By William Qualkinbush.
The NFL season is underway and former Tigers are contributing around the league. Each week we look at some of the highlights for the former Tigers.
Watkins less than 100. Clemson fans everywhere are itching to see Sammy Watkins join former Tigers C.J. Spiller and Jonathan Meeks in a Buffalo Bills uniform in Week 1. But after reports came out earlier this week that Watkins was healthy enough to start his professional debut, his head coach Doug Marrone seemed to waffle on the issue on Wednesday.
As NFL.com’s Kevin Patra reports, Marrone told reporters the team would “wait and see” with Watkins this week. Watkins has been dealing with a rib injury that has kept his status iffy for both practices and preseason games in August, but he was a full participant at practice on Wednesday. The consensus is that Watkins will give it a go against the Chicago Bears, but he may be limited as he begins his career.
Both ends of the spectrum. Last week was the deadline for all NFL teams to trim their respective rosters down to 53 players, and a pair of former Clemson offensive linemen found themselves on both ends of the spectrum at different times.
On Friday, the Jacksonville Jaguars informed guard Tyler Shatley, an undrafted camp invite, that he would be waived. As this video from WJXT in Jacksonville tells us, the plan was to keep Shatley on the ten-man practice squad. However, the Jaguars were concerned the rookie would be picked up by another team.
As a result, Shatley was added to the 53-man roster on Saturday. He will take the field with the Jaguars on Sunday when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
On the flip side, former Clemson center Thomas Austin was signed by the Indianapolis Colts two weeks ago. Over the next few days, Austin—who spent a significant amount of time on the Colts’ practice squad in 2013—did enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
Then, he became an unfortunate casualty of the process after the Baltimore Ravens cut A.Q. Shipley, who the Colts traded to Baltimore last May after he started five games at center for the team in 2012. With Shipley suddenly available and injury issues plaguing the position throughout camp, the Colts elected to add him to the 53-man roster, meaning the reserve Austin was released. He is now a free agent.
Opportunity for Breeland? The Washington Redskins are monitoring the status of veteran cornerback Tracy Porter’s hamstring ahead of Sunday’s season opener at Houston. Porter was slotted to handle much of the work at the nickel position.
His absence would open up a slot for rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who has impressed during camp. The former Tiger skipped his senior season to enter the draft and has made the most of his opportunity in Washington. In speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Head Coach Jay Gruden said the team was “concerned” about Porter’s availability but not about the team’s ability to function without him. His comments convey confidence in Breeland and E.J. Biggers, the other cornerback whose playing time could see a bump if Porter cannot go.