State players make cut
Kingswood-Oxford’s Wright catches on with Washington as familiar names survive
Isaiah Wright, from Waterbury and Kingswood-Oxford, made the Washington football team’s roster on Saturday, the beginning of an NFL career.
Wright, 6 feet 2 and 220, played four years at K-O, then starred at Temple for four seasons as a receiver and kick returner, returning a kickoff for a TD against UConn in 2018. He signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent, and beat the odds to make the 53-man roster when final cuts were made Saturday at 4 p.m. His versatility is considered a key to his winning a spot.
The state players who were drafted back in April stuck with their teams.
UConn’s Matt Peart, massive offensive tackle taken in the third round by the Giants, had an impressive camp and is learning multiple positions. Another lineman, Jack Driscoll of Hand-Madison, made the Eagles final roster. He was a fourth-round pick. New London’s A.J. Dillon, who had a prolific career as running back at Boston College, won a spot in the Packers’ backfield. Green Bay drafted him in the second round.
Tyler Davis, tight end at UConn who finished his college career at Georgia Tech, stuck with the Jaguars, who picked him in the sixth round.
New Canaan’s Lucas Niang, a thirdround pick by the Chiefs, was the first rookie to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He made that call at the start of training camp.
The NFL season begins Thursday with the defending champion Chiefs vs. Houston.
Veterans hold jobs
Former Xavier-Middletown and UConn quarterback Tim Boyle held on to his spot with the Packers, where he backs up Aaron Rodgers. Boyle, entering his third season, played in three games for Green Bay in 2019.
A number of other players with state ties held their spots on NFL rosters, including Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Jones from New Britain and UConn, who signed an $82.5 million contract as a free agent, and Pro Bowl fullback Anthony Sherman, who helped the Chiefs win the Super Bowl last season. Sherman, also from UConn, is beginning his 10th season in the NFL.
Other former Huskies on NFL rosters as the 2020 season begins are safety Andrew Adams (Buccaneers), defensive lineman Shamar Stephen (Vikings), defensive back Blidi Wreh-Wilson (Falcons), defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi and tight end Ryan Griffin, both with the Jets.
State players sticking on NFL rosters included New London’s Jordan Reed, veteran tight end/slot receiver, now with the 49ers, linebacker Austin Calitro from Danbury High, who was traded to Denver this week, linebacker Tyler Matakevich, from Stratford and St. Joseph-Trumbull, remains with the Bills, Bloomfield’s Julian Stanford, linebacker, made the Panthers roster, Nowalk’s Kevin Pierre-Louis made Washington’s roster at linebacker and Yale’s Jaeden Graham, tight end, is with the Falcons.
Dolegala cut
Quarterback Jake Dolegala from Central Connecticut, who spent last season on the Bengals roster, was cut on Saturday. Cincinnati drafted Joe Burrow, and at this point has only two quarterbacks, Burrow and Ryan Finley.
Other state players cut Saturday, or earlier include edge rusher Tuzar Skipper, from Meriden and Norwich, by the Steelers. Skipper played briefly with the Giants and Steelers last season. The Bears released former Yale offensive lineman Dieter Eiselen, who had signed as an undrafted free agent. The Lions released former UConn wide receiver Geremy Davis last week. Christian Montano, a center from Orange, was cut earlier by the Steelers. All are candidates to be signed to practice squads beginning Sunday.