Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt WR Injured in Texans Preseason Opener

Former Pitt Panther Jared Wayne's first NFL game was derailed by an injury.

Stephen Thompson

Former Pitt WR Injured in Texans Preseason Opener
Former Pitt WR Injured in Texans Preseason Opener /
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PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers receiver Jared Wayne was off to a good start in his first career NFL game when his Houston Texans visited the New England Patriots for their preseason opener, but the night was quickly derailed. 

Wayne, who signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent after leaving Pitt this spring, was running with the second-team offense and even recorded his first catch - a 19-yard reception over the middle of the field - before suffering a hamstring injury. He avoided a major injury, but the grade two strain will keep him out for two weeks, according to a report from Aaron Wilson of KCRP2 in Houston. 

Wayne's final season at Pitt was his best, when he caught 60 passes, for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns before declaring for the NFL Draft. He flew under the radar during the draft process but turned some heads with impressive numbers in the 40-yard dash and vertical leap at his Pro Day. 

Scouts with the Texans clearly took notice and had seen enough between his film and in-person scouting to feel comfortable taking a flier on Pitt's leading receiver from a year ago. So far, he's proven their scouting correct. The coaching staff has been impressed with him during camp so far. 

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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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