SAN DIEGO -- A number of former Aztecs moved around in the NFL while a baseball player recorded a hit in half of his at-bats on the week.
NFL teams made a flurry of roster moves following last Tuesday's roster cutdown deadline. In the aftermath, six former Aztecs remain on active rosters with another six on practice squads and a trio on injured reserve. On offense, Seattle running back Rashaad Penny (2014-17), last season's yards per carry leader, and New York Giants rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger (2018-21) are expected to start for their teams, and offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill (2013-16) has a shot to start games in San Francisco. Top rookie defensive lineman Cameron Thomas (2019-21) and long snapper Aaron Brewer (2008-11) are in Arizona with cornerback Darren Hall (2018-20) in Atlanta. Pittsburgh safety Damontae Kazee (2013-16) was placed on injured reserve in addition to fullback Nick Bawden (2014-17) of the New York Jets and linebacker Calvin Munson (2013-16) of the Miami Dolphins. Washington waived offensive lineman Keith Ismael (2017-19) with an injury settlement. Former Aztecs on practice squads are offensive lineman Zachary Thomas (2017-21) on Chicago, linebacker Segun Olubi (2020-21) on Indianapolis, defensive back Trenton Thompson (2016-21) on the New York Giants, offensive lineman William Dunkle (2019-21) on Pittsburgh, and defensive lineman Alex Barrett (2013-16) and safety Tayler Hawkins (2017-21) on San Francisco.
In the MLB, infielder Ty France (2013-15) started all seven games for Seattle with six at first base and one at designated hitter. Last week, he batted .300 with a .344 on-base percentage, seven RBIs, three runs scored, and three homers. France was consistent, driving in runs in all but one of his starts at first base. He blasted a solo homer in the second inning for Seattle's first run on Tuesday night with a run-scoring single an inning later in a 9-3 blowout. France walked with the bases loaded on Wednesday before launching another homer and singling in another run in a 7-0 Thursday victory. He went deep again on Saturday in the top of the first in a 4-0 shutout. France got started early again on Sunday with an RBI double in the first off of Cal Quantrill in a 6-3 win. On the season, France is batting .279 with a .346 on-base percentage, 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and 50 runs scored. Catcher Seby Zavala (2012-15) started at catcher for the Chicago White Sox in two games and came off the bench once. Last week, he batted .250 with a .333 on-base percentage, scoring once with a pair of RBIs on a Saturday night single. So far this season, Zavala is batting .281, with a .353 on-base percentage, 17 runs scored, 20 RBIs, and two home runs. Pittsburgh outfielder Greg Allen (2012-14) started a game in center field and pinch ran once to steal a base. This season, Allen has 16 hits, 11 runs scored, six RBIs, a homer, and seven stolen bases. Houston infielder David Hensley (2015-18) started at third base and designated hitter with one appearance as a pinch hitter. On the week, he batted .500 with a .546 on-base percentage while scoring three times and driving in two runs. Hensley drove a two-run double to left in Sunday's 9-1 Astros win. This season, he is batting .375 with a .412 on-base percentage, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg (2007-09) is on the 60-Day IL and is not expected to return this season.