Former Syracuse linebackers soar, QB Kyle McCord is solid during NFL's preseason week one

Preseason NFL games are back! Former Syracuse football star players suited up for their respective NFL teams in the preseason's week one, with some guys faring better than others.

Former Orange linebackers were among those who impressed the most, along with a former SU quarterback and a former 'Cuse punter. Let's get you caught up on everything.

Former Syracuse football linebackers led the Orange charge during the NFL's first week of preseason games.

Garrett Williams, cornerback, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona beat the Los Vegas Raiders, 27-14. Williams did not play; he's recovering from an Achilles injury that he suffered in December 2025.

Matthew Bergeron, offensive lineman, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta lost to the Denver Broncos, 27-7. It's unclear to me if Bergeron played.

Dion Wilson Jr., defensive lineman, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-7. Wilson had one pass breakup.

Da'Metrius Weatherspoon, offensive lineman, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo defeated the Carolina Panthers, 29-14. It's not clear, from the box score, if Weatherspoon played.

Andre Szmyt, placekicker, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland fell to the Chicago Bears, 34-10. Szmyt did his job, making his only field-goal attempt, from 50 yards out, and his sole extra-point kick.

Justin Barron, linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas beat the Seattle Seahawks, 17-7. Barron tallied four total tackles, two solo tackles and one tackle for a loss.

Alijah Clark, safety, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 17-7. Clark had one tackle.

Jackson Meeks, wide receiver, Detroit Lions
Detroit lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 16-14. Meeks had one catch for 17 yards.

Zaire Franklin, linebacker, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-9. Franklin had one solo tackle and one sack.

Kyle McCord, quarterback, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-9. McCord was 12-of-16 for 102 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

LeQuint Allen Jr., running back, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville beat the New Orleans Saints, 24-20. Allen did not play.

Oronde Gadsden II, tight end, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles beat the Houston Texans, 27-7. Gadsden hauled in two passes for 21 yards.

Devin Grant, safety, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles defeated the Houston Texans, 27-7. Grant had three total tackles and two solo tackles.

Marlowe Wax Jr., linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles knocked off the Houston Texans, 27-7. Wax had three total tackles, two solo tackles and one pass breakup.

Dan Villari, tight end, Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-12. It doesn't appear that Villari saw the field.

Fadil Diggs, linebacker, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-20. Diggs had five total tackles, three solo tackles and one sack.

Andre Cisco, safety, New York Jets
New York lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-16. Cisco had one solo tackle.

Kingsley Jonathan, defensive end, New York Jets
New York fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-16. Jonathan was unavailable due to a thigh bruise.

Kevin Jobity Jr., defensive tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh beat the Green Bay Packers, 28-9. Jobity played, but he did not record any statistics.

Riley Dixon, punter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay beat the New York Jets, 24-16. Dixon registered six punts, with a long of 57 yards and an average of 45.3 yards per punt. He had one touchback.

Ifeatu Melifonwu, safety, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay defeated the New York Jets, 24-16. Melifonwu had one solo tackle.

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay won against the New York Jets, 24-16. Tucker had four carries for 12 yards. He added two catches for 11 yards.

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