NFL Hokies: Week 3 primerNFL Hokies: Week 3 primer
Football

NFL Hokies: Week 3 primer

With Week 2 in the NFL officially in the books and a lot to look forward to with Week 3 on the horizon, there's a bunch to take a glance at regarding what former Virginia Tech football players are up to at the professional level. With plenty of maroon and orange scattered across the league, there continues to be opportunity after opportunity to see a multitude of Hokies perform on Sunday's in the fall. 
 
What's on-tap for Week 3? For a full rundown, read Wednesday's edition of NFL Hokies, presented by Coca-Cola.
 Notable Week 2 Performances

TE Logan Thomas
Washington's Logan Thomas has been a welcomed addition to the tight ends room since arriving in the nation's capital prior to the 2020 campaign. Sunday afternoon in Detroit was absolutely no exception. 
 
Despite the Commanders' narrow 36-27 setback inside Ford Field, Thomas hauled in three catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. The former Tech quarterback found the end zone for the first time in 2022, and chose to do so in a timely fashion facing off against his former squad.
 


Thomas, cornerback Kendall Fuller and placekicker Joey Slye will all look to bounce back this weekend when the burgundy and gold play host to Philadelphia for a crucial NFL East matchup. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET and can be found on FOX. 
 
LB Divine Deablo
Divine Deablo has had quite the start to his 2022 season. The former standout safety for the maroon and orange has continued to transition nicely to the linebacker position at the NFL level, with his skill set being on full display Sunday afternoon. 
 
The 2021 third-round draft pick totaled a whopping 15 total tackles in Las Vegas' overtime loss to Arizona this past weekend, and has continued to prove why he's a solid piece in the Raiders' back seven. 
 
Deablo and company will look to get back on track this Sunday, traveling to Tennessee to face off against Caleb Farley in the Titans for a 1 p.m. kick. The game will be televised on FOX. 
 
S Chuck Clark
Safety Chuck Clark makes his second consecutive appearance under notable performances after another impressive weekend locking it down in the secondary for the Baltimore Ravens. 
 
The 6-foot, 200-pounder tallied six total tackles in the purple and black's heartbreaking 42-38 defeat to Miami this past Sunday in the Charm City, continuing to be a mainstay in the Ravens' secondary after a strong five-year start to his professional career. 
 
Up next for Baltimore, a trip to Foxborough for a date with New England. The game will be showcased at 1 p.m. and can be found on CBS. 
 More Week 3 Matchups

Thursday, Sept. 22

Pittsburgh at Cleveland - 8:15 p.m. ET - Amazon Prime Video
Week 3 officially kicks off Thursday evening when Terrell Edmunds and the Steelers hit the road for Cleveland to face off against Wyatt Teller and the Browns inside FirstEnergy Stadium. 
 
Edmunds racked up four total tackles, with three coming on his own in Pittsburgh's loss to New England a week ago. While Teller, a 2021 Pro Bowler, hasn't missed a snap yet this season for a Cleveland team with high hopes in the AFC North. 
 
It's still early, but with each and every one of the matchups playing a major role in the divisional race, don't be surprised if these two Hokies have a major say on who takes the first meeting between these two foes. 


Sunday, Sept. 25

Houston at Chicago - 1 p.m. - FOX
Second-year running back Khalil "Juice" Herbert and the Chicago Bears look to get back on track when the team plays host to Houston this upcoming weekend. 
 
After recording a touchdown the previous week, the 2021 sixth-round draft pick followed that up by rushing for 38 yards on four carries in Chicago's Sunday night loss to Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Though no victory took place, Herbert continues to play a major role in the Bears' backfield early on in the 2022 campaign, and could be a key piece down the stretch in a potential run in the NFC North. 
 
Kansas City at Indianapolis - 1 p.m. - CBS
Cornerback Brandon Facyson had a nice day at the office for the second straight week in the Colts' Sunday afternoon loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
 
The former Los Angeles Charger and Las Vegas Raider garnered four total tackles in a 24-0 defeat, but will have another opportunity to prove his worth in his debut season up in Indianapolis when he, Luke Tenuta and the rest of the Colts host Kansas City in the team's 2022 home opener. 
 
Buffalo at Miami - 1 p.m. - CBS
Star linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, defensive tackle Tim Settle and the Buffalo Bills seek to add on to their early season domination when they travel down to South Florida this weekend to square off against the Miami Dolphins. 
 
A former first-round pick back in 2018, Edmunds added four total tackles, with three coming on his own, in the team's 41-7 annihilation of Tennessee this past Monday. And though Settle was forced to miss the contest due to a nagging calf issue, the former Washington standout looks to make his return on Sunday to re-join his former Tech teammate on the Buffalo defensive side of the ball. 
 
Detroit at Minnesota - 1 p.m. - FOX
Rookie tight end James Mitchell still seeks to make his NFL debut when the Lions travel up north to Minneapolis to face off against former college teammate Christian Darrisaw and the Minnesota Vikings. 
 
Darrisaw, a former first-round selection back in 2021, played every snap in the team's 24-7 loss to Philadelphia on Monday Night Football. And with the high-level pedigree that the 6-foot-5, 315-pounder already possesses at the professional level, expect Darrisaw to contribute heavily to the Vikings throughout the duration of the 2022 campaign. 
 
New Orleans at Carolina - 1 p.m. - FOX
Defensive end Amarè Barno also eyes to make his NFL debut this upcoming weekend when the Carolina Panthers play host to the New Orleans Saints.
 
A sixth-round pick in this past year's NFL draft, Barno serves as a nice depth piece for the Panthers after a successful career with the Hokies from 2019-21. And with the Blythewood, South Carolina native's playmaking abilities, don't be surprised to see him get his shot for his hometown team in the very near future. 
 
Running back Raheem Blackshear also is poised to earn his first true shot at the NFL level. The former two-year starter for the maroon and orange was recently signed off Buffalo's practice squad by Carolina. 
 
L.A. Rams at Arizona - 4:25 p.m. - FOX
The Cardinals and Lecitus Smith look to carry on with their winning ways when they welcome the Los Angeles Rams into State Farm Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 
 
Another sixth-year draft pick this past April, Smith has already found his way onto the gridiron in eight snaps so far this season, and will look to contribute once again with Arizona looking to secure a major NFC West victory early on in 2022. 
 
Green Bay at Tampa Bay - 4:25 p.m. - FOX
Fellow former Tech offensive lineman Yosh Nijman and the Packers also look to win their second consecutive contest when Green Bay travels down to Tampa Bay to face off against the Buccaneers. 
 
Similar to his former teammate Teller, Nijman also hasn't missed an offensive snap so far this year, transitioning from a nice piece to have as a role player, to a full-time starter in his fourth season suiting up in the NFL. Particularly impressive for the former undrafted free agent. 
 
Monday, Sept. 26

Dallas at N.Y. Giants - 8:15 p.m. - ABC/ESPN
Tyrod Taylor and the New York Giants continue to surprise many after a 2-0 start to kick off the 2022 campaign. 
 
A former starting signal-caller at four different stops, the Tech icon stays ready for an opportunity when the Giants host Dallas in a fierce NFC East matchup.