11 former Kentucky Wildcats playing in NFL Playoffs
Jan 10, 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- You can catch 11 former Kentucky football players in the 2025 NFL Playoffs starting this weekend when nine UK products play on Super Wildcard Weekend.
The 11 players are out of the 18 that began the NFL season on an active 53-man roster.
Super Wildcat Weekend
Decade-long veteran linebacker Bud Dupree and the Los Angeles Chargers play Houston on CBS at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in the postseason curtain raiser.
Dupree finished the regular season with six sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.
Later in the day, Baltimore Ravens practice squad quarterback Devin Leary will be on the sidelines versus the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8 p.m. on Amazon Prime Video.
Running back Ray Davis, who has over 100 carries for over 400 yards in his rookie season, and the Buffalo Bills host practice squad player Keidron Smith and the Denver Broncos at 1 p.m. ET on CBS for Sunday’s first kickoff.
Defensive back Carrington Valentine’s Green Bay Packers face offensive lineman Darian Kinnard’s Philadelphia Eagles in the 4:30 p.m. slot on FOX the same day.
Valentine recorded two interceptions and forced fumbles in 2024 and Kinnard is looking for his third Super Bowl win in a row after lifting the Lombardi Trophy with Kansas City twice in the past two years.
Another former UK rusher is playing on Sunday.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. and the Washington Commanders travel to safety Mike Edwards’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Sunday Night Football.
“C Rod” rushed for over 170 yards and scored two touchdowns this season.
Edwards has seen action in five games for Tampa Bay after starting the year with the Bills. He won the Super Bowl last season with Kinnard at Kansas City and won the big game with the Bucs in 2021.
Monday Night Football features the Minnesota Vikings, who have offensive tackle Jeremy Flax on injured reserve and are playing the Los Angeles Rams in Glendale, Arizona.
Cats on the Lions
After a November trade from the Browns to the Lions, former UK linebacker Za’Darius Smith became teammates with fellow UK product defensive end Josh Paschal.
The former Cats won’t play until the second round as Detroit awaits the lowest remaining seed in the NFC since the Lions have a first round bye as the number one seed.
Smith is in his eleventh year as a pro and totaled nine sacks between Cleveland and Detroit this season.
Paschal is a third year player and and made 21 tackles in 14 games for Detroit this year.
The time for that Divisional round game is TBD, but it will be played on either January 18 or 19.
The Full List
Buffalo Bills
Ray Davis, RB (2023)
Denver Broncos
Practice Squad: Keidron Smith, DB (2022)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Edwards, S (2015-2018)
LA Chargers
Bud Dupree, OLB (2011-14)
Washington Commanders
Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB (2018-2022)
Philadelphia Eagles
Darian Kinnard, OT (2018-21)
Detroit Lions
Josh Paschal, DE (2017-21)
Za’Darius Smith, OLB (2013-14)
Green Bay Packers
Carrington Valentine, DB (2020-22)
Baltimore Ravens
Practice Squad: Devin Leary, QB (2023)
Minnesota Vikings
Reserve/Injured: Jeremy Flax, OL (2020-2023)
Categories: Featured, More Sports, Solid Blue, Sports
Tags: Football, Kentucky, NFL, Playoffs, Super Bowl, Wildcats