Two former Alabama defensive tackles and a former Auburn linebacker are in line to make their 2025 season debuts in the NFL on Sunday.
On Saturday, the Carolina Panthers activated defensive tackle LaBryan Ray from injured reserve, the Buffalo Bills elevated defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis from their practice squad and the New Orleans Saints elevated linebacker Eku Leota from their practice squad.
Two running backs with Alabama football roots also were practice-squad elevations on Saturday. The elevation by the Indianapolis Colts makes Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) eligible to play in an 11th NFL season and the Los Angeles Chargers makes Kimani Vidal (Troy) eligible to play for the second week in a row.
Ray spent the first four games of the 2025 NFL season on injured reserve because of a sprained ankle. He returned to practice on Wednesday and, after rejoining the Panthers’ 53-man active roster, will be eligible to play on Sunday after the Miami Dolphins.
At James Clemens High School in Madison, Ray won the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 7A Lineman of the Year Award in 2015 and 2016.
Ray has played 33 games over the past two seasons for Carolina after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OURNFL PAGE
Each NFL team can elevate two players from its practice squad to active status for every game.
A former second-round draft pick of the Washington Commanders in 2022, Mathis is in his first season on Buffalo’s practice squad. Leota joined the Saints’ practice squad after being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers in August. Leota has played in 11 games for the Panthers and Steelers in the past two seasons.
The Bills play the New England Patriots on Sunday night. The Saints play the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.
Abdullah has played in 141 NFL regular-season games heading into the Colts’ Sunday contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Last season, Abdullah ran for 311 yards and two touchdowns on 66 carries, caught 40 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns and returned 26 kickoffs for a 20.3-yard average in his third season with the Raiders.
After running for 155 yards on 43 carries and catching five passes for 62 yards and one touchdown as a sixth-round rookie in 2024, Vidal started his second NFL season on the practice squad.
With running back Najee Harris going to season-ending injured reserve, Vidal played two offensive snaps and five special-teams plays in the Chargers’ 21-18 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. Los Angeles plays the Commanders on Sunday.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.