University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols in the NFL: 11 VFLs on 2026 NFL Playoff Divisional Round Rosters
January 15, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The NFL Playoff Divisional Round has arrived, and 11 Tennessee VFLs are on rosters seeking to punch their tickets to conference championships.
Of the 11 on rosters, eight will be active this weekend. All four divisional round games will involve at least one active Volunteer on the field.
Saturday's opener at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS will see wide receiver Joshua Palmer's Buffalo Bills travel to take on top seed Denver.
The nightcap will feature the San Francisco 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks at 8 p.m. on FOX. Jauan Jennings helped lead the 49ers past the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, 23-19, in the wild card. Jennings, a former high school quarterback in Murfreesboro, showcased his passing skills once again, executing a double-reverse on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey in the fourth quarter. Â
The duo had previously connected for a touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVIII. Jennings became the first player in NFL history to record a perfect 158.3 passer rating in multiple playoff games for the same team. Jennings added a 45-yard catch in the winning effort against the Eagles.
Sunday's first game will feature four Vols, including two active players, when the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans at 3 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. Dobbs is the Patriots' backup quarterback, while Derek Barnett serves as a key defensive end for the Texans.
Four active VFLs will be on display for the 6:30 p.m. Sunday NBC tilt against the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears at a frigid Soldier Field with temperatures in the single digits. All-Pro Darnell Wright is the Bears' starting right tackle. Outside linebacker Byron Young and safety Jaylen McCollough each had a tackle in the Rams' wild card win at Carolina.
With multiple active players this weekend, Tennessee is guaranteed to have a former player in each of the conference championship contests played on Jan. 25.
VFLs on 2026 NFL Playoff Divisional Round Rosters (11 total, 8 active)
Derek Barnett, DE – Houston Texans
Joshua Dobbs, QB – New England Patriots
Jauan Jennings, WR – San Francisco 49ers
Jakob Johnson*, FB – Houston Texans
Velus Jones Jr.*, RB – Seattle Seahawks
Jaylen McCollough, S – Los Angeles Rams
Joshua Palmer, WR – Buffalo Bills
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB - Chicago BearsÂ
Darrell Taylor*, DE – New England Patriots
Darnell Wright, OT – Chicago Bears
Byron Young, OLB – Los Angeles Rams
^ - denotes injured reserve
* - denotes practice squad
Of the 11 on rosters, eight will be active this weekend. All four divisional round games will involve at least one active Volunteer on the field.
Saturday's opener at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS will see wide receiver Joshua Palmer's Buffalo Bills travel to take on top seed Denver.
The nightcap will feature the San Francisco 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks at 8 p.m. on FOX. Jauan Jennings helped lead the 49ers past the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, 23-19, in the wild card. Jennings, a former high school quarterback in Murfreesboro, showcased his passing skills once again, executing a double-reverse on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey in the fourth quarter. Â
The duo had previously connected for a touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVIII. Jennings became the first player in NFL history to record a perfect 158.3 passer rating in multiple playoff games for the same team. Jennings added a 45-yard catch in the winning effort against the Eagles.
Sunday's first game will feature four Vols, including two active players, when the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans at 3 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. Dobbs is the Patriots' backup quarterback, while Derek Barnett serves as a key defensive end for the Texans.
Four active VFLs will be on display for the 6:30 p.m. Sunday NBC tilt against the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears at a frigid Soldier Field with temperatures in the single digits. All-Pro Darnell Wright is the Bears' starting right tackle. Outside linebacker Byron Young and safety Jaylen McCollough each had a tackle in the Rams' wild card win at Carolina.
With multiple active players this weekend, Tennessee is guaranteed to have a former player in each of the conference championship contests played on Jan. 25.
VFLs on 2026 NFL Playoff Divisional Round Rosters (11 total, 8 active)
Derek Barnett, DE – Houston Texans
Joshua Dobbs, QB – New England Patriots
Jauan Jennings, WR – San Francisco 49ers
Jakob Johnson*, FB – Houston Texans
Velus Jones Jr.*, RB – Seattle Seahawks
Jaylen McCollough, S – Los Angeles Rams
Joshua Palmer, WR – Buffalo Bills
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB - Chicago BearsÂ
Darrell Taylor*, DE – New England Patriots
Darnell Wright, OT – Chicago Bears
Byron Young, OLB – Los Angeles Rams
^ - denotes injured reserve
* - denotes practice squad
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