I must confess that I do not follow the NFL much, if at all. I do remember when the Oregon Ducks might have a handful of players in the NFL, and that was about it.
In compiling today’s list, I was struck by just how many players in the NFL were former Ducks. It’s been a fun look that reminds me of all these players when they were with Oregon.
We’ll take a look today at Ducks football players who are currently active in the NFL. If a player that you know of is not listed, it’s because they were released and not currently with a team, are on injured reserve with no playing time, or are playing in a league other than the NFL.
The following players are on rosters with the practice squad:
- Anthony Brown, Jr. (Arizona Cardinals)
- Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (Baltimore Ravens)
- Johnny Johnson III (Houston Texans)
- Casey Rogers (New York Giants)
- Troy Hill (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The following are active players that have played in the 2024 season:
Defensive Line
Brandon Dorlus (Atlanta Falcons)
Dorlus was selected in the 4th round this year. He has played in one game this season.
DeForest Buckner (Indianapolis Colts)
Buckner was a 1st round pick in 2016. He has played in 6 games this season, starting 5 of them. He has 29 tackles, 16 solo tackles, and 3.5 sacks.
Arik Armstead (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Armstead was a 1st round pick in 2015. He has played in 11 games this season and has 20 tackles, 15 solo tackles, and 1 sack.
Jordan Riley (New York Giants)
Riley was selected in the 7th round in 2023. He has played in 7 games this season,
Defensive Linebacker
D.J. Johnson (Carolina Panthers)
Johnson was selected in the 3rd round in 2023. He has played in 9 games with 19 tackles, 8 solo tackles, and 0.5 sacks.
Noah Sewell (Chicago Bears)
Sewell was selected in the 5th round on 2023. He has played in six games this season.
Jamal Hill (Houston Texans)
Hill was selected in the 6th round this year. He has played in 5 games this season.
Troy Dye (Los Angeles Chargers)
Dye was picked up in the 4th round in 2020. He has played all 10 games this year with 13 tackles, 8 solo tackles, and 0.5 sacks.
Kayvon Thibodeaux (New York Giants)
Thibodeaux was a first round selection in 2022. He is currently not on the roster and is on injured reserve due to a wrist injury requiring surgery in week 5.
Defensive Secondary
Evan Williams (Green Bay Packers)
Williams was a 4th round pick this year. He has played in 9 games, started 4 of them, and has 1 INT this season.
Jevón Holland (Miami Dolphins)
Holland was drafted in the 2nd round in 2021. This season he has played and started in 8 games. He has yet to get a pick this year.
Christian Gonzalez (New England Patriots)
Gonzalez was a 1st round selection in 2023. This year he has started all 11 games and has a sack and an INT.
Ugo Amadi (New Orleans Saints)
Amadi was selected in the 4th round in 2019. He has played in five games this season, starting one.
Deommodore Lenoir (San Francisco 49ers)
Lenoir was a 5th round pick in 2021. He has started in all 10 of this season’s games, has 35 solo tackles, one forced fumble, and 2 INTs.
Offensive Line
T.J. Bass (Dallas Cowboys)
Bass signed as a rookie free agent in 2023. He has played in all nine games so far, starting one (against the Lions).
Alex Forsyth (Denver Broncos)
Forsyth was drafted in the 7th round in 2023. He has played in all 11 games this season, starting in four of them.
Penei Sewell (Detroit Lions)
Sewell was selected in the 1st round in 2021. As should be expected, he has started in all 10 of this season’s games.
Jackson Powers-Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders)
This is JPJ’s rookie season. He has played guard in all 10 games and started the last seven straight.
Shane Lemieux (New Orleans Saints)
Lemieux was drafted in the 5th round in 2020. He is listed as playing center but has also played guard. After playing for the Giants, he signed with the Saints. Lemieux was released on August 27, but re-signed with the practice squad. He got on the active squad on September 25, and has played in three games this season.
Jake Hanson (New York Jets)
Hanson was selected in the 6th round in 2020. He has played in 9 of 11 games this season, starting two of them.
Calvin Throckmorton (Denver Broncos)
Throckmorton was an UDFA in 2020. This year he signed with Denver in April, was released on August 27, and immediately re-signed with the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster earlier this month on Nov. 1st.
Offense – TE, RB, WR
Troy Franklin (Denver Broncos) – WR
Franklin was a 4th round pick this year. He has played 10 games and started four. Franklin has 17 receptions with 2 TDs so far and is averaging 9.35 yards per catch.
Johnny Mundt (Minnesota Vikings) – TE
Mundt was an UDFA in 2017. He has played in 10 games, starting 3 of them. Mundt has 15 receptions with 1 TD, and is averaging 7.1 yards per catch.
Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints) – TE
Johnson was an UDFA in 2020. He has started in 3 of 11 games this season, and is averaging 11.1 YPC on 25 receptions with 2 TDs.
Pharaoh Brown (Seattle Seahawks) – TE
Brown was an UDFA in 2017. He has started in 4 of 8 games this year and only has a few receptions.
Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – RB
Irving was picked in the 4th round this year. He has played in all 10 games, starting in one of them. Irving has 96 carries for 492 yards, averaging 5.1 YPC and 4 TDs. He also has 26 receptions for 188 yards.
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders)
Mariota has played in two games this season. he has passed 19/26 for 203 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs.
Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)
Nix has been a rare rookie QB starter this season. In 11 games he is 234/357 for 2,275 yards with 14 TDs and 6 INTs. He has rushed for 295 yards and 4 TDs.
Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)
Herbert has started all 10 games this season, and has gone 176/277 for 2,186 yards with 13 TDs and 1 INT. He has rushed 182 yards with one TD.