The NFL preseason wrapped up this weekend with its last slate of video games. A number of former UNC gamers had an impression in these contests.
NFL groups have till Tuesday afternoon to make their preseason roster cuts, trimming all the way down to the league-mandated roster dimension of 53 gamers. Right here’s an additional look into a few of the standout Tar Heel performances from the ultimate week of the NFL preseason.
Bryson Nesbit Hauls in Landing
The rangy Nesbit had hopes of changing into an NFL draft decide following a productive profession at Carolina. He spent 4 seasons with the Tar Heels, incomes All-ACC first workforce honors as a junior and All-ACC honorable point out the yr prior. Nesbit was named to the Mackey Award Watch Final within the preseason final yr, the annual award handed out to the nation’s greatest tight finish.
However following an up-and-down senior season — a yr during which Nesbit recorded the fewest catches (24), receiving yards (264) and touchdowns (three) since his freshman season — he went undrafted and signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. Nesbit has appeared in all three video games this preseason for the Vikings, and he had his most impactful efficiency within the the finale in opposition to the Tennessee Titans. He completed with two catches for 45 yards, together with a 21-yard landing seize halfway by means of the third quarter.
That rating noticed Nesbit beat the Titans beneath with a fast crossing route, earlier than racing away from a diving sort out and into the tip zone. On the Vikings’ official depth chart, Nesbit is listed as one among two choices on the third-team, alongside fellow rookie tight finish Ben Yurosek.
Chazz Surratt Leads 49ers in Tackles, Jumps on Muffed Punt
It’s been an uneven skilled profession for the quarterback-turned-linebacker Surratt. The Minnesota Vikings chosen Surratt within the third spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft. He went on to spend only one season with the Vikings, earlier than getting waived in August 2022. Surratt then spent three years with the New York Jets, the place he principally performed on particular groups, earlier than signing with the San Francisco 49ers earlier this yr.
Surratt was all around the subject within the 49ers’ last preseason sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday evening. He racked up a team-high 11 tackles, together with six solo takedowns. Surratt additionally recovered a muffed punt late within the fourth quarter, establishing San Francisco with prime subject place contained in the pink zone. The 49ers would money in that chance, scoring a landing two performs later.
Sizeable Snap Counts for Kaimon Rucker, Jahavree Ritzie
Rucker and Ritzie each signed free agent offers after going undrafted on this yr’s NFL Draft. Rucker initially earned an invitation to the Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie minicamp in April, earlier than signing a cope with the Baltimore Ravens one month later. And he has seen constant taking part in time this preseason, taking part in a minimum of 27 snaps in all three video games. He capped off the preseason taking part in 35 snaps in opposition to the Washington Commanders on Saturday, and contributed two tackles in Baltimore’s blowout win.
Ritzie signed as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots. He acquired his heaviest workload in New England’s preseason finale, logging 33 snaps in opposition to the New York Giants. That taking part in time was greater than what Ritzie noticed within the first two preseason video games mixed (28 snaps). Ritzie supplied two tackles and one quarterback hurry for the Patriots on Thursday.
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