Inside The Panthers

Pitt Alums Make Big Impacts in NFL Opener

Former Pitt Panthers started the NFL's season opener for their respective squads.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Alums Make Big Impacts in NFL Opener
Pitt Alums Make Big Impacts in NFL Opener /
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PITTSBURGH -- The 2022-23 NFL season kicked off last night and former Pitt Panthers were at the center of the action between the Los Angles Rams and Buffalo Bills. A dominating second half 

All-world defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a 2013 first-round pick of the Rams, picked up right where he left off after winning his first Super Bowl title in SoFi Stadium seven months ago. The former Pitt star recorded two tackles, one for a loss, along with two sacks and a quarterback hit. His sack, which came with 4:25 left in the first half, was the 99th of his career. 

Dane Jackson, a third-year pro for the Bills, was one half of a young cornerback tandem that was filling in for a thin defensive secondary. With Tredavious White still recovering from an ACL tear, he made the ninth start of his young career and played a strong game.

He made five tackles and defended a pass. Jackson also recorded the first interception of the Bills' season, one of three Rams quarterback Matt Stafford threw last night.

Damar Hamlin, another former Panther-turned-Bill, also made a mark on special teams. He recorded a pair of fine tackles while covering punts. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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