Pack Pros: Former NC State RB Nyheim Miller-Hines returns to NFL action with Chargers

It had been 935 days since his last appearance in an NFL game, but former NC State running back Nyheim Miller-Hines returned to the field with the Los Angeles Chargers this preseason.

The dynamic playmaker missed the past two seasons as he recovered from a leg injury sustained while he was involved in a jet ski incident during the 2023 offseason. It was a long road back to the NFL, which featured a stint with the Cleveland Browns a year ago, but he is finally 100 percent. 

Miller-Hines worked on his own for much of this offseason before the Chargers signed him to a two-year, $9 million deal to restart his playing career. 

The Garner, N.C., native logged posted eight carries for 34 yards with one reception that went four yards in the Chargers’ 34-7 win over the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31. He followed that performance up with four carries for 10 yards, including a 9-yard carry that featured his go-to shiftiness to make two defenders miss before picking up a first down, in the Chargers’ 27-13 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. 

Miller-Hines, however, also had two fumbles on a pair of punt returns, recovering one and losing the other.

While Miller-Hines returned to an NFL game for the first time in two years, he wasn’t the only Pack Pro in action this past weekend. Here’s a look at how all 27 of NC State’s NFL players fared in the first week of the league’s preseason games.

Pack Pros: NFL Preseason Week 1

OT Anthony Belton (played at NC State from 2021-2024), #71 Green Bay Packers: After being drafted in the second round with the 54th overall pick, Belton got his first taste of NFL action in the Packers’ 30-10 preseason loss to the New York Jets. The 6-foot-6, 336-pound tackle played 42 total snaps and didn’t allow a single quarterback pressure in 25 pass-blocking opportunities.

C Garrett Bradbury (2015-18), #65 New England Patriots: In his first plays as a Patriot after signing a two-year deal worth up to $12 million this offseason, Bradbury was on the field for just one drive — five total snaps — in the Patriots’ 48-18 win over the Washington Commanders. The former Minnesota Vikings standout didn’t allow a quarterback pressure in his two pass-blocking chances.

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), #7 Arizona Cardinals: Brissett, who signed a two-year, $12.5-million contract with the Cardinals after he spent last season with the New England Patriots, impressed in his first game-like action in Arizona. He helped the Cardinals to a 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs with a 5-for-8 passing performance for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Brissett also added a 10-yard carry in the victory.

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), #2 Miami Dolphins: Chubb did not record a tackle in the Dolphins’ 24-24 tie with the Chicago Bears.

P A.J. Cole III(2015-18), #6 Las Vegas Raiders: Cole logged two punts for 83 total yards in the Raiders’ 23-23 tie with the Seattle Seahawks. The specialist averaged 41.5 yards per attempt with one inside the 20-yard line and a long of 52 in the stalemate.

C Zeke Correll (2024), #63 Minnesota Vikings: Correll played 12 snaps in his first preseason game. He didn’t allow a quarterback pressure in his eight pass-blocking opportunities as the Vikings beat the Houston Texans 20-10. He left the game early with an injury, later diagnosed as a broken ankle.

DT Cory Durden (2021-22), #69 New York Giants: Durden logged one tackle in the Giants’ 34-25 win over the Buffalo Bills to start his preseason stint in New York. The defensive tackle spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams after entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions.

OT Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), #79 Carolina Panthers: Ekwonu played 14 total snaps in the Panthers’ 30-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He didn’t allow a quarterback pressure in four pass-blocking opportunities.

DL B.J. HillJr. (2014-17), #92 Cincinnati Bengals: Hill did not play in the Bengals’ 34-27 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

S Tanner Ingle (2018-22), #34 Los Angeles Rams: The hard-hitting defensive back logged three total tackles, including one solo stop, in the Rams’ 31-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Ingle had consistently run the preseason opener with 42 total snaps played, including 31 at free safety in the victory.

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), #93 Arizona Cardinals: Jones didn’t play in the Cardinals’ 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs as he recovered from a torn triceps sustained just three games into the 2024 season.

LB Vi Jones (2019-21), #53 Arizona Cardinals: Jones logged one tackle in the Cardinals’  20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The linebacker played 20 total snaps between action on defense (11), kick coverage (4), kick return (1), punt coverage (2) and punt return (2). 

RB Zonovan Knight (2019-21), #35 Arizona Cardinals: Knight was a key part of the Cardinals’ 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He rushed for a team-best 51 yards on just six attempts, averaging 8.5 yards per carry, with a long of 27 in the victory as he looks to earn his first full-time roster spot since he was on the Detroit Lions in 2023. 

OL Timothy McKay (2019-2024), #68 Washington Commanders: McKay did not play in the Commanders’ 48-18 loss to the New England Patriots as he recovers from a torn pec that he suffered at NC State’s pro day.

C Dylan McMahon (2019-23), #63 Los Angeles Rams: McMahon did not play in the Rams’ 31-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), #54 Detroit Lions: McNeill did not play in the Lions’ 17-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered on Dec. 15.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), #16 Las Vegas Raiders: Meyers did not log a catch in the aiders’ 23-23 tie with the Seattle Seahawks. He was targeted just once in the four total snaps he played in the preseason opener.

RB Nyheim Miller-Hines (2015-17), #31 Los Angeles Chargers: Miller-Hines logged four rushing attempts for 10 yards in the Chargers’ 27-13 win over the New Orleans Saints. He also had a pair of fumbles as a punt returner, one he recovered and one he lost.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), #52 Los Angeles Rams: Murchison logged 21 snaps played along the Rams’ defensive line in the team’s 31-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He did not record a tackle in the victory.

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), #57 Las Vegas Raiders: Pratt played nine total snaps in his first time putting on a Raiders’ uniform during the team’s 23-23 tie at the Seattle Seahawks. 

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), #75 Atlanta Falcons: Street logged one total tackle in the Falcons’ 17-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. The defensive lineman logged 21 total snaps played in the defeat.

WR Thayer Thomas (2017-22), #89 Minnesota Vikings: Thomas did not record a catch in the Vikings’ 20-10 win over the Houston Texans, though he was targeted once. The former NC State walk-on logged 19 total snaps played, including 15 on offense and four on special teams in the victory.

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), #42 Seattle Seahawks: Thomas recorded five total tackles, including two solo stops, in the Seahawks’ 23-23 tie against the Las Vegas Raiders as he looks to make Seattle’s active roster. 

OL Joe Thuney (2012-15), #62 Chicago Bears: Thuney did not play in the Bears’ 24-24 tie with the Miami Dolphins.

LB Payton Wilson (2018-23), #41 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson logged three total tackles, all solo stops, in the Steelers’ 31-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The standout linebacker was able to be productive in just 12 total snaps played in his first preseason game.

QB Russell Wilson (2007-09, finished at Wisconsin), #3 New York Giants: After signing a one-year, $10.5-million deal with the Giants this offseason — and being named the team’s Week 1 starter — Wilson made his New York preseason debut in a 34-25 win over the Buffalo Bills. He was 6-of-7 passing for 28 yards that led to a Giants’ field goal in his lone drive of the game.

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), #62 Carolina Panthers: Zavala did not play in the Panthers’ 30-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns.