Friday NFL roundup: Former Alabama DB gets another INT

Two preseason games into his NFL career, seventh-round draft choice DeMarcco Hellams has two interceptions for the Atlanta Falcons.

In the Falcons’ 13-13 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night, Hellams picked off rookie quarterback Jake Browning. The former Alabama safety also had an interception in Atlanta’s 19-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in its preseason opener last week.

The Falcons’ Younghoe Koo kicked a 45-yard field goal with two seconds remaining against Cincinnati. The NFL does not play overtime in the preseason.

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In Friday night’s other preseason game, the New York Giants defeated the Carolina Panthers 21-19. Rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt had a 33-yard touchdown reception as New York built a 21-3 halftime lead. Carolina scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the Panthers failed on a 2-point pass after the first one.

Hellams’ interception last week came in the end zone off Miami quarterback Mike White to stop the Dolphins’ first possession.

On Friday night, Hellams’ interception came with 5:35 to play and the Falcons holding a 10-6 lead. Hellams had a 5-yard return to the Cincinnati 37-yard line.

Atlanta didn’t take advantage of the turnover. The Falcons didn’t score or run out the clock, but they did choose to punt from the Bengals 39-yard line after a third-down sack. Cincinnati regained possession with 3:15 to play and scored a touchdown with 56 seconds remaining.

After leading Atlanta with seven tackles in the preseason opener, Hellams finished second on the team on Friday night with five. He also had another pass breakup against the Bengals.

In addition to Hellams, 26 players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during Friday night’s NFL preseason games:

New York Giants 21, Carolina Panthers 19

· Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) started at center for the Panthers.

· Panthers guard Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (Auburn) did not play.

· Panthers running back Spencer Brown (Mortimer Jordan, UAB) ran for 26 yards on 10 carries and caught a 7-yard pass.

· Giants offensive tackle Korey Cunningham (Montevallo) did not record any stats.

· Panthers defensive back Collin Duncan (St. James) did not play. Duncan signed with Carolina on Wednesday.

· Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) made three tackles.

· Giants cornerback Zyon Gilbert (Jeff Davis) made one tackle, registered a quarterback hit and broke up a pass.

· Giants center J.C. Hassenauer (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Panthers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn) made three tackles.

· Giants safety Bobby McCain (Oxford) made one tackle.

· Xavier McKinney (Alabama) started at free safety for the Giants. McKinney made one tackle.

· Evan Neal (Alabama) started at right offensive tackle for the Giants.

· Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) did not play.

· Panthers running back Camerun Peoples (Clay-Central) did not record any stats.

· Panthers defensive tackle LaBryan Ray (James Clemens, Alabama) recorded one sack.

· Giants cornerback Aaron Robinson (Alabama) did not play.

· Giants defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama) did not play.

· Darius Slayton (Auburn) started at wide receiver for the Giants.

· Panthers defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (Murphy) recorded two tackles for loss.

· Panthers safety Josh Thomas (Montgomery Academy) did not record any stats.

· Panthers linebacker Chandler Wooten (Auburn) made one tackle.

· Bryce Young (Alabama) started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 3-of-6 passes for 35 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran once for 1 yard.

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Cincinnati Bengals 13, Atlanta Falcons 13

· Bengals safety Jordan Battle (Alabama) made two tackles.

· Falcons wide receiver Slade Bolden (Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Falcons inside linebacker Tae Davis (Oxford) made one tackle.

· Bengals cornerback Allan George (Andalusia) made one tackle.

· Bengals wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover, Auburn) caught four passes for 42 yards.

· Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) made his three attempts, connecting on field goals of 50 and 31 yards as well as an extra point. McPherson made the 50-yarder as time ran out in the first half to tie the game at 3-3.

· Bengals linebacker Jaylen Moody (Alabama) did not play.

· Bengals linebacker Tyler Murray (Troy) made two tackles.

· Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama) did not play.

· Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) started at cornerback for the Bengals. Taylor-Britt made three tackles.

· Jonah Williams (Alabama) started at right offensive tackle for the Bengals. Williams got his first game action since he suffered a dislocated kneecap in a 24-17 playoff victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 15. Williams underwent medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, an operation needed to attach the inside part of the kneecap to the femur. When Williams got hurt, he was Cincinnati’s left tackle. In the offseason, the Bengals signed four-time Pro Bowler Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency to play that position.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.