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Sun Devils in the NFL: Strong may finally see the field this week

Your update on how former Sun Devil players are doing in the NFL.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jaelen Strong is in line to potentially make his NFL debut

After slipping to the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Strong has yet to see the field this season for the Houston Texans.

Strong has had his shape critiqued (which he announced he corrected soon after) and his practice habits publicly critiqued by head coach Bill O'Brien. He struggled throughout the preseason too, and as a result found himself being outperformed by and now sitting behind the likes of Houston's fifth-round selection Keith Mumphrey on the depth chart. It's led to him missing each of the Texans' games to this point, namely as a healthy-inactive scratch in three of them.

However, with receivers Nate Washington (hamstring) and Cecil Shorts (shoulder) both possibly being held out of Thursday night's contest against the Indianapolis Colts, Strong may finally not only be active, but even see playing time for the first time in his career.

Still, nothing is guaranteed. The Texans have considered signing a veteran receiver, or simply expanding Mumphrey's role in the short term.

But, there's a good chance we do see Strong hit the field, especially considering O'Brien praised Strong for a good week of practice last week amidst steady improvement. Of course, we'll just have to wait and see.

Rookies

Name/Position/Number Team Selected Standing This Week's Statistics
Damarious Randall, CB - No. 23 Green Bay Packers Rd 1, Pick 30 Second-team left cornerback 4 tackles (3 solo), 1 pass defended in 17-3 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Jaelen Strong, WR - No. 11 Houston Texans Rd 3, Pick 70 Second-team wide receiver No. 2 Inactive
Jamil Douglas, OG - No. 75 Miami Dolphins Rd 4, Pick 114 Starting right guard N/A in 27-14 loss vs. New York Jets
Marcus Hardison, DT - No. 91 Cincinnati Bengals Rd 4, Pick 135 Third-team right defensive tackle Inactive

Other Alumni on Active Rosters

Name/Position/No. Team Years at ASU Standing This Week's Statistics
Lawrence Guy, DE - No. 67 Baltimore Ravens 2008-10 Second-team defensive end 2 solo tackles
Will Sutton, DT - No. 93 Chicago Bears 2009-13 Second-team defensive end N/A
Davon Coleman, DT - No. 60 Dallas Cowboys 2011-13 Third-team defensive tackle N/A
Brock Osweiler, QB - No. 17 Denver Broncos 2009-11 Second-string quarterback N/A
Omar Bolden, S - No. 31 Denver Broncos 2007-10 (missed 2011) Second-team free safety N/A
Rashad Ross, WR - No. 19 Washington 2011-12 Third-team wide receiver, No. 1 kick returner, No. 3 punt returner 1 rec, 43 yards, 3 targets
Shawn Lauvao, LG - No. 77 Washington 2005-09 Starting left guard N/A

Alumni Placed on Injured Reserve/PUP List

Baltimore Ravens: Terrell Suggs, LB - No. 55 (was at ASU from 2000-02): suffered torn Achilles injury in opening game of the season. Out for year.

Cincinnati BengalsVontaze Burfict, LB - No. 55 (2009-11): began year on reserve/physically-unable-to-play list.

Denver BroncosKyle Williams, WR - No. 15 (2006-09)sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon on August 1.

Kansas City ChiefsPaul Fanaika, OG - No. 74 (2004-08)was placed on injured reserve just days before the start of the season.