The 2026 NFL season begins on Wednesday night, and a number of former Oklahoma Sooners made the initial 53-man rosters for their respective teams to begin the season. However, one player that went undrafted in this past April's draft beat the odds and made his team's practice squad to open up the year.
Former OU defensive lineman Damonic Williams has been signed to the practice squad for the Arizona Cardinals, after signing an undrafted free agent contract with the franchise this spring. Though not named to the 53-man roster for the Cards, it's still a big accomplishment for a player that didn't hear his name called at the draft.
Williams spent two seasons in Norman, starting as a run-stuffing defensive tackle on Brent Venables' defense. While
not the flashiest player with the most impressive stats, Williams was a sound, sturdy member of what the Sooners did up front on defense. Many undrafted players are simply done playing in the NFL after training camps end and the season begins, but Williams has managed to stick in the desert.
A handful of other former Sooners landed on practice squads after cut-down day as well. Former star OU defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo is on the 49ers' practice squad, where he joins Gracen Halton, Trent Williams, and Brayden Willis, who are all on San Francisco's active roster. Offensive lineman Wanya Morris is on the Cowboys, where he'll team up with CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Guyton in Dallas.
Defensive lineman Trace Ford is representing the Sooners with the New York Giants, and running back Jaydn Ott is on the practice squad for the Chiefs, joining a host of other former Sooners like R Mason Thomas, Creed Humphrey, James Winchester, and Ethan Downs in Kansas City.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Damonic Williams among former Sooners to make NFL practice squads
