Detroit.
The owner of 72 NFL starts, Shelton will backup second-year nose tackle Austin Johnson. In the Giants’ opening game loss to Denver, Shelton played 23 defensive snaps (35 percent) and had a pair of tackles.
Dante Pettis, who began his career with the San Francisco 49ers, signed with the G-Men last November. He is currently on New York’s practice squad.
After spending the first four years in Cincinnati, speedy yet often injured receiver John Ross signed with New York as a free agent earlier this year. Unfortunately, he is currently on the Giants’ injured reserved list with a hamstring sustained in practice on August 9. So Ross will miss at least the first three games of 2021 for sure.
Next month we’ll be back to see how those former Washington Huskies players performed in September, along with any other changes that may have occurred.