Given the wealth of talent on the Louisville Kings Championship team, it's to be expected that with eight players currently signed to NFL rosters, the team is one of the UFL to NFL leaders. With the first full week of preseason games behind us, how did the Kings' players do, and who significantly improved their chances of making their team's 53-man roster?
Louisville Kings UFL To NFL Preseason Game 1 Update
Three former Kings players who drew a great deal of attention with their NFL signings and perhaps had the most pressure riding on their performance were the three All-UFL Team standouts. The Defensive Player of the Year, Cam Gill, the Special Teams Player of the Year, Tanner Brown, and Ian Wheeler, the United Bowl MVP, had a lot to prove. Did they live up to expectations?
Cam Gill (Carolina Panthers LB), August 15th vs Buffalo Bills
Although the Bills defeated the Panthers by a score of 29-14, Cam Gill was one of the standout players for the Carolina defense. After a strong five-tackle performance in the Hall of Fame Game to open the NFL season, Gill had a dominant performance for the Panthers with two solo tackles, 1.0 sack, one TFL, and two quarterback hits. Currently competing against Carolina veterans Thomas Incoom (one solo tackle )and Trevis Gipson (two tackles and 0.5 sacks), Gill stands a good shot at not only making the roster but also moving up the depth chart.
Ian Wheeler (Buffalo Bills running back), August 15th vs. Carolina Panthers
Up against tough Bills' veteran competition but determined to prove he deserves a roster spot, Ian Wheeler needed only one series to demonstrate what he can do for Buffalo. Wheeler didn’t take his first snap until late in the game. But he more than made up for it. Wheeler led all running backs with seven carries for 41 yards and one touchdown. He only played one series in the 4th quarter. However, the eight-play drive was almost entirely Wheeler: an 8-yard run, a ten-yard dash, a 4-yard push, followed by two five-yard gains, that led to a six-yard spring up the middle for the score. He also threw an impressive block on a Panthers defender.
Tanner Brown (New Orleans Saints kicker) August 15th vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Locked into a fierce competition against Charlie Smyth for the starting role as the Saints' place kicker, Tanner Brown, the UFL's best kicker, only had two opportunities yesterday in the Saints' 24-20 loss to the Jaguars. However, Brown nailed both of his field goal attempts, including one from 49-yards. Brown and Smyth rotated throughout the afternoon, with Smyth contributing both extra points, but as it turned out, he missed wide right on his only field goal attempt, a 52-yarder. As the incumbent on the roster, Smyth has the edge on the depth chart, but Brown is proving to be the more reliable kicker in training camp.
Travis Bell (Cleveland Browns DT) August 15th vs. Chicago Bears
Signed by the Browns on August 3, 2026, Bell left training camp mid-way through practice on August 11th with an undisclosed injury. At that point, it wasn’t certain whether Bell would play on Saturday. Thankfully, he wasn't seriously injured, and Bell played on Saturday afternoon. He recorded three tackles.
Kaden Prather(Green Bay Packers WR) August 13th vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
On Thursday, two of the Kings' wide receivers, both recently signed to their NFL teams, squared off against each other. Only recently signed by the Green Bay Packers, Kaden Prather didn't record any stats for the Packers' first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Isaiah Winstead (Pittsburgh Steelers WR) August 13th vs. Green Bay Packers
Only recently signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Louisville Kings’ leading wide receiver Isaiah Winstead did not record any stats in the game against Green Bay.
Tarik Black (Detroit Lions WR) August 13th vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Recording 16 snaps (24%) on offense and seven snaps (28%) on special teams, Black scored the Lions’ only touchdown of the game with a 24-yard catch with under a minute left in the game. Earlier in the fourth quarter, rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer delivered a beautiful strike to Black. Unfortunately, the play was negated for Black getting flagged with an offensive pass interference call.
Black already has the support of hometown fans who may remember him from his college days playing football for the Michigan Wolverines. Lions coach Dan Campbell was complimentary after the game.
"I thought (Tarik) Black showed up, made some plays. He's intriguing... So, I mean, those guys, that room right now, it's an all-out (training camp battle) right now. So, it's pretty exciting.”
Lucky Jackson (Detroit Lions WR) August 13th vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Recording 17 snaps (26%) on offense and another seven on special teams (28%), Jackson wasn't targeted during the game. However, earlier in the week, he had a stunning sideline touchdown at practice. Hopefully, Jackson will get an opportunity to show what he can do with the ball in his hands next weekend in the Lions' game against the Washington Commanders.
Check back here to find out how your favorite Louisville Kings UFL to NFL players do next week during the preseason Week 2 games.