With preseason action kicking off around the NFL last weekend, some former Blue Devils got their first taste of professional football. Three Duke rookies made their NFL debuts last week while other Blue Devil alumni saw the field for the first time in the 2013 season.
Here's a look at how Duke's NFL alums fared in the NFL's first week of preseason football:
The Blue Devils' lone NFL draft pick in 2013, Sean Renfree, threw his first NFL passes in the fourth quarter of a 34-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. After watching Matt Ryan and Dominique Davis run the Falcons' offense for the first three quarters of the game, Renfree entered for the team's lone drive in the final period, completing 2-of-4 passes for 20 yards. Renfree led his team into Bengals' territory, but his only drive of the evening stalled thanks to a penalty and a dropped pass. Competing with Renfree for the No. 2 quarterback job in Atlanta, Davis completed just 8-of-19 passes for 78 yards, throwing one touchdown and an interception.
On the opposite sideline for Renfree's first NFL game was Duke alum Vinny Rey. The linebacker was slated to square off with Renfree as a member of Cincinnati's second-team defense but missed the game after injuring his knee during practice.
After bouncing on and off the practice squad last season, Cooper Helfet is getting a second shot with the Seattle Seahawks, entering training camp as the team's third-string tight end. In the third quarter of the Seahawks' 31-10 victory against the San Diego Chargers, quarterback Brady Quinn found Helfet for a 23-yard completion on his lone target of the day.
Former Duke wide receiver Conner Vernon was also only thrown to once during his first preseason game, but was able to reel in a 7-yard reception from Oakland Raiders' quarterback Tyler Wilson in the fourth quarter of a 19-17 win against the Dallas. Suiting up for the Cowboys on the opposing sideline was Vernon's former Duke teammate and fellow rookie Jackson Anderson, who is trying to make it in Dallas as the team's new long snapper.
And after being claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions this spring, former Blue Devil signal-caller Thad Lewis got his first chance to call the shots with his new team. Lewis ran out the clock for the Lions in a 26-17 victory against the New York Jets. He did not attempt a pass on the game's final drive, but after handing the ball off on first and second down was able to scamper for eight yards on third down to convert and seal the game for his team.
Stay tuned to The Blue Zone throughout the preseason as we keep you updated on the efforts of former Duke players to solidify their spot on NFL rosters.
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