Owls in the NFL: 2023

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The 2023 NFL season has arrived, and many former Florida Atlantic University football players are set to take the field. Currently, eight former Owls are represented on an NFL team, seven of them on a 53-man roster. Here is a preview of each player's upcoming season (All gametimes listed below are Eastern):

Active Owls (7)
#2 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | Tennessee Titans
- It was an impressive four seasons in San Francisco for Al-Shaair, who despite going undrafted in 2019, worked his way up to become a key rotational linebacker for the 49ers. His most recent season saw him starting nine games and making 44 tackles. Now, he enters 2023 as an everyday starter for the Tennessee Titans.
First Game: at New Orleans – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)

#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Bryant enters year four with Cleveland and remains a key rotational piece in the team's tight end room. 2022 saw him record a career-high 31 receptions for 239 yards and a touchdown.
First Game: vs. Cincinnati (and Hendrickson) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)

#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | Cincinnati Bengals
- Hendrickson continued to be one of the best edge rushers in the game during the 2022 season. Every week, he wrecked opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks, adding eight sacks to his 24 quarterback hits. His elite play with the Bengals was recently rewarded with a one-year, $21 million contract extension through 2025
First Game: at Cleveland (and Bryant) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)

#1 Greg Joseph | K | Minnesota Vikings
- Joseph's leg reached new heights in 2022, converting a career-long field goal multiple times throughout the season. His most notable moment was his game-winning 61-yarder as time expired in Week 16. He was also the beneficiary of an elite Minnesota offense, allowing him to make a career-high 40 extra points.
First Game: vs. Tampa Bay (and Walton) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)

#42 James Pierre | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre continued to be a special teams ace for Pittsburgh in 2022, but also saw select time on defense, making two starts. In total, he recorded 29 tackles and four pass deflections.
First Game: vs. San Francisco – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Houston Texans
- "Motor" enters 2023 bearing a new jersey. After four seasons as the starting running back for the Buffalo Bills, Singletary signed a one-year deal with Houston in the offseason. In 2022, he rushed for 819 yards for five touchdowns.
First Game: at N.Y. Jets – Monday, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)

#73 Brandon Walton | OT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- After two years on the practice squad, Walton earned a spot on the 53-man roster for the entirety of the 2022 season. He even made two starts protecting the blindside of Tom Brady. Walton returns in '23 as the Tampa Bay's top swing tackle.
First Game: at Minnesota (and Joseph) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Practice Squad (1)
#80 Zaire Mitchell-Paden | TE | Cleveland Browns

Check fausports.com each Thursday to see how each Owl did the previous week along with a preview of their respective team's next game.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Football versus UAB on October 11, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football at South Florida on October 18, 2025 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football at Navy on October 25, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football versus Tulsa on November 8, 2025 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football at Tulane on November 15, 2025 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football versus Connecticut on November 22, 2025 at TBA

Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Owls in the NFL: 2023

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