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Who's That Guy?
7 OF 10
Mike Roemer/Associated Press
Ever see a name at the top of a preseason stat sheet and think: Who the heck is that guy? Maybe he's a fantasy super-sleeper. Maybe he just ran for 60 yards in the fourth quarter after the opponent's defensive coordinator fell asleep. Maybe he's a little of both.
Leave it to Digest to scour the stats and the bottoms of depth charts to tell you what you need to know about this weekend's random heroes.
Mike Boone, running back, Vikings (13 carries for 91 yards and one TD vs. the Jaguars)
Who's that guy? An undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati, Boone is locked in a bottom-of-the-roster battle with fellow undrafted rookie Roc Thomas and journeyman Mack Brown. Thomas caught 78- and 13-yard touchdown passes in the preseason opener, so cuts are going to be tough. An impressive afternoon against the deep Jaguars defense (when the rest of the Vikings offense looked like it was just there to provide Jalen Ramsey with ammunition) could make Boone a priority roster pickup if he's cut.
Reggie Gilbert, edge-rusher, Packers (2.5 sacks vs. the Steelers)
Who's that guy? A perennial Packers training camp superstar who recorded two sacks in the 2017 preseason and 1.5 in the 2016 preseason. Gilbert has slowly worked his way up from the practice squad to the active roster and looks ready to be part of the pass-rush rotation this year after strong games against the Steelers and Titans and standout performances in scrimmages. Gilbert is versatile enough to slide around as a third pass-rusher, and coordinator Mike Pettine is creative enough to find spots for him.
Marcus Murphy, running back, Bills (74 preseason rushing yards, one TD, 39-yard punt return vs. the Browns)
Who's that guy? A 2015 seventh-round pick who returned punts for the Saints as a rookie, bounced around some practice squads and resurfaced to get some carries for the Bills late last year. Murphy ran for a touchdown in the preseason opener and couldn't quite reach the pylon for a second touchdown last week. He's behind other Saints castoffs (Chris Ivory, Travaris Cadet) in the battle to back up LeSean McCoy. But Murphy has both versatility and the Bills' preference for gutsy try-hards on his side.
Ifeadi Odenigbo, defensive line, Vikings (two sacks vs. the Jaguars)
Who's that guy? The Vikings drafted Odenigbo in the seventh round last year and stashed him on the practice squad as they transitioned him from the edge to defensive tackle. Coaches asked him to move back to end Saturday because of an injury rash, and he responded with a pair of sacks. "I think this might've been a sign from God saying, 'You can do more,'" Odenigbo told Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Was the Lord really watching the second half of Vikings-Jaguars? Well, he surely forsook Raiders-Rams.
Detrez Newsome, running back, Chargers (19 carries for 78 yards, three catches for 22 yards against the Seahawks)
Who's that guy? Newsome is an undrafted rookie from Western Carolina, the most obscure of the directional Carolinas. The Chargers played Melvin Gordon but rested Austin Ekeler and Gordon's other regular backups in a clever attempt to confuse the Angry Aztec Injury Diety who haunts them. Newsome won't make this roster but could make some other one.
Chris Warren, running back, Raiders (31 carries for 196 yards and one TD in the preseason)
Who's that guy? Are we sure Jon Gruden knows this is the burly, plodding, one-dimensional son of the former Seahawks workhorse and not the actual former Seahawks workhorse? It's important for us to be certain that Gruden knows this.
7 OF 10
Mike Roemer/Associated Press
Ever see a name at the top of a preseason stat sheet and think: Who the heck is that guy? Maybe he's a fantasy super-sleeper. Maybe he just ran for 60 yards in the fourth quarter after the opponent's defensive coordinator fell asleep. Maybe he's a little of both.
Leave it to Digest to scour the stats and the bottoms of depth charts to tell you what you need to know about this weekend's random heroes.
Mike Boone, running back, Vikings (13 carries for 91 yards and one TD vs. the Jaguars)
Who's that guy? An undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati, Boone is locked in a bottom-of-the-roster battle with fellow undrafted rookie Roc Thomas and journeyman Mack Brown. Thomas caught 78- and 13-yard touchdown passes in the preseason opener, so cuts are going to be tough. An impressive afternoon against the deep Jaguars defense (when the rest of the Vikings offense looked like it was just there to provide Jalen Ramsey with ammunition) could make Boone a priority roster pickup if he's cut.
Reggie Gilbert, edge-rusher, Packers (2.5 sacks vs. the Steelers)
Who's that guy? A perennial Packers training camp superstar who recorded two sacks in the 2017 preseason and 1.5 in the 2016 preseason. Gilbert has slowly worked his way up from the practice squad to the active roster and looks ready to be part of the pass-rush rotation this year after strong games against the Steelers and Titans and standout performances in scrimmages. Gilbert is versatile enough to slide around as a third pass-rusher, and coordinator Mike Pettine is creative enough to find spots for him.
Marcus Murphy, running back, Bills (74 preseason rushing yards, one TD, 39-yard punt return vs. the Browns)
Who's that guy? A 2015 seventh-round pick who returned punts for the Saints as a rookie, bounced around some practice squads and resurfaced to get some carries for the Bills late last year. Murphy ran for a touchdown in the preseason opener and couldn't quite reach the pylon for a second touchdown last week. He's behind other Saints castoffs (Chris Ivory, Travaris Cadet) in the battle to back up LeSean McCoy. But Murphy has both versatility and the Bills' preference for gutsy try-hards on his side.
Ifeadi Odenigbo, defensive line, Vikings (two sacks vs. the Jaguars)
Who's that guy? The Vikings drafted Odenigbo in the seventh round last year and stashed him on the practice squad as they transitioned him from the edge to defensive tackle. Coaches asked him to move back to end Saturday because of an injury rash, and he responded with a pair of sacks. "I think this might've been a sign from God saying, 'You can do more,'" Odenigbo told Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Was the Lord really watching the second half of Vikings-Jaguars? Well, he surely forsook Raiders-Rams.
Detrez Newsome, running back, Chargers (19 carries for 78 yards, three catches for 22 yards against the Seahawks)
Who's that guy? Newsome is an undrafted rookie from Western Carolina, the most obscure of the directional Carolinas. The Chargers played Melvin Gordon but rested Austin Ekeler and Gordon's other regular backups in a clever attempt to confuse the Angry Aztec Injury Diety who haunts them. Newsome won't make this roster but could make some other one.
Chris Warren, running back, Raiders (31 carries for 196 yards and one TD in the preseason)
Who's that guy? Are we sure Jon Gruden knows this is the burly, plodding, one-dimensional son of the former Seahawks workhorse and not the actual former Seahawks workhorse? It's important for us to be certain that Gruden knows this.