Eight Former Dukes Affiliated with NFL Teams to Open 2018 Season

HARRISONBURG, Va. – A total of eight for James Madison football student-athletes are part of National Football League teams for the 2018 season, including six on active rosters to tie for the FCS lead this fall.

JMU has five former Dukes on 53-man rosters to start the year, which begins Thursday, Sept. 6.

Earl Watford began training camp with the Chicago Bears and was picked up by the Cleveland Browns midway through training camp, where he begins his sixth season in the league as the backup right guard.

Josh Wells gets set for his fifth season in the NFL, all of which have been with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He's listed as the No. 2 left tackle to open the season.

Daniel Brown earned a main roster spot once again with the Bears, as he begins his third season in Chicago and his fourth season overall as a pro. The former leading receiver at JMU is one of four tight ends listed on Chicago's week one depth chart.

A pair of rookies, who were JMU All-Americans a season ago, went from undrafted last spring to earning a spot on 53-man rosters in Raven Greene and Aaron Stinnie. Greene is listed as a No. 3 safety with the Green Bay Packers, and Stinnie is the No. 3 left guard with the Tennessee Titans.

The veteran of the JMU group Arthur Moats, who is in his ninth year in the NFL, was injured during preseason and placed on injured reserve with the Arizona Cardinals. He had spent the previous four seasons with Pittsburgh and his first four years in Buffalo before signing with the Cards back in July.

Two other former Dukes earned practice squad spots in Rashard Davis (Philadelphia Eagles) and Dean Marlowe (Buffalo Bills).

Week one of the NFL season features a match-up of two former JMU players as Brown and the Bears travel to Lambeau Field to take on Greene and the Packers for Sunday Night Football. All three Sunday afternoon games that are televised locally in Harrisonburg also features a JMU player.

2018 NFL Dukes
Daniel Brown (2011-14) – Chicago Bears (TE – 53-man roster)
Rashard Davis (2013-16) – Philadelphia Eagles (WR/RET – practice squad)
Raven Greene (2013-17) – Green Bay Packers (S – 53-man roster)
Dean Marlowe (2010-14) – Buffalo Bills (S – practice squad)
Arthur Moats (2005-09) – Arizona Cardinals (DL – injured reserve)
Aaron Stinnie (2013-17) – Tennessee Titans (LG – 53-man roster)
Earl Watford (2008-12) – Cleveland Browns (RG – 53-man roster)
Josh Wells (2009-13) – Jacksonville Jaguars (LT – 53-man roster)

Week 1 Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 6
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (national)

Sunday, Sept. 9
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Giants – 1 p.m. on FOX (local in Harrisonburg)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – 1 p.m. on CBS (local in Harrisonburg)
Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins – 1 p.m. on FOX (regional)
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens – 1 p.m. on CBS (regional)
Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals – 4:25 p.m. on FOX (local in Harrisonburg)
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (national)

Calendar