Illinois football rookies in the NFL – preseason week 2

After we saw one former Illinois football player suffer a potential season-ending injury and another get waived last weekend, eight alum are playing in week two of the 2022 NFL preseason.

While fighting for the Chicago Bears’ second-string center spot, five-year Illini offensive lineman Doug Kramer suffered a lower leg injury last week, and it is not sounding good for the former captain.

Former Illini quarterback Brandon Peters got waived by the Los Angeles Chargers as quarterbacks Easton Stick and Chase Daniel slug it out for the team’s primary backup spot.

This leaves eight Illini from last year’s team fighting for roster spots for the final two weeks of the preseason.

Where does each former Illinois football player stand in the NFL preseason?

Jake Hansen

After making his presence felt with a five-tackle performance in the Houston Texans’ week one win, Hansen did it again last night.

In the Texans’ week two win over the Los Angeles Rams, Hansen recorded the same exact stat line as he did last week, finishing second with five tackles, two of which were solo.  Texans’ current second-string strong-side linebacker Christian Harris missed the game due to injury.

Hansen will look to make another lasting impression when the Texans host San Francisco on Thursday for their preseason finale.

Khalan Tolson

Listed as the Carolina Panthers’ fourth-string left outside linebacker, Tolson needs a big-time preseason to make the 53-man roster, as the likelihood of Carolina keeping four LOLBs is slim to none.

After a solid two-tackle performance in his Panthers debut, Tolson had an even greater output with three tackles, two being solo, in Carolina’s 20-10 loss to the Patriots.

Tolson will look to make his closing statement when Carolina hosts Buffalo on Friday.

Kerby Joseph

After an impressive week one debut, Joseph saw some struggles with coverage in the Detroit Lions’ week two matchup at Indianapolis.

On the bright side, Joseph led Detroit in tackles for the second week in a row.   The rookie defensive back also made a nice play on former Super Bowl champion Nick Foles – nearly picking him off during Wednesday’s practice.

Joseph will get a shot to bounce back next Sunday at Pittsburgh.

Owen Carney

After proving that he is more than a “third-stringer” in his two-tackle, one-sack performance in his Miami Dolphins debut last week, Carney did just that again last night.

The edge-rusher recorded another sack in Miami’s 15-13 loss to Las Vegas on Saturday. Carney is still listed as the team’s third-string defensive end but will get one last crack at it next Saturday vs. Philadelphia.

James McCourt

After both McCourt and his competition – nine-year NFL veteran Dustin Hopkins – converted on their lone PAT attempts last weekend, both kickers saw a similar result last night.

McCourt did not attempt a field goal but went 1-of-1 on PATs again.  Hopkins made his lone field goal attempt of 22 yards.  On a positive note, McCourt’s PAT was 11 yards longer than Hopkins’ field goal.

Both kickers will look to set themselves apart from the other in the Chargers’ preseason finale at New Orleans on Friday.

Vederian Lowe

After avoiding a cut following his “fantastic” week one performance, the Vikings’ sixth-round pick got the opportunity to start for the second half of the Minnesota Vikings’ week two matchup vs. San Francisco.

Fighting for both a roster spot and the primary left tackle position for the Vikings, Lowe’s last chance to make his case will come next Saturday at Denver.

Roderick Perry

Despite not seeing the field in the Browns’ week one win over Jacksonville, Perry would make the cut.

Still slotted as the Browns’ third-string left defensive end, Perry will almost certainly need to make his presence felt in Cleveland’s week two matchup vs. Philadelphia on Sunday.

Tony Adams

After fighting for his job in his debut for the New York Jets last week, his two-tackle performance allowed him to survive another week.

Still slotted as the Jets’ fourth-string strong safety, Adams will look to top off last week’s outing when New York hosts the Falcons on Monday.