ARLINGTON, TX (August 17, 2026) -
The UFL Defensive Player of the Year made his presence felt, the United Bowl MVP found the end zone, and a pair of UFL running backs picked up where they left off as former UFL players delivered a number of standout performances during the opening week of NFL preseason action.
Here are some of the top UFL-to-NFL performances from Preseason Week 1:
LB Cam Gill - Carolina Panthers (Louisville Kings)
- The UFL's 2026 Defensive Player of the Year picked up right where he left off, recording two tackles, 1.0 sack, 1.0 tackle for loss and two quarterback hits against Buffalo.
- Gill previously recorded four tackles in the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game.
K Tanner Brown - New Orleans Saints (Louisville Kings)
- The UFL’s 2026 Special Teams Player of the Year, who is in a tightly contested battle for the kicking job in New Orleans, converted on both of his field-goal attempts this past weekend, including 29- and 49-yard attempts.
RB Ian Wheeler - Buffalo Bills (Louisville Kings)
- Wheeler followed his United Bowl MVP performance with a strong debut with Buffalo, leading the Bills with 41 rushing yards on seven carries, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
- He also added a 6-yard touchdown run.
RB Jacob Saylors - Detroit Lions (St. Louis Battlehawks)
- The UFL’s all-time leading rusher, Saylors rushed eight times for 55 yards, including a 27-yard run, and added three receptions for 28 yards, finishing with 83 total yards.
- His performance earned praise from Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who called Saylors Detroit's “most potent player on offense” in the preseason opener.
WR Kaden Davis - Chicago Bears (Houston Gamblers)
- The former Houston Gamblers wideout caught four passes for 88 yards, leading Chicago in receiving. His day included a 41-yard reception.
DB Jayden Price - New Orleans Saints (Dallas Renegades)
- Price jumped a route for an interception and returned it 11 yards for the Saints. He also added a pass breakup and a 24-yard kickoff return.
DB Shaun Wade - Philadelphia Eagles (Dallas Renegades)
- The former Dallas Renegades cornerback recorded four tackles, all solo, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in Philadelphia's preseason opener.
WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper / QB Hunter Dekkers - New Orleans Saints (Houston Gamblers)
- Moreno-Cropper caught three passes for 49 yards, including two from Dekkers, as the former Houston Gamblers teammates reconnected at the NFL level.
- Overall, Dekkers completed 8 of 15 passes for 69 yards in the Saints' preseason opener.
UFL TO NFL ENDZONES
Five former UFL players made their way to the end zone during Week 1 of the NFL preseason, scoring touchdowns for their respective teams.
- WR Marcus Alexander - Chicago Bears (Philadelphia Stars): Hauled in a 25-yard pass for the Bears' first touchdown of the preseason.
- WR Tarik Black - Detroit Lions (Louisville Kings): Caught a 24-yard touchdown pass in Detroit's preseason opener.
- WR Erik Ezukanma - Philadelphia Eagles (DC Defenders): Caught a 6-yard touchdown pass, accounting for Philadelphia's only score of the game.
- QB Austin Reed - Baltimore Ravens (Dallas Renegades): With his twin baby girls in attendance, Reed scored on a 14-yard scramble for a touchdown. He also completed both of his pass attempts for 14 yards.
- RB Ian Wheeler - Buffalo Bills (Louisville Kings): Picked up where he left off by reaching the end zone, scampering untouched for a 6-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
OTHER UFL PLAYERS MAKING AN IMPACT
Several other members of the 2026 UFL class also made their presence felt during the NFL’s Preseason Week 1:
- DE Keshawn Banks - Atlanta Falcons (Orlando Storm): Recorded two tackles and a quarterback hit in 24 defensive snaps.
- DT Travis Bell - Cleveland Browns (Louisville Kings): Recorded three tackles.
- DB Major Burns - Miami Dolphins (Houston Gamblers): Recorded five total tackles, second on Miami, including three solo tackles.
- WR Cam Camper - New York Jets (Orlando Storm): Led the Jets in receiving with two catches for 37 yards.
- DB Alex Cook - Los Angeles Rams (Birmingham Stallions): Recorded four tackles.
- DB Trey Dean III - Green Bay Packers (St. Louis Battlehawks): Recorded three tackles.
- WR Tay Martin - Detroit Lions (Columbus Aviators): Made a 14-yard sideline reception.
- DB D.J. Miller Jr. - Buffalo Bills (Columbus Aviators): Recorded two tackles.