NFL Preseason Preview: Week 4

Plenty of former Oregon Duck players will take the field in the final week of the NFL preseason. Nineteen NFL teams will feature a cast of player with these former Ducks on the roster. It will all start Wednesday night in New York.

Two former Oregon Ducks will take the field as the New York Giants will host the New England Patriots. The Giants will feature Spencer Paysinger (LB) while the Patriots will feature Patrick Chung (SS). Paysinger was played in all three of New York’s preseason games. In their last game against the Chicago Bears, he recorded just five solo tackles. Paysinger currently sits third on the Giants’ depth chart. Chung is listed as the starting strong safety according to the Patriots website. He did not play in New England’s last preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During the preseason, Chung has recorded four solo tackles and an interception.

Another former Duck might be playing for a starting job in Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers will take on the Washington Redskins. LeGarrette Blount (RB) currently trials Doug Martin in the race to become the starting running back, but it might not matter. The Buccaneers have a certain image and that image involves both Blount and Martin. In their Week 3 match-up against New England, Blount had seven carries for 22 yards while Martin had thirteen carries for 53 yards and a touchdown.

The Miami Dolphins could be showcasing a former Oregon player from the 2011 season. Josh Kaddu (LB) could get some playing time in the Week 4 match-up against the Dallas Cowboys. In the Week 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons, Kaddu only had one tackles. He currently is third on the Miami Dolphin depth chart.

Meanwhile in Atlanta, the Falcons could show off a former Oregon Duck, Drew Davis (WR). He is currently listed as a third string wide receiver and in their last game against the Dolphins he was only targeted one time.

The biggest news out of Philadelphia is that former Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris (CB) was cut by the team on August 26th. In their Week 3 game against the Cleveland Browns, Harris had one tackles and an interception as the Eagles won by a score of 27-10. On the other hand, Casey Matthews (LB) is currently the second string and has only one tackles this entire preseason.

The Buffalo Bills currently have two former Oregon Ducks on their roster, Mark Asper (OL) and Jarius Byrd (FS). Asper is currently listed as the team’s third string center as Byrd is the team’s starting free safety. During the preseason, Byrd has five tackles and an interception.

Brandon Bair (DL) is on the Kansas City Chiefs roster, but has not register any stats.

Kellen Clemens (QB) is getting closer and closer to becoming the backup to Sam Bradford in St. Louis. In their 20-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys, he completed six of nine passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. In Week 4, the Rams will play host to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Carolina Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers will face off in Week 4 of the NFL preseason and both will have some former Oregon Ducks to show off. The Steelers have David Paulson (TE) while the Panthers have their star, Jonathan Stewart (RB). Stewart could be limited during the game because of an ankle injury from Week 3. One of the former Ducks that did not make the cut in Pittsburgh is Justin Peelle (TE).

The Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans will showcase a few former Oregon players in their Week 4 game. The Vikings have Nick Reed (DE) and Geoff Schwartz (OL). Reed had one tackle, one sack, one tackle for a loss and a quarterback hit during their 12-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers. The Texans have Jeff Maehl (WR) and Eddie Pleasant (SS). In the Week 3 game against the New Orleans Saints, Pleasant had four tackles and Maehl did not record any stats.

Former Oregon Ducks will also be in Cleveland as the Browns will play the Bears. The Bears have Matt Toeaina (DE) and the Browns have T.J. Ward (SS). Both have a very good chance of starting for their respective teams.

In San Francisco, many will wait and see if LaMichael James will see any play time in Week 4 against the Chargers. James did not make the trip to Denver due to an injury. The 49ers will also have Kenny Rowe (LB) and Will Tukuafu (DT). The Chargers have Dante Rosario (TE).

The Seattle Seahawks have more Oregon Ducks on their roster than all the other NFL teams. These Ducks include: Lavasier Tuinei (WR), Max Unger (C), Walter Thurmond (CB). Thurmond is still on the PUP list. Tuinei was most likely relieved to see Terrell Owens on the cut list instead of himself.

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