Everyone loves a good revenge game. Whether there’s bad blood between a player and a former team, or a beloved former franchise player returning home. I take a look at all that and any other player connections in this weekend’s wildcard matchups.
Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Texans
Bills CB Kevin Johnson – Johnson entered the league as the 16th overall pick in 2015 by way of the Texans. He spent four injury-riddled seasons seasons in Houston, playing in just 19 games from 2016 to 2018, before being cut this past March before being signed by the Bills.
Texans RB Taiwan Jones – Jones spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons with the Bills, playing in just 14 games in two seasons due to injury and was primarily used on special teams. He then signed with the Texans this offseason as a special teamer. Originally entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Raiders back in 2011 and spent six seasons in Oakland.
Texans QB A.J. McCarron – spent the 2018 offseason with the Bills before being traded to the Raiders before the season. He spent the season there as a backup before signing with the Texans this offseason. Spent his first four seasons with the Bengals after entering the league as a fifth-round pick.
Texans LB Tyrell Adams – spent a day with the Bills after being claimed off waivers, but was cut due to a failed physical. He is in his second stint with Houston after being signed off the 49ers practice squad on December 2018, his first stint came in October after signing with their practice squad and spending time on the active roster, before being released at the end of the month. Spent time with the Seahawks, Chiefs, Raiders, Colts, and 49ers after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2015.
Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots
Titans CB Logan Ryan – spent four seasons in New England after entering the league as a third-round pick in 2013. He signed with the Titans in 2017 and has started every game he’s played in and has been one of the best nickel corners in the league.
Patriots CB Jason McCourty – spent eight seasons in Tennessee after entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2009. After being released in April 2017, he was signed by the Browns for the 2017 season, and later traded to the Patriots in the 2018 offseason.
Titans RB Dion Lewis – spent three seasons in New England after signing a futures contract with them after the 2014 season. He then signed with the Titans in 2018. Originally entered as a fifth-round pick of the Eagles in 2011 and also spent time with the Browns and Colts.
Titans WR – Cody Hollister – entered the league as a Patriots UDFA in 2017 along with his twin brother Jacob. He spent his first season on the practice squad and his second on reserves due to a back injury. He signed with the Titans this offseason and has spent time on the practice squad and active roster.
Titans G Jamil Douglas – spent most of the 2016 season on the Patriots practice squad and the entire 2017 offseason before being released before the season. He spent time with the Falcons and Colts before being signed to the Titans practice squad in October 2018. Entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Dolphins in 2015.
Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints
Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater – spent four seasons with the Vikings as a first round pick in 2014. He suffered a gruesome ACL injury before the 2016 season and missed most of the next two seasons. He then signed with the Jets in the 2018 offseason before being traded to the Saints before the season. He started five games this season in place of the injured Drew Brees and went 5-0.
Saints FB Zach Line – spent four seasons with the Vikings after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He signed with the Saints before the 2017 season.
Saints G Nick Easton – spent four seasons (2015-2018) with the Vikings as a starter and backup after entering the league as a Ravens UDFA in 2015. He signed with the Saints this offseason to be their starting center, but was relegated to a backup after the team drafted Erik McCoy.
Vikings CB/RS Marcus Sherels – spent the 2019 offseason with the Saints before being released before the season. He is currently in his third stint in Minnesota after re-signing yesterday, and spent a month in Miami after his second stint, which lasted a month earlier in the year. His first stint lasted nine seasons after entering the league as a UDFA in 2010.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks LB Mychal Kendricks – spent six seasons with the Eagles after entering the league as a second-round pick in 2012. After being released in May 2018, he signed with the Browns, but was released before the season after being charged with insider trading. He then signed with the Seahawks in September and has been a starter since, despite an eight-game suspension in 2018.
Seahawks S Ryan Neal – entered the league as an Eagles UDFA in 2018, but was cut before the season. Spent time with the Falcons before signing with the Seahawks practice squad in September before being promoted in December.
Eagles LB Alex Singleton – entered the league as a Seahawks UDFA in 2015, but was cut before the season. He spent time with the Patriots and Vikings practice squads in 2015 before being drafted by the CFL in 2016, and spent three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. He then signed with the Eagles this offseason.
Football Nerds 