University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols in the NFL – Week 5
October 08, 2025 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The NFL season keeps rolling on as the calendar flips to October with five weeks in the book.
Edge rusher Byron Young continued his impressive start with the Los Angeles Rams, tallying six tackles, three quarterback hits and a half sack on Thursday night against San Francisco. Young's 5.5 sacks rank second in the NFL through five weeks.
In New Orleans, Alontae Taylor turned in a standout effort in the Saints' 26-14 win over the New York Giants, finishing with a season-high eight tackles.
Veteran running back Alvin Kamara made history in that same contest. With four receptions, the former Vol moved into the top five all-time in receptions by an NFL running back, surpassing Hall of Famer Marcus Allen and Giants legend Tiki Barber with 590 career catches.
A full recap of Vols around the league can be found below.
Derek Barnett – DE – Houston Texans
Recorded one tackle in Houston's 44-10 win over Baltimore
Matthew Butler – DT – Miami Dolphins
Played 29 defensive snaps on Sunday against Carolina
Jerome Carvin – OL – Jacksonville Jaguars
On practice squad
Morgan Cox – LS – Tennessee Titans
Snapped 10 times in the Titans' comeback victory at Arizona
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Patriots
Did not see any action at Buffalo
Princeton Fant – TE – Dallas Cowboys
On practice squad
Kamal Hadden – DB – Green Bay Packers
Bye Week
Hendon Hooker – QB – Carolina Panthers
On practice squad
Jalin Hyatt – WR – New York Giants
Played 34 offensive snaps at New Orleans
Theo Jackson – DB – Minnesota Vikings
Tallied eight tackles in the Vikings' win over the Browns
Jauan Jennings – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Did not see any action on Sunday
Jakob Johnson – FB – Houston Texans
On Reserve/Injured list
Velus Jones Jr. – RB – New Orleans Saints
Returned one kick in a 26-14 win over the New York Giants
Alvin Kamara – RB – New Orleans Saints
Rushed eight times for 27, while catching four passes for 28 yards. With his four receptions, Kamara moved into the top five on the all-time receptions amongst NFL running backs list with 590 career catches, surpassing Marcus Allen and Tiki Barber
Cade Mays – C – Carolina Panthers
Made his third consecutive start at center, playing all 70 offensive snaps in a 27-24 win over Miami
Jaylen McCollough – DB – Los Angeles Rams
Posted two tackles on Thursday night against San Francisco
Joe Milton III – QB – Dallas Cowboys
Did not see any action against the Jets
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Kansas City Chiefs
Did not see any action against Jacksonville on Monday night
Josh Palmer – WR – Buffalo Bills
Caught two passes for 36 yards against New England on Sunday night
James Pearce Jr. – OLB – Atlanta Falcons
Bye Week
Dylan Sampson – RB – Cleveland Browns
Saw action on seven offensive snaps against Minnesota
Elijah Simmons – DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Played 11 defensive snaps in a 38-35 win at Seattle
Trey Smith – OL – Kansas City Chiefs
Logged 68 total snaps on Monday night at Jacksonville
Alontae Taylor – CB – New Orleans Saints
Had a season-high eight tackles in a 26-14 win over the New York Giants
Darrell Taylor – OLB – Houston Texans
Posted one tackle in a 44-10 win over Baltimore
Dont'e Thornton Jr. – WR – Las Vegas Raiders
Made his fourth start of the season, logging 32 offensive snaps
Cedric Tillman – WR – Cleveland Browns
Did not see any action on Sunday
Shy Tuttle – DT – Tennessee Titans
Made his first start of the season, posting two tackles in a comeback victory over Arizona
Darnell Wright – OT – Chicago Bears
Bye Week
Jaylen Wright – RB – Miami Dolphins
Did not see any action in Week 5
Byron Young – OLB – Los Angeles Rams
Recorded a half sack on Thursday to go along with six tackles and three QB hits. Young's 5.5 sacks rank second in the NFL through five games
Edge rusher Byron Young continued his impressive start with the Los Angeles Rams, tallying six tackles, three quarterback hits and a half sack on Thursday night against San Francisco. Young's 5.5 sacks rank second in the NFL through five weeks.
In New Orleans, Alontae Taylor turned in a standout effort in the Saints' 26-14 win over the New York Giants, finishing with a season-high eight tackles.
Veteran running back Alvin Kamara made history in that same contest. With four receptions, the former Vol moved into the top five all-time in receptions by an NFL running back, surpassing Hall of Famer Marcus Allen and Giants legend Tiki Barber with 590 career catches.
A full recap of Vols around the league can be found below.
Derek Barnett – DE – Houston Texans
Recorded one tackle in Houston's 44-10 win over Baltimore
Matthew Butler – DT – Miami Dolphins
Played 29 defensive snaps on Sunday against Carolina
Jerome Carvin – OL – Jacksonville Jaguars
On practice squad
Morgan Cox – LS – Tennessee Titans
Snapped 10 times in the Titans' comeback victory at Arizona
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Patriots
Did not see any action at Buffalo
Princeton Fant – TE – Dallas Cowboys
On practice squad
Kamal Hadden – DB – Green Bay Packers
Bye Week
Hendon Hooker – QB – Carolina Panthers
On practice squad
Jalin Hyatt – WR – New York Giants
Played 34 offensive snaps at New Orleans
Theo Jackson – DB – Minnesota Vikings
Tallied eight tackles in the Vikings' win over the Browns
Jauan Jennings – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Did not see any action on Sunday
Jakob Johnson – FB – Houston Texans
On Reserve/Injured list
Velus Jones Jr. – RB – New Orleans Saints
Returned one kick in a 26-14 win over the New York Giants
Alvin Kamara – RB – New Orleans Saints
Rushed eight times for 27, while catching four passes for 28 yards. With his four receptions, Kamara moved into the top five on the all-time receptions amongst NFL running backs list with 590 career catches, surpassing Marcus Allen and Tiki Barber
Cade Mays – C – Carolina Panthers
Made his third consecutive start at center, playing all 70 offensive snaps in a 27-24 win over Miami
Jaylen McCollough – DB – Los Angeles Rams
Posted two tackles on Thursday night against San Francisco
Joe Milton III – QB – Dallas Cowboys
Did not see any action against the Jets
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Kansas City Chiefs
Did not see any action against Jacksonville on Monday night
Josh Palmer – WR – Buffalo Bills
Caught two passes for 36 yards against New England on Sunday night
James Pearce Jr. – OLB – Atlanta Falcons
Bye Week
Dylan Sampson – RB – Cleveland Browns
Saw action on seven offensive snaps against Minnesota
Elijah Simmons – DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Played 11 defensive snaps in a 38-35 win at Seattle
Trey Smith – OL – Kansas City Chiefs
Logged 68 total snaps on Monday night at Jacksonville
Alontae Taylor – CB – New Orleans Saints
Had a season-high eight tackles in a 26-14 win over the New York Giants
Darrell Taylor – OLB – Houston Texans
Posted one tackle in a 44-10 win over Baltimore
Dont'e Thornton Jr. – WR – Las Vegas Raiders
Made his fourth start of the season, logging 32 offensive snaps
Cedric Tillman – WR – Cleveland Browns
Did not see any action on Sunday
Shy Tuttle – DT – Tennessee Titans
Made his first start of the season, posting two tackles in a comeback victory over Arizona
Darnell Wright – OT – Chicago Bears
Bye Week
Jaylen Wright – RB – Miami Dolphins
Did not see any action in Week 5
Byron Young – OLB – Los Angeles Rams
Recorded a half sack on Thursday to go along with six tackles and three QB hits. Young's 5.5 sacks rank second in the NFL through five games
Players Mentioned
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