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Saturday night NFL: Rookie from Alabama scores in debut with Bengals

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Saturday night NFL: Rookie from Alabama scores in debut with Bengals


Rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton opened his pro career with three receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 17-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL preseason game on Saturday night.

Burton joined Cincinnati from Alabama in the third round of the NFL Draft on April 26.

Burton caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Logan Woodside as the Bengals took a 14-10 lead with 3:33 to play.

Burton had a 38-yard reception on the Cincinnati offense’s next snap after Tampa Bay scored a touchdown with 57 seconds remaining. The reception put the Bengals at the Bucs 24-yard line with 41 seconds left, but Cincinnati was stopped on downs.

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In the NFL’s other preseason games on Saturday night:

· Tennessee linebacker Chance Campbell intercepted San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs at the Titans 1-yard line on the final snap of the game to preserve a 17-13 victory.

· Los Angeles gained only 198 yards, with the Chargers quarterbacks completing 14-of-32 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, in a 16-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

· No. 1 quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Trevor Lawrence of Jacksonville started the preseason opener, with Mahomes producing a field goal and Lawrence a touchdown to begin the Jaguars’ 26-13 victory over the Chiefs. Jacksonville produced 166 yards on four kickoff returns by four players.

· Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler answered Arizona’s touchdown with 1:55 to play by directing a drive that ended on Charlie Smyth’s 37-yard field goal with five seconds to play as the New Orleans Saints beat the Cardinals 16-14.

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During the NFL’s five Sunday night preseason games, 56 players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field:

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle and Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell talk after an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.(AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17, Cincinnati Bengals 14

· Buccaneers defensive lineman Marcus Banks (Alabama) made four tackles.

· Bengals safety Jordan Battle (Alabama) made five tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams.

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· Bengals defensive tackle Travis Bell (Jeff Davis) did not record any stats.

· Chris Braswell (Alabama) started at outside linebacker for the Buccaneers. Braswell made one tackle on special teams in his pro debut. He joined Tampa Bay in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 26.

· K.J. Britt (Oxford, Auburn) started at linebacker for the Buccaneers. Britt made one tackle.

· Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (Alabama) had three receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown in his pro debut. Burton caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Logan Woodside as the Bengals took a 14-10 lead with 3:33 to play.

· Buccaneers tight end Sal Cannella (Auburn) did not record any stats.

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· Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (Auburn) did not play.

· Bengals cornerback Allan George (Andalusia) did not record any stats.

· Buccaneers cornerback Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) intercepted a deep pass by Cincinnati quarterback Jake Browning at the Tampa Bay 15-yard line in the second quarter.

· Bengals wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover, Auburn) had a 3-yard reception.

· Bengals defensive tackle Cedric Johnson (Davidson) made four tackles, recorded one sack and registered two quarterback hits in his pro debut. Johnson joined Cincinnati in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on April 27. He also played against his brother on Saturday night. Cephus Johnson III is a wide receiver for Tampa Bay.

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· Buccaneers wide receiver Cephus Johnson III (Davidson, South Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Buccaneers guard Avery Jones (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) kicked two extra points, but his 58-yard field-goal attempt on the last snap of the first half went wide right.

· Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) started at cornerback for the Bengals. Taylor-Britt did not record any stats.

· Buccaneers running back D.J. Williams (Auburn) gained 29 yards on 10 rushing attempts and had a 6-yard reception in his pro debut. Williams signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones passes during an NFL preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones passes during an NFL preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.(AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Jacksonville Jaguars 26, Kansas City Chiefs 13

· Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (Auburn) ran for 28 yards on three carries, caught a pass that lost 1 yard and returned a kickoff 45 yards.

· Jaguars defensive end DJ Coleman (Jacksonville State) made two tackles and recorded two quarterback hits.

· Chiefs defensive end Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy) made one tackle.

· Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen did not record any stats.

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· Jaguars cornerback Mac Jones (Alabama) completed 9-of-11 passes for 98 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Jones played the second half, when the Jacksonville offense produced two field goals on three full possessions.

· Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) completed 7-of-10 passes for 85 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran twice for 10 yards. Oladokun played two possessions, with one ending with a touchdown.

· Cam Robinson (Alabama) started at left offensive tackle for the Jaguars.

· Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson (Alabama) did not play.

· Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City) had a 23-yard reception.

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· Chiefs tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama) had an 8-yard reception.

· Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (Lee-Montgomery, Auburn) made three tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

· Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney (Blount) did not play.

· Chiefs wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) caught two passes for 14 yards and returned a kickoff 32 yards.

· Jaguars offensive lineman Darryl Williams (Bessemer City) did not record any stats.

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· Jaguars wide receiver Seth Williams (Paul Bryant, Auburn) had two receptions for 15 yards.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis passes during an NFL preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis passes during an NFL preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.(AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans 17, San Francisco 49ers 13

· Forty-Niners defensive tackle Shakel Brown (Troy) made one tackle and broke up one pass.

· Titans defensive back Shyheim Carter (Alabama) made two tackles.

· Marlon Davidson (Greenville, Auburn) started at defensive tackle for the Titans. Davidson made three tackles.

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· Titans defensive back Eric Garror (McGill-Toolen) made two tackles.

· Chris Hubbard (UAB) started at left offensive tackle for the 49ers.

· J.C. Latham (Alabama) started at left offensive tackle for the Titans in his pro debut. Latham joined Tennessee as the seventh selection in the NFL Draft on April 25.

· Forty-Niners tight end Cameron Latu (Alabama) had two receptions for 12 yards. Latu is coming back from missing his rookie season after he sustained a knee injury in San Francisco’s preseason finale in 2023.

· Forty-Niners cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (South Alabama) did not play.

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· Roger McCreary (Williamson, Auburn) started at cornerback for the Titans. McCreary made one tackle.

· Calvin Ridley (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Titans. Ridley had a 22-yard reception.

· Titans offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons (Selma) did not record any stats.

· Titans quarterback Malik Willis (Auburn) completed 5-of-7 passes for 38 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran for 42 yards on four carries. Willis had a 28-yard run to set up a field goal.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff helps bring down Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Max Duggan during an NFL preseason game

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff helps bring down Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Max Duggan during an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Seattle Seahawks 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3

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· Chargers center Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) did not play.

· Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (Alabama) made one tackle in his pro debut. Eboigbe joined Los Angeles in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on April 27.

· A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) started at safety for the Chargers. Finley made six tackles and broke up one pass.

· Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (Auburn) tied for the team lead with five tackles and recorded one sack.

· Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snaps on eight punts and one field goal.

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· Seahawks cornerback Mike Jackson (Spain Park) did not play.

· Seahawks cornerback DJ James (Spanish Fort, Auburn) broke up a pass in his pro debut. James joined Seattle in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on April 27.

· Seahawks nose tackle Buddha Jones (Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Chargers offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood (Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Chargers linebacker Shane Lee (Alabama) made five tackles on defense, registered one tackle for loss and recorded one tackle on special teams in his pro debut. Lee signed with Los Angeles as an undrafted rookie.

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· Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson, Auburn) made two tackles in his pro debut. Pritchett joined Seattle in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on April 27.

· Jarran Reed (Alabama) started at nose tackle on the Seahawks. Reed made one tackle.

· Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 44.5 yards on eight punts, with a 43.1-yard net.

· Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) made one tackle and registered one quarterback hit in his pro debut. Sheriff signed with Seattle as an undrafted rookie.

· Chargers linebacker Kimani Vidal (Troy) did not play.

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Arizona Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V covers New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave during an NFL preseason game

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V covers New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave during an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New Orleans Saints 16, Arizona Cardinals 14

· Saints offensive tackle Chandler Brewer (Florence) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley, Alabama) started at cornerback for the Saints. McKinstry made three tackles and broke up one pass in his pro debut. McKinstry joined New Orleans in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 26.

· Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (UAB) had a 13-yard reception in his pro debut. Palmer joined Arizona in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on April 27.

· Owen Pappoe (Auburn) started at inside linebacker for the Cardinals. Pappoe made three tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams.

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· Saints linebacker Monty Rice (James Clemens) led New Orleans with seven tackles.

· Starling Thomas V (Ramsay, UAB) started at cornerback for the Cardinals. Thomas broke up one pass.

· Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama) did not play.

· Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery, Alabama) did not play.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

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





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Philadelphia 76ers select Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with 22nd pick in 2026 NBA draft

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Philadelphia 76ers select Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with 22nd pick in 2026 NBA draft


The Philadelphia 76ers selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday night.

Philon is the first pick of the Mike Gansey era after he replaced Daryl Morey as the team’s president of basketball operations.

Who is Labaron Philon Jr.?

Philon, 20, led the Crimson Tide in scoring last season, averaging 22.0 points on nearly 40% shooting on 3-pointers. He was the focal point of one of the nation’s most potent offenses, as Alabama led the country in points per game in the 2025-26 season. The Crimson Tide (No. 16) finished the season with a 25-10 record and went 13-5 against conference opponents.

Philon, who helped lead Alabama to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, earned Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors in his sophomore season.

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In 33 games last season for Alabama, Philon scored 725 total points, which is ranked third-most by a player in a single season in program history.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Labaron Philon Jr. after he is drafted twenty-second overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.

Arturo Holmes / Getty Images


Philon was the 34th-ranked basketball recruit in the country entering his freshman season at Alabama, according to 247sports. The four-star guard initially committed to playing at Auburn, but decommitted. He then signed a letter of intent to play at Kansas, but didn’t play there, either. He then committed to the Crimson Tide in April 2024.

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Philon impressed as a freshman at Alabama and averaged 10.6 points in 37 games. He declared for the 2025 NBA draft but then withdrew and returned for his sophomore season, where he saw his scoring average jump more than 10 points.

Philon is a Mobile, Alabama, native and played at Baker High School in Mobile County, where he scored 2,334 points in three seasons. He was named the Class 7A Player of the Year twice. 

As a junior, he averaged 35 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists and was named Alabama Mr. Basketball, which is given to the best high school boys’ basketball player in the state. Philon transferred to Link Academy, a boarding school in Missouri, for his senior year of high school.

Philon now joins a backcourt headlined by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe heading into the 2026-27 season. Quentin Grimes could return to Philadelphia next season and add even more depth, but he’s an unrestricted free agent.

The pick the Sixers used to pick Philon was acquired in the deal that sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline.

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Labaron Philon Jr. scouting report

CBS Sports had Philon ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the 2026 NBA draft.

Here are his strengths and weaknesses, according to CBS Sports:

Strengths

  • On-ball creator who made an extreme leap as a sophomore, ranking in the 99th percentile in isolations (was 24th percentile as a freshman) and 94th as a pick-and-roll handler (was 32nd percentile as a freshman). Combines smooth attack with sudden change of speed and direction, dexterity, and finishing craft in the lane.
  • Shot-maker who can make tough shots off both the catch (36% on contested catch-and-shoot 3-pointers), dribble (38% from deep), and has extreme gravity when he’s spacing the floor (46% on unguarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers).
  • Shown pliability to thrive in different roles over the years and is a similarly versatile creator, because he’s a scoring threat at multiple levels and also an accurate, and somewhat creative, passer with both hands off the dribble.

Weaknesses

  • Inconsistent defensive approach. Showed more engagement and potential as a freshman, but couldn’t maintain that as a sophomore when taking on a bigger offensive role.
  • Lacks overwhelming physicality or highest level explosiveness, and didn’t add any notable muscle mass between his freshman and sophomore seasons (175 pounds at 2025 combine and 176 at 2026 combine).
  • Unclear how well his creation scales to the NBA level when he will have less usage and volume coupled by more physicality in opposing defenders.



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Alabama hits home with plans for Tuscaloosa 2027 Edge on official visit

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Alabama hits home with plans for Tuscaloosa 2027 Edge on official visit




Alabama football hosted a hometown kid for an official visit last weekend when it got Jeremiah Beverley on campus for an official visit.

Beverley attends Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and ESPN currently has him rated as a four-star recruit. He is considering Alabama, Cincinnati, Wake Forest and others.

The Crimson Tide offered Beverley earlier this month and got him on campus for an official visit last weekend. The Alabama target told Touchdown Alabama he used the visit to learn what the Tide has planned for him if he commits.

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“I’m truly happy that I went on that official visit,” Beverley said. “Blessed for that. All I was talking about was the next step, what I got to do? So, just knowing what they have planned for me, knowing what they have set for me.”

At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Beverley makes plays for Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa as a defensive end. Alabama has plans to use him similarly at the next level.

“They’re going to have me at wolf mostly,” Beverley said. “I know coach (Kane) Wommack and coach (Christian) Robinson, I think they see me at other positions, but I know it is guaranteed they’re going to see me at Wolf and me working my way up on special teams, and they expect that out of me.”

Beverley is expected to announce a commitment decision on Friday.

Watch Jeremiah Beverley’s Highlights Below:

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Alabama hires former college offensive lineman as assistant tight ends coach

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Alabama hires former college offensive lineman as assistant tight ends coach




Alabama football is hiring Noah Fisher to be its assistant tight ends coach, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Fisher spent two seasons as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line and tight ends at Louisville before joining the Tide’s staff. He played three years on the offensive line at South Alabama and spent one season with Tulane. The Jaguars started Fisher along its offensive line when he was a player for multiple games.

The Crimson Tide appear to want to use their tight ends in multiple ways in the future including as extra blockers along the line of scrimmage. Fisher looks as if he can assist the Tide with this mission.

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