2020 NFL season to start with seven ‘Dogs on active 53-man rosters

FRESNO, Calif. – As the first week of the NFL season draws nearer (Sept. 10-14), and training camp has come to a close, all 32 teams were mandated to reduce its respective training camp rosters on Saturday to its chosen 53-man squads for the 2020 season. Entering week one, seven Fresno State football alumni are on active rosters, while four are on practice squads and one is designated as a 2020 opt-out (rosters as of Sept. 6).

The seven on active rosters are:

1. Tyeler Davison, DT – Atlanta Falcons

Davison enters his sixth season in the NFL. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Davison played his first four career seasons with the Saints before signing with the Falcons prior to the 2019 season. In his first season in Atlanta, he had 55 tackles, four TFLs and one sack. Davison has played in 77 career NFL games, and started 60 of those.

2. Mykal Walker, LB – Atlanta Falcons

Walker enters his rookie season with the Falcons. He was selected in the 4th round of this year's draft.

3. KeeSean Johnson, WR – Arizona Cardinals

Johnson enters his second season with the Cardinals. He was selected in the 6th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the franchise he is with now. During his rookie campaign, Johnson started four games and played in 10. He had 21 catches for 187 yards and one touchdown in year No. 1.

4. Charles Washington, S – Arizona Cardinals

Washington was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Detroit Lions following the conclusion of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was a member the Lions practice squad his first year out of Fresno State, and remained with the Lions earning a 53-man roster spot in both the 2017-18 seasons. While the Lions released him prior to the 2019 season, it didn't take long to be claimed off waivers by the Cardinals. Washington has played in 41 NFL games, with 12 last season in his first year with the Cardinals primarily in a special teams role.

5. Netane Muti, OL – Denver Broncos

Muti enters his rookie season with the Broncos. He was selected in the 6th round of this year's draft.

6. Davante Adams, WR – Green Bay Packers

Adams enters his seventh season in the NFL, spending each with the same team that drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL Draft - the Green Bay Packers. Adams leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns (40) and games with at least one TD catch (32) since 2016. He was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl last season. He has played in 86 career games and owns 79 starts.

7. Derek Carr, QB – Las Vegas Raiders

Carr enters his seventh season in the NFL. He's played each with the Oakland Raiders - now the Las Vegas Raiders - who drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Carr has been the Raiders' starting quarterback since his rookie year, and started the first 47 games of his career, becoming the first Raiders offensive player since 1975 to accomplish that feat. He is a three-time Pro Bowler who ranks first in franchise history with 22,793 career passing yards. He has played and started in 94 games.

The four on practice squads are:

1. Kenny Wiggins, OL – Detroit Lions

Wiggins is the most veteran player of the Bulldogs on NFL rosters in 2020. He went undrafted in 2011, and spent the majority of his first four seasons in the NFL on practice squads. He played in his first career NFL game in 2014 with the Chargers, and remained with the Chargers through the 2017 season. He was signed by the Lions in 2018 and has played in 30 games and made 13 starts over the last two seasons in Detroit. In total, Wiggins has played in 75 games and made 38 starts.

2. Juju Hughes, S – Los Angeles Rams

Hughes, an undrafted free agent, was signed on Sunday to the Rams practice squad after participating in their 2020 training camp.

3. Curtis Riley, S – Pittsburgh Steelers

Riley initially made the Steelers' 53-man roster on Saturday, but was released and then added to the Steelers' practice squad on Sunday. Riley, since going undrafted in 2015, has been on an active roster for four seasons with three different teams. He was with the Tennessee Titans (2016-17), New York Giants (2018) and Oakland Raiders (2019). He has played in 43 games and made 19 starts throughout his career.

4. Josh Hokit, FB – San Francisco 49ers

Hokit, an undrafted free agent, was signed on Sunday to the 49ers practice squad after participating in their 2020 training camp.

Note: Practice squad rosters have expanded from 10 to 16 since last season.

10 of the 16 players on the practice squad can have no more than two accrued seasons.

New this year, teams can now keep up to six players with no limits on experience, a change to allow greater roster flexibility to aid with issues related to COVID-19.

Reserve/Opt-Out

Da'Mari Scott, WR – New York Giants

Scott remains on the Giants' official team roster as a player option opt-out, as a part of safety protocols in place for NFL players amid the pandemic. Scott started his NFL journey as an undrafted free agent in 2018 who signed onto the Cleveland Browns practice squad, he was waived midseason and picked up by the Buffalo Bills. In 2019, he was with the Giants and saw action in five games.

The 2020 NFL season kicks off Thursday with the Houston Texans visiting the Kansas City Chiefs, while most of the action gets underway Sunday, Sept. 13 and is followed by a Monday Night Football doubleheader.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley ''– The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

Fresno State Athletics

2020 NFL season to start with seven ‘Dogs on active 53-man rosters

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