14 Former Buffs Set To Start Their NFL Seasons This Week

The 2019 NFL season kicks off tonight for a trio of former Buffs players, with plenty more due to start their respective seasons on Sunday and Monday night. Overall, the Buffs have 14 players currently signed to an NFL roster.

Green Bay Packers

David Bakhtiari (OT #69) will start his seventh season with the Packers after earning first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press in 2018, the first Packers offensive tackle with that distinction in 50 years. Bakhtiari has started all 90 of the regular season games he has ever appeared in and last year he helped the Packers earn the second-highest spot in the NFL in the yards per carry category (5.01).

Mason Crosby (K #2) is entering his 13th NFL season with the Packers and currently sits alone as their all-time leading scorer with 1,469 points, which makes him one of six players in NFL history to lead both a professional franchise and a college team in career scoring. Crosby has not missed a contest in his 13-year career and has played in 192 regular season games in a row, making him second to only Brett Favre (255) in the Packers organization. Additionally, Crosby is the all-time leader in Packers history in three categories: field goals (307), 50-yard field goals (34), and extra points (548). He has made at least one 50-yard field goal in every season since he was drafted in 2007.

Kabion Ento (CB #48) was signed to the Packers practice squad on Sept 1, 2019, and has since switched to playing cornerback, his first time playing the position since his days at Dollarway High School in Pine Bluff, Ark.

The Packers kick off their season tonight at 6:20 MT against the Chicago Bears on NBC.

Denver Broncos

Phillip Lindsay (RB #30) begins his second season with the Broncos after taking the league by storm in 2018, where he posted 1,037 yards on 192 carries, adding nine touchdowns in the process. Additionally, he caught 34 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown. Lindsay was the first undrafted offensive rookie in NFL history to be selected to the Pro Bowl and his 1,037 rushing yards rank first overall in Broncos history and second overall in the NFL for an undrafted rookie.

Juwan Winfree (WR #15) was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft and is expected to compete for playing time behind Courtland Sutton. In five preseason games, Winfree recorded seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.

The Broncos will head to Oakland, Calif. to take on the Raiders on Monday night at 8:10 MT on ESPN.

New York Giants

Nate Solder (OT #76) will begin his ninth NFL season and second with the New York Giants. Last year, Solder signed a 4-year/$62 million contract, which stands as the second-highest deal in NFL history for an offensive lineman. Solder has started 111 of his 114 career NFL games and was responsible for protecting Tom Brady in two Super Bowl victories during his time in New England (49 & 51).

The Giants start their season this Sunday where they'll take on the Dallas Cowboys at 2:25 p.m. MT on FOX.

Washington Redskins

Paul Richardson (WR #10) will begin his sixth season in the NFL and second with the Redskins. In his career, he's tallied 115 receptions for 1,564 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2018, he recorded 20 receptions for 262 yards and two touchdowns but was placed on the injured reserve after only seven games due to a shoulder injury he had been battling for most of the season.

The Redskins open up against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday at 11 a.m. MT on FOX.

Baltimore Ravens

Jimmy Smith (CB #22) is entering his ninth season with the Ravens, where he played a key part in winning the 2012 Super Bowl. In his career, he's recorded 291 tackles (250 solo), 64 pass deflections, 13 interceptions (two returned for a touchdown) and two forced fumbles.

The Ravens start their season off in Miami where they'll face the Dolphins at 11 a.m. MT on CBS.

Dallas Cowboys

Chidobe Awuzie (CB #24) enters his third season with the Dallas Cowboys after being drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. Over his first two seasons, he's recorded 71 total tackles and two interceptions.

The Cowboys host the New York Giants this Sunday at 2:25 p.m. MT on FOX.

New Orleans Saints

Ken Crawley (CB #20) enters his fourth season with the Saints after originally signing a three-year deal in 2016 as an undrafted free agent. In his career (38 games), he has recorded 128 tackles and 31 passes defended.

The Saints start their season on Monday night when they host the Houston Texans at 5:10 MT on ESPN.

San Francisco 49ers

Ahkello Witherspoon (CB #23) is entering his third season after being drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has played in 26 games (21 starts) in his career, recording 69 tackles with two interceptions and 11 passes defended.

The 49ers head to Tampa Bay where they'll take on the Buccaneers on Sunday at 2:25 p.m. MT on FOX.

Seattle Seahawks

Tedric Thompson (S #33) enters his third season with the Seahawks after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. In his career, he has recorded 49 tackles (41 solo) with three passes defended and an interception.

The Seahawks will host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. MT on FOX.

Atlanta Falcons

Isaiah Oliver (CB #20) begins his second NFL season with the Falcons after being drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. During his rookie season, he recorded 19 tackles (16 solo), seven passes defended, four special teams tackles, and one interception.

The Falcons visit the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday where they'll kick off at 11 a.m. MT on FOX.

Cincinnati Bengals

Josh Tupou (DT #91) is entering his third NFL season after originally signing with the Bengals practice squad as an undrafted free agent in 2017. In six career games, he has recorded nine total tackles.

The Bengals head to Seattle this Sunday to take on the Seahawks at 2:05 p.m. MT on FOX.

Detroit Lions

According to the Houston Chronicle, Javier Edwards (DT) has been working out for the Lions and is under serious consideration for a roster spot. Edwards graduated from CU in 2019 where he recorded 36 tackles (19 solo), three tackles for loss, and one and a half sacks during the 2018 season.