Former Miners Make NFL Teams’ Final Cuts

After surviving this weekend’s final cuts, some former UTEP Miners will be suiting up in the NFL.

Quarterback Jordan Palmer is now the top backup to his older brother , Carson, in Cincinnati. Jordan has been a third stringer his entire career, but did well enough in the preseason that the Bengals released his primary competition, J.T. O’Sullivan, who’s been in the league since 2002.

In Oakland, receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins and linebacker Thomas Howard barely made the cut. Howard, a starter since he entered the league, and Higgins, who found a niche on special teams, are now backups. There’s talk Howard might be traded, maybe to the Tennessee Titans.

Oniel Cousins will return for his third season in Baltimore. He’s struggled with headaches from a concussion this summer, but is expected to be a top backup on the offensive line.

Meanwhile, defensive backs Cornelius Brown and Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith have signed as practice players for Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. Brown was originally with Chicago.

Things didn’t go as well for center Robby Felix and safety Quintin Demps. Felix failed to make the Jets, and Demps, a former starter, got the boot in Philadelphia.