Wake Forest Athletics
Pro Deacs: Week One
9/15/2026 1:38:00 PM | Football
Running back Kenneth Walker III shines on Monday Night Football to lead Pro Deacs.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – ProDeacs made its triumphant return as several former Demon Deacons shined during the opening week of the 2026 NFL season, headlined by Kenneth Walker III shining in his Kansas City Chiefs debut, Kobie Turner and Malik Mustapha battling it out in Australia and Branson Combs making a huge contribution to Jacksonville's blowout win.
Walker III Makes Statement in Kansas City Debut
Coming off winning the Super Bowl and being named Super Bowl MVP last season, running back Kenneth Walker III made a statement in his Kansas City Chiefs debut as he helped guide the Chiefs to a dominant 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.
Walker III finished the game with a career-high 173 rushing yards, including a 60-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down on the opening drive of the second half. He also added three catches for 18 yards and a touchdown.
This marked Walker III's 12th 100-yard game of his career including the playoffs. Additionally, this is the first time that the fifth-year pro has recorded a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game since Oct. 20, 2024 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Combs Shines in Blowout Win
Linebacker Branson Combs recorded a stellar performance this past Sunday as he helped the Jacksonville Jaguars blowout the Cleveland Browns, 34-10. After spending the majority of last season on the Jaguars' practice squad, Combs shined in the opening game of the season as he logged four tackles, including three solo efforts. Combs also recorded his first career sack on a fourth down stop during the fourth quarter.
Turner, Mustapha Face Off in First Ever Australia Game
Safety Malik Mustapha and defensive lineman Kobie Turner faced off in the opening game of the season as Mustapha and the San Francisco 49ers came away with an emphatic 27-7 win over Turner and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL's first ever game in Australia.
Despite the loss, Turner recorded a solid performance as he finished the game with seven tackles, including two solo efforts. Meanwhile, Mustapha tallied three tackles with two solo tackles while helping the 49er defense hold the Rams to only 290 yards of total offense.
#Pro Deacs Week One Slate (All times eastern)
Walker III Makes Statement in Kansas City Debut
Coming off winning the Super Bowl and being named Super Bowl MVP last season, running back Kenneth Walker III made a statement in his Kansas City Chiefs debut as he helped guide the Chiefs to a dominant 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.
Walker III finished the game with a career-high 173 rushing yards, including a 60-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down on the opening drive of the second half. He also added three catches for 18 yards and a touchdown.
K9 IS UNLEASHED‼️ pic.twitter.com/dCj0qebvF4
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 15, 2026
K9 CAME TO PLAY TODAY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ac52sibpw5
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 15, 2026
This marked Walker III's 12th 100-yard game of his career including the playoffs. Additionally, this is the first time that the fifth-year pro has recorded a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game since Oct. 20, 2024 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Combs Shines in Blowout Win
Linebacker Branson Combs recorded a stellar performance this past Sunday as he helped the Jacksonville Jaguars blowout the Cleveland Browns, 34-10. After spending the majority of last season on the Jaguars' practice squad, Combs shined in the opening game of the season as he logged four tackles, including three solo efforts. Combs also recorded his first career sack on a fourth down stop during the fourth quarter.
Turner, Mustapha Face Off in First Ever Australia Game
Safety Malik Mustapha and defensive lineman Kobie Turner faced off in the opening game of the season as Mustapha and the San Francisco 49ers came away with an emphatic 27-7 win over Turner and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL's first ever game in Australia.
Despite the loss, Turner recorded a solid performance as he finished the game with seven tackles, including two solo efforts. Meanwhile, Mustapha tallied three tackles with two solo tackles while helping the 49er defense hold the Rams to only 290 yards of total offense.
#Pro Deacs Week One Slate (All times eastern)
- Jessie Bates III (ATL)
- Last Week: Pittsburgh Steelers 20 defeated Atlanta Falcons 13
- This Week: Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Lardarius Webb Jr. (BAL - PS)
- Last Week: Baltimore Ravens 41 defeated Indianapolis Colts 23
- This Week: New Orleans Saints vs. Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Greg Dortch (BUF - PS)
- Last Week: Buffalo Bills 36 defeated Houston Texans 31
- This Week: Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills (Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video)
- Jayden Loving (CHI)
- Last Week: Chicago Bears 59 defeated Carolina Panthers 37
- This Week: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Ja'Sir Taylor (CIN - IR)
- Last Week: Cincinnati Bengals 33 defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27
- This Week: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Ke'Shawn Williams (CIN)
- Last Week: Cincinnati Bengals 33 defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27
- This Week: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS
- Blake Whiteheart (CLE)
- Last Week: Jacksonville Jaguars 34 defeated Cleveland Browns 10
- This Week: Cleveland Browns vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Caelen Carson (DAL)
- Last Week: New York Giants 28 defeated Dallas Cowboys 20
- This Week: Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
- Justin Strnad (DEN)
- Last Week: Kansas City Chiefs 31 defeated Denver Broncos 10
- This Week: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Zach Bako-Bewele (GB)
- Last Week: Minnesota Vikings 39 defeated Green Bay Packers 22
- This Week: Green Bay Packers vs. New York Jets (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Branson Combs (JAX)
- Last Week: Jacksonville Jaguars 34 defeated Cleveland Browns 10
- This Week: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Kenneth Walker III (KC)
- Last Week: Kansas City Chiefs 31 defeated Denver Broncos 10
- This Week: Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC)
- Nick Andersen (LAR - PS)
- Last Week: San Francisco 49ers 27 defeated Los Angeles Rams 7
- This Week: New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams (Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN)
- Alex Bachman (LAR - PS)
- Last Week: San Francisco 49ers 27 defeated Los Angeles Rams 7
- This Week: New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams (Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN)
- Kobie Turner (LAR)
- Last Week: San Francisco 49ers 27 defeated Los Angeles Rams 7
- This Week: New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams (Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN)
- Demond Claiborne (MIN)
- Last Week: Minnesota Vikings 39 defeated Green Bay Packers 22
- This Week: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Michael Jergens (MIN - IR)
- Last Week: Minnesota Vikings 39 defeated Green Bay Packers 22
- This Week: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Karon Prunty (NE)
- Last Week: Seattle Seahawks 13 defeated New England Patriots 10
- This Week: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Malik Mustapha (SF)
- Last Week: San Francisco 49ers 27 defeated Los Angeles Rams 7
- This Week: Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
- Matt Gulbin (WAS)
- Last Week: Philadelphia Eagles 24 defeated Washington Commanders 22
- This Week: Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
- Sam Hartman (WAS - PS)
- Last Week: Philadelphia Eagles 24 defeated Washington Commanders 22
- This Week: Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
Players Mentioned
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