Oklahoma’s Rookies Continue to Impress in NFL Preseason

Another week, another impressive performance from former Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas in the NFL’s preseason.

Thomas, whom the Chiefs selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, registered a pass breakup and a quarterback pressure in Kansas City’s 16-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 of the preseason on Saturday.

Thomas’ pass breakup came against former OU quarterback Baker Mayfield on the Bucs’ first drive of the game. Mayfield attempted to hit a wide receiver on a screen pass and third-and-long, but Thomas burst through the line of scrimmage almost immediately and batted down the football.

What a pass deflection by R Mason Thomas on 3rd down 🙅

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— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2026

The rookie edge rusher’s strong showing followed his first preseason game in which he made two tackles and also logged a pass breakup and a quarterback hit.

Former Oklahoma safety Robert Spears-Jennings is also two-for-two on impressive preseason performances.

Spears-Jennings, a seventh-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft, broke up one pass and also notched a solo tackle against the New York Jets on Friday.

Jets running back Sam Scott appeared to be wide open for an easy reception, but Spears-Jennings quickly got to the ball and laid a devastating hit on him, forcing an incompletion.

Robert Spears-Jennings making his presence felt 🗣️

NYJvsPIT on @nflnetwork
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— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2026

Spears-Jennings put together an even stronger performance in the first week of the preseason, as he compiled three solo tackles, a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss in the Steelers’ win over the Green Bay Packers.

A couple of other defensive players from OU’s 2025 team made appearances in Week 2 of the preseason.

Kendal Daniels, a linebacker who now plays for the Atlanta Falcons, recorded three tackles, two of which were solo stops, in the team’s 34-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts. And while defensive tackle Damonic Williams went undrafted, he logged three total tackles and two solo tackles in the Arizona Cardinals’ loss against the Dallas Cowboys.

Offensively, wide receiver Deion Burks made four catches for 19 yards in the Colts’ loss to the Falcons. And offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu — a fourth-round selection by the Houston Texans — allowed zero quarterback pressures on 17 pass-blocking snaps in a 22-20 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, per Pro Football Focus.

Veteran defenders shine

The Denver Broncos played most of their starters in their game against the Green Bay Packers, so former OU edge rusher Nik Bonitto got his first preseason action of 2026.

Bonitto finished the Broncos’ 33-13 loss with three solo tackles and a pass breakup. The former Sooner has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons, and he notched a career-high 14 sacks in 2025.

Safety Tony Jefferson, who has played in the NFL since 2013, made three solo tackles in the Los Angeles Chargers’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Jefferson is entering his third season with the Chargers, and he compiled 57 total tackles in 2025.

As mentioned, Mayfield started at quarterback for the Buccaneers on Saturday. Mayfield, though, only played on two drives, finishing the game with two completions for 10 yards.

Caleb Williams, a one-year Sooner who eventually won the Heisman Trophy at USC, played on the Chicago Bears’ opening drive against the Cincinnati Bengals. He completed two of his five pass attempts for 28 yards, leading the Bears to a field goal.

Former OU quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray did not appear in their teams’ preseason games in Week 2. Hurts is entering his seventh season with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he has led the franchise to a 63-29 record as its starter. Murray, on the other hand, is playing his first season with the Minnesota Vikings, and the team announced him as its starting quarterback last week.

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