Former NSU Spartans Lambert, Carey On Opening-Day NFL Rosters

NORFOLK, Virginia – Former Norfolk State defensive back Keenan Lambert was claimed off waivers Sunday by the Oakland Raiders and added to the team's 53-man roster for opening day, giving NSU a pair of active NFL players heading into the regular season.

Lambert was released Saturday by the Seattle Seahawks, the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent in the spring. Barely 24 hours later, Lambert was a member of the Raiders, who open the 2015 regular season next Sunday against Cincinnati.

Lambert was limited to just two preseason games with the Seahawks due to an injury, but saved his best performance for last. Lambert had a team-high seven tackles Thursday in Seattle's win over – of all teams – the Raiders.

Lambert was a first-team All-MEAC player for the Spartans as a redshirt senior last fall, helping NSU rank No. 2 nationally in total defense among FCS teams. Lambert started 40 games and played in 47 over his four years on the field in an NSU uniform, amassing 206 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and eight interceptions.

Lambert gives the Spartans two former players on opening-day NFL rosters. In addition, another former Spartan defensive back, Don Carey, will again be on the opening-day roster for the Detroit Lions. This will be Carey's fifth season with the Lions, whom he joined in 2011 after playing the 2010 season with Jacksonville. Carey was a sixth-round draft choice of Cleveland in the 2009 NFL draft, but never played for the Browns. He has 147 tackles and three interceptions in his NFL career.

Coincidentally, both Lambert and Carey play safety and both are products of Norfolk high schools. Lambert attended Maury High and Carey went to Booker T. Washington.

Also Sunday, former NSU linebacker Lynden Trail was placed on the injured reserve list of the Houston Texans, according to media reports. Houston signed Trail in April as a free-agent and played in three preseason games with the team. Trail missed the Texans' preseason finale due to a quadriceps injury.

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION