Hokie ClubWith Week 7 in the NFL officially in the books and a lot to look forward to with Week 8 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 8? For a full rundown, read Wednesday's edition of NFL Hokies, presented by Coca-Cola.
Notable Week 7 Performances
LB Divine Deablo
Las Vegas second-year linebacker Divine Deablo had another strong day at the office in the Raiders' 38-20 win over Houston on Sunday afternoon.
The former standout safety during his time in Blacksburg racked up 11 total tackles, with six coming on his own, leading the team for the second consecutive week and putting together yet another solid performance early on in 2022.
Up next for Deablo and company, a trip to New Orleans to take on the Saints for an interconference matchup inside the Caesars Superdome. Kickoff is set for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS.
RB Khalil "Juice" Herbert
Running back Khalil Herbert continues to impress week in and week out in the backfield in the Windy City for the Chicago Bears, with Monday evening's 33-14 demolition over New England certainly serving as no exception.
The 2021 sixth-round draft pick was the only Hokie to find the end zone this past weekend, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown reception that catapulted Chicago to the three-score victory in primetime on Monday Night Football.
Herbert also rushed for 62 yards on 12 carries to pace the Bears' rushing attack, and will have the chance to build off another impactful performance when the team makes the trip to Dallas for a 1 p.m. kick on FOX Sunday.
25 yds to the house 🧃
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 25, 2022
📺: #CHIvsNE on ESPN pic.twitter.com/00jqMXGw1u
K Joey Slye
Washington starting placekicker Joey Slye has finally made a name for himself in the nation's capital after a quality start to 2022.
The former four-year starter with the maroon and orange has booted through seven field goals on nine attempts so far this season, while going 8-for-9 on extra point tries to show he can serve as a reliable piece in the Commanders' kicking game when called upon on fourth down.
Slye, cornerback Kendall Fuller, tight end Logan Thomas (questionable) and the rest of the burgundy and gold look to keep the momentum going this upcoming Sunday after a victory over Green Bay last weekend, as the team heads north to Indianapolis to face off against Brandon Facyson and the Colts at 4:25 p.m. on FOX.
More Week 8 Matchups
Thursday, Oct. 27
Baltimore at Tampa Bay - 8:15 p.m. - Amazon Prime Video
Baltimore safety Chuck Clark just keeps adding on to his already exceptional start to the 2022 campaign.
The sixth-year member of the purple and black racked up nine total tackles (6 solo) in the Ravens' 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns just under two weeks ago, and has put together one of most productive seasons to date roaming around the secondary in the Charm City.
Clark and company look to continue their winning ways this upcoming Thursday, when they make the trip to Tampa Bay to face off against the Buccaneers in this week's edition of Thursday Night Football.
Sunday, Oct. 30
Carolina at Atlanta - 1 p.m. - FOX
Rookie running back Raheem Blackshear, fellow first-year defensive end Amarè Barno and the Carolina Panthers aim for their second consecutive victory this Sunday when they head south to take on the Atlanta Falcons in an intriguing one in the NFC South.
Blackshear, an undrafted free agent that was scooped up by the Panthers back in September, returned kicks for Carolina for the third consecutive week. The two-year starter during his time in Blacksburg also recorded his first career carry at the professional ranks, scampering twice throughout the duration of the contest with hopes of finding a larger role in the running backs free agent.
Barno, on the other hand, played a career-high three defensive snaps in the 21-3 win over Tampa Bay. And with still high hopes for the former sixth-round pick, be on the lookout for the Blythewood, South Carolina native to become even more involved towards the latter half of the calendar year.
Miami at Detroit - 1 p.m. - CBS
Fellow rookie James Mitchell played six offensive snaps at the tight end position in the Lions' 24-6 setback to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
A fifth-round pick in this past April's NFL Draft, Mitchell still seeks to record his first career reception since making the step up to the NFL. And with the 6-foot-4, 249-pounder getting more involved in Detroit's offense, don't be surprised to see him get ample opportunities with his playmaking abilities showcased at a high-caliber level during his time with the Hokies.
Arizona at Minnesota - 1 p.m. - FOX
Former Tech teammates Lecitus Smith and Christian Darrisaw prepare to line it up this upcoming weekend on opposing offensive lines when the Arizona Cardinals hit the road for Minnesota to take on the Vikings inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
Smith, a sixth-round pick this past April, didn't play a single snap in the 42-34 defeat of the Saints last Thursday evening, but has shown to be a valuable asset in the two games appeared in so far this season as a nice option off the bench for the Cardinals' offensive line.
Darrisaw, meanwhile, earned a strong 76.4 pass-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus, in the 24-16 victory over Miami two weeks ago. The 2021 first-round draft pick still has only missed one offensive snap so far this season and has only allowed one sack this season, and just keeps producing at the highest of levels for a team with high hopes in the NFC North.
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New England at N.Y. Jets - 1 p.m. - CBS
Offensive lineman Duane Brown still hasn't missed a single snap on the offensive end since returning from an unspecified injury that kept him sidelined for the first four games of the 2022 campaign.
The 15-year veteran posted a respectable 72.2 pass-blocking grade in New York's 16-9 win over Denver on Sunday afternoon, providing a major boost to a team that has yet to lose since Brown's return on the offensive line.
The surprising Jets will aim to keep the train moving this upcoming Sunday, when it plays host to the New England Patriots in a crucial matchup in the AFC East.
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia - 1 p.m. - CBS
Pittsburgh fifth-year safety Terrell Edmunds put up some impressive numbers for the second consecutive week in the Steelers' secondary.
The former first-round draft pick tallied five total tackles, with two solo, in the black and gold's 16-10 loss to Miami on Sunday Night Football, and will have to step up yet again when Pittsburgh travels across the state to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in an interconference showdown inside Lincoln Financial Field.
Tennessee at Houston - 4:05 p.m. - CBS
Titans' sophomore cornerback Caleb Farley played just two snaps in Tennessee's 19-10 victory over Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon out in the Music City.
A first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Farley still searches to make a major impact for the leaders of AFC South, with another chance coming this weekend when the Titans head to Houston to take on the Texans in another divisional meeting.
N.Y. Giants at Seattle - 4:25 p.m. - FOX
Reserve signal-caller Tyrod Taylor still waits for his opportunity at the quarterback position in his first season suiting up for the 6-1 New York Giants after multiple different stops across the NFL.
The former three-time ACC Champion during his time with the Hokies has appeared in just one game so far this season, but has shown the ability in the past to come through in big situations if needed for a perennial contender in the NFC East.
Green Bay at Buffalo - 8:20 p.m. - NBC
Offensive linemen Yosh Nijman, Luke Tenuta and the Green Bay Packers venture north to upstate New York to take on Tremaine Edmunds, Tim Settle and the rest of the Buffalo Bills in a highly-anticipated matchup inside Highmark Stadium.
Nijman, a former undrafted free agent back in 2018, received a 69.3 pass-blocking grade on Sunday afternoon in the loss to Washington for his efforts on the offensive line. While Edmunds, a former teammate of Nijman's during their time together in maroon and orange, totaled 10 total tackles in the Bills' big-time win over Kansas City two weeks ago, providing a major spark on the defensive end that helped guide Buffalo to a season-altering victory in the AFC.
Tenuta still eyes to make his professional debut after being claimed off waivers from Indianapolis a little over a week ago. While Settle continues to serve as a nice depth piece for Buffalo on its potent defensive line that stands as one of the better units in the entire NFL.
Monday, Oct. 31
Cincinnati at Cleveland - 8:15 p.m. - ESPN
Star offensive lineman Wyatt Teller remains questionable for this upcoming Monday after being forced to miss Sunday's three-point loss to the Browns with a nagging calf injury.
The 2021 Pro Bowler had played just 15 snaps the weekend prior before being removed from the game late in the first quarter, and will hope to be ready to go for a Cleveland team in desperate need of a victory when Cincinnati comes to town for this week's edition of Monday Night Football.