These are the St. Louis area's active NFL players

ST. LOUIS - As the NFL season officially kicks off Thursday night when the Dallas Cowboys take on the Philadelphia Eagles, a few players from the St. Louis area will be on the field. This will continue throughout the weekend, as dozens more natives of the region will be in action across the league. 

Before all the tailgates, kickoffs, and parties begin, let’s take a look at some of the athletes with St. Louis area roots that you might see this weekend.

Luther Burden III, wide receiver, Chicago Bears. The St. Louis native played high school ball at East St. Louis and Cardinal Ritter before starring at Mizzou in college. A second-round pick this year, Burden will start despite missing most of camp with a hamstring injury. Bears coaches say his talent is far better than there he was taken in round 2, and that his upside is huge. 

Sam LaPorta, tight end, Detroit Lions. Highland graduate who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2023. Tallied 726 yards and seven TDs last season.

Kyren Williams, running back, Los Angeles Rams. The Vianney alum rushed for 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, earning a three-year extension.

Jameson Williams, wide receiver, Detroit Lions. Cardinal Ritter graduate coming off his first 1,000-yard season, he has the potential to have an even better season this year.

Brandon Aubrey, kicker, Dallas Cowboys. Aubrey, born in St. Louis Missouri, is known for his unique journey from a professional soccer player and software engineer to star kicker in the NFL. After being drafted in the MLS, playing in the USFL, and working in tech, he joined the Cowboys in 2023 and quickly became a top-tier player, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He holds NFL records for multiple long field goals in a single game and excels at making kicks from 50+ yards.

Jonathan Owens, safety, Chicago Bears. CBC and Missouri Western graduate, entering his second season in Chicago, he's seen quite a bit of the spotlight lately for his marriage to gymnast Simone Biles in 2023.

Michael Niese, offensive lineman, Detroit Lions. Michael Niese was born in Chesterfield and attended St. Louis University High School. Out of high school, Niese attended the University of Dayton for four years and later finished his college career at Temple University.

Niese went undrafted in 2022 and had stops in Chicago and Denver before finding a home with Detroit.

Ronnie Perkins, linebacker, Atlanta Falcons. Perkins is a St. Louis native that attended Lutheran North High School. Following high school, Perkins attended the University of Oklahoma, where he started 25 out of 33 games before getting drafted by the New England Patriots with the 96 overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Now entering his fifth year in the NFL, he was just recently signed to the Atlanta Falcons after being placed on injury reserve and missing the entire 2024 season with the Denver Broncos.

Darius Cooper, wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles. The Hazelwood West product went undrafted after an All-American season at Tarleton State. A former high school quarterback, he’s transitioning into a reserve role at receiver.

Tony Adams, safety, New York Jets. Belleville native, SLUH and Illinois product. A starter the past two seasons, Adams enters his fourth year with New York. He made 84 tackles in 2024, the third-most on the team. 

Johnathan Edwards, cornerback, Indianapolis Colts. Parkway North High School alum and undrafted rookie out of Tulane and Indiana State. He earned a roster spot after impressing the Colts with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash.

A.J. Epenesa, defensive lineman, Buffalo Bills. He’s an Edwardsville high school graduate entering his sixth season who may see more of a backup role this year.

Mike Ford Jr., cornerback, Atlanta Falcons. Alton Marquette and Southeast Missouri State product in his eighth NFL season. Primarily a depth piece and special teamer.

Jack Fox, punter, Detroit Lions. The Ladue alum is a two-time NFL Pro Bowler. His career 48.8-yard average would be an NFL record.

Art Green, cornerback, New York Giants. The Parkway Central High School grad who attended Houston for college debuted in 2023.

Hassan Haskins, running back, Los Angeles Chargers. Eureka graduate entering his third season. Scored three touchdowns last year while playing mostly special teams.

Isaiah Williams, wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals. He was born in St. Louis and attended Trinity Catholic High School, where he nabbed back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year awards in Missouri in 2018 and 2019. Williams signed with the Detroit Lions after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, and was later picked up off waivers by the Bengals.

Williams was a standout wide receiver at the University of Illinois after playing two seasons prior as a quarterback. After making the switch to WR in 2022, Williams led the team in receptions and receiving yards during both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Adoree’ Jackson, cornerback, Philadelphia Eagles. Born in Belleville, began high school at Belleville East before moving to California. He is now set to begin his ninth season after signing with the Eagles in the offseason.

Antonio Johnson, safety, Jacksonville Jaguars. East St. Louis product entering his third season after 73 tackles in 2024.

Dominic Lovett, wide receiver, Detroit Lions. Belleville native who played at East St. Louis and Belleville West. He then went on to play for Georgia and Mizzou in college. A seventh-round pick this spring, he earned a roster spot in the offseason.

Foyesade Oluokun, linebacker, Jacksonville Jaguars. The John Burroughs alum led the NFL in tackles twice and returns for his eighth season.

Cody Schrader, runningback, Los Angeles Rams. Former Mizzou standout running back Cody Schrader is a St. Louis native and is a product of Lutheran South High School. After high school, Schrader attended Truman State before transferring to Mizzou in 2022.

Schrader joins fellow St. Louis native Kyren Williams in the Los Angeles Rams backfield after signing on as a undrafted free agent last year.

Riley Patterson, kicker, Miami Dolphins. An Edwardsville High School grad, Patterson played college football for the Memphis Tigers and has previously played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets. He will start off the 2025 season as the starting kicker for the Dolphins as Jason Sanders recovers from injury.

Rico Payton, cornerback, New York Giants. The Lindbergh high alum was placed on injured reserve after being claimed off waivers from the Saints.

Dominick Puni, offensive line, San Francisco 49ers. Francis Howell Central product started all season as a rookie in 2024. It is uncertain if he will play week 1 as he has been battling a knee injury.

Khalen Saunders, defensive lineman, Jacksonville Jaguars. He attended Parkway Central High School before committing and playing at the University of Western Illinois. After playing 4 years at Western Illinois, Saunders was drafted with the 84th overall pick in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he would go on to win two Super Bowls in 2020 and 2023.

Saunders is entering his seventh NFL season and will play his first year with the Jaguars after being traded in August. The Parkway Central High School graduate was traded from New Orleans last month.

Tershawn Wharton, defensive lineman, Carolina Panthers. The University City native signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Panthers after a solid year with Kansas City last year.

Mekhi Wingo, defensive lineman, Detroit Lions. De Smet graduate and sixth-round pick in 2024. Returns after a knee injury ended his rookie year early.

In addition to the athletes mentioned, there are other NFL athletes that have ties to the St. Louis region that serve smaller roles on NFL rosters or are looking to get a shot this year.

Blaine Gabbert, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Mike Ford, cornerback, Atlanta Falcons.

Armon Watts, defensive end, Chicago Bears.

Austin Seibert, kicker, Washington Commanders.